1. Background

a. This Scholarship has been established to provide financial assistance to a PhD student who is undertaking research in support for working carers.

b. This project aims to investigate the replacement care arrangements that will support different groups of informal carers of a person with a disability, chronic illness or older relative to participate in paid work in contemporary Australia. Using mixed methods, field trials, and an innovative conceptual approach focused on time synchronicity, it will generate critical new knowledge about the characteristics and effectiveness of sustainable replacement care models that enable carers to enter or increase paid work and maintain work/care balance. Significant benefits include improving aged, disability and carer service models and policies to enhance women’s workforce participation, boost national productivity, and improve carer wellbeing. This Scholarship has been provided to facilitate a PhD candidate to produce their thesis alongside contributing to the research aims of this project.

c. This Scholarship is funded by the ARC for the project New models of replacement care for working carers.

d. This project will be conducted with industry partners Carers NSW Limited and Catholic Healthcare Limited (Partner Organisations).

2. Eligibility

a. The Scholarship is offered subject to the applicant having an unconditional offer of admission or currently enrolled full-time in a PhD within the Sydney Business School at the University of Sydney.

b. Applicants must be willing to conduct research into investigating the support arrangements for unpaid carers (of a person with a disability, chronic illness or older relative) who are combining their unpaid care with paid work

3. Selection Criteria

a. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the basis of:

I. academic merit, and
II. area of study and/or research proposal.

b. The successful applicant will be awarded the Scholarship on the nomination of the relevant research supervisor(s), or their nominated delegate(s).

4. Value

a. The Scholarship will provide a stipend allowance of $39,500 per annum, subject to satisfactory academic performance

b. The Scholarship will also provide a one-off payment of $2500 for travel to conduct research in year 2 or 3 of candidature. Payment will be made by the Scholarships Office upon request of the supervisor.

c. The recipient of this scholarship will also receive the Business School Supplementary Research Scholarship (BSSRS).

d. Benefits provided by the BSSRS will include:

I. stipend which will be valued at the difference between the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate and the value outlined in Clause 4.a,
II. Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF),
III. may also include Tuition Fee which will be indicated in the Scholarship Offer letter.

e. The duration of both Scholarships are as follows:
I. The PhD Scholarship in Support for Working Carers will be offered up to 12 research periods,
II. BSSRS is offered for up to 14 research periods.

f. Periods of study already undertaken towards the degree prior to the commencement of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum duration of the Scholarship excluding any potential extension period.

g. The Scholarship is for commencement in the relevant research period in which it is offered and cannot be deferred or transferred to another area of research without prior approval.

h. No other amount is payable.

i. The Scholarship will be offered subject to the availability of funding.

5. Eligibility for Progression

a. Progression is subject to attending and passing the annual progress evaluation.

6. Leave Arrangements

a. The Scholarship recipient receives up to 20 working days recreation leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued. However, the student will forfeit any unused leave remaining when the Scholarship is terminated or complete. Recreation leave does not attract a leave loading and the supervisor's agreement must be obtained before leave is taken.

b. The Scholarship recipient may take up to 10 working days sick leave each year of the Scholarship and this may be accrued over the tenure of the Scholarship. Students with family responsibilities, caring for sick children or relatives, or experiencing domestic violence, may convert up to five days of their annual sick leave entitlement to carer’s leave on presentation of medical certificate(s). Students taking sick leave must inform their supervisor as soon as practicable.

7. Research Overseas

a. The Scholarship recipient may not normally conduct research overseas within the first six months of award.

b. The Scholarship holder may conduct up to 12 months of their research outside Australia. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC), and will only be granted if the research is essential for completion of the degree. All periods of overseas research are cumulative and will be counted towards a student's candidature. Students must remain enrolled full-time at the University and receive approval to count time away.

8. Suspension

a. The Scholarship recipient cannot suspend their award within their first six months of study, unless a legislative provision applies.

b. The Scholarship recipient may apply for up to 12 months suspension of the Scholarship for any reason during the tenure of the Scholarship. Periods of Scholarship suspension are cumulative and failure to resume study after suspension will result in the award being terminated. Approval must be sought from the student's supervisor, Head of School and the Faculty via application to the Higher Degree by Research Administration Centre (HDRAC). Periods of study towards the degree during suspension of the Scholarship will be deducted from the maximum tenure of the Scholarship.

