PhD Scholarships: Inspiring Brighter Futures: Youth Engagement and Wellbeing (Creative Research Methods) na Griffith University

At Griffith’s Arts, Education and Law (AEL) Group, we believe the arts are not just disciplines but drivers of justice, cultural vitality, and human possibility. Our researchers are known for ground-breaking scholarship that is trusted, community-driven, and globally recognised.

Within AEL, the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI) is a vibrant hub of artists, designers, and researchers who thrive on reimagining the world through creative practice. Our community spans music, performance, design, animation, film, visual arts, theatre, gaming, and experimental practices. What unites us is a commitment to social and cultural justice, to working with communities, and to sharing our work in ways that inspire change—whether in galleries and theatres, through digital platforms, or in collaborative research with partners like IBFF.

Joining us means becoming part of a diverse network of creative innovators who believe that art and design can help build stronger, healthier, and more hopeful futures for young people.

This opportunity will be primarily based at Logan. As Griffith is a multi-site University you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

We’re looking for a curious, collaborative, and creative researcher who is ready to step into a PhD that makes a real difference. To thrive in this role, you’ll bring both strong academic foundations and a genuine passion for working alongside young people. You’ll be comfortable engaging with a wide range of stakeholders—youth, community members, cultural leaders, and professionals from diverse fields—and you’ll see these relationships as central to meaningful research.

Most importantly, you’ll have a spark for youth-engaged creative practice and/or research, and a strong drive to explore how the arts can support wellbeing, connection, and brighter futures. This opportunity is open to applicants from around the world who are eager to co-create new ways of thinking and doing in youth engagement and development.

Are you a creative thinker who believes in the power of the arts and design to transform young people’s lives? We are seeking a passionate PhD candidate to join us in shaping bold, creative approaches to evaluating youth engagement and wellbeing. This isn’t traditional evaluation—it’s about co-designing imaginative, practice-led methods that capture the real impact of the Inspiring Brighter Futures Foundation (IBFF) youth programs on young people’s social and cultural worlds.

You’ll bring your own creative practice—whether in music, visual arts, design, performance, gaming, film, or storytelling—into a collaborative research journey with IBFF. Together, we’ll explore how creative arts not only measure but make meaning, connection, and brighter futures.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
• Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure.  For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

About the scholarship
The 2025 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $34,752 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.  An additional $10,000 per annum industry-funded top-up scholarship is also available courtesy of our partner, IBFF.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EoI process
Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to [email protected] containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section, including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

Closing date for expressions of interest is: Monday 29 September 2025 at 5pm AEST

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line

For project related enquiries please contact:
Associate Professor Paul Harris
Email: [email protected]

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: [email protected]