9. Changes in Enrolment

a. The Scholarship recipient must notify HDRAC and their supervisor promptly of any planned changes to their enrolment including but not limited to: attendance pattern, suspension, leave of absence, withdrawal, course transfer, and candidature upgrade or downgrade. If the award holder does not provide notice of the changes identified above, the University may require repayment of any overpaid stipend.

10. Termination

a. The Scholarship will be terminated:

I. on resignation or withdrawal of the recipient from their research degree,
II. upon submission of the thesis or at the end of the award,
III. if the recipient ceases to be a full-time student and prior approval has not been obtained to hold the Scholarship on a part-time basis,
IV. upon the recipient having completed 14 research periods (full-time),
V. if the recipient receives an alternative primary stipend scholarship. In such circumstances this Scholarship will be terminated in favour of the alternative stipend scholarship where it is of higher value,
VI. if the recipient does not resume study at the end of a period of approved leave, or
VII. if the recipient ceases to meet the eligibility requirements specified for this Scholarship, (other than during a period in which the Scholarship has been suspended or during a period of approved leave).

b. The Scholarship may also be terminated by the University before this time if, in the opinion of the University:

I. the course of study is not being carried out with competence and diligence or in accordance with the terms of this offer,
II. the student fails to maintain satisfactory progress, or
III. the student has committed misconduct or other inappropriate conduct.

c. The Scholarship will be suspended throughout the duration of any enquiry/appeal process.

d. Once the Scholarship has been terminated, it will not be reinstated unless due to University error.

11. Misconduct

a. Where during the Scholarship a student engages in misconduct, or other inappropriate conduct (either during the Scholarship or in connection with the student’s application and eligibility for the Scholarship), which in the opinion of the University warrants recovery of funds provided, the University may require the student to repay payments made in connection with the Scholarship. Examples of such conduct include and without limitation; academic dishonesty, research misconduct within the meaning of the Research Code of Conduct 2023 (for example, plagiarism in proposing, carrying out or reporting the results of research, or failure to declare or manage a serious conflict of interests), breach of the Student Charter 2020 and misrepresentation in the application materials or other documentation associated with the Scholarship.

b. The University may require such repayment at any time during or after the Scholarship period. In addition, by accepting this Scholarship, the student consents to all aspects of any investigation into misconduct in connection with this Scholarship being disclosed by the University to the funding body and/or any relevant professional body.

12. Intellectual Property

a. The successful recipient of this Scholarship must complete the Student Deed Poll supplied by the University of Sydney.

13. Confidentiality

a. The Scholarship recipient (Student) is required to keep all confidential information disclosed by a project participant or the University of Sydney confidential and ensure it is not disclosed to a third party without the prior written consent of the University of Sydney or project participant as appropriate, or authorised by law or Parliament to disclose.

b. If required, the University agrees to ensure that the Student participating in the Research and any external examiner appointed to review a thesis of such a Student have signed a confidentiality agreement with the University before they are granted access to any Partner Organisation’s Confidential Information relating to the Research.

c. In the event a Student thesis contains a Partner Organisation’s Confidential Information, the Student may submit such thesis on the basis that any such Confidential Information is included in an appendix to the thesis and is restricted from public access for a reasonable period of time agreed by the Partner Organisation but not exceeding 5 years

14. Publications and Acknowledgement

a. The Scholarship recipient must acknowledge the ARC’s support of their scholarship in any media, publications or presentations arising from the research. This must include acknowledgement of the ARC funding as outlined on the ARC website.

b. The Scholarship recipient must provide a copy of proposed publication material, together with details of how, when and to whom it is proposed to be published, for the review by the Partner Organisations at least 30 days prior to the proposed submission date for publication (Review Period). Publication material will not include any Confidential Information of a Partner Organisation.

c. Upon reviewing the proposed publication, the Partner Organisations will advise (acting reasonably) whether acknowledgement of their organisation is required to be included. If the Partner Organisations do not reply within the review period, acknowledgement is not required.