PhD Scholarship: A History of Adoption in Australia
A research group led by Professors Marian Quartly and Denise Cuthbert of Monash University and Shurlee Swain of the Australian Catholic University have won ARC funding for a project entitled ‘The search for family: A history of adoption in Australia’. They are pleased to offer a PhD Scholarship as part of the project. The scholarship will be offered for commencement from February - March 2009.
Eligibility: Applicants must hold an Australian or New Zealand Bachelors or Masters by Research degree with first or second class honours, or qualifications and/or research experience deemed equivalent by the university. Applicants should have a background in Australian cultural, social, legal, or welfare history, and/or women’s studies.
Project: This ARC-funded four-year project seeks to discover the distinctive ways in which adoption has reflected and shaped family ideals within Australian settler society; to influence the making of future policy and practice on adoption; to bring into history the stories of people whose lives have been changed by adoption, in order to acknowledge that experience and to read it against policy change; and to assess and explain the historical outcomes of adoption in Australia, an enterprise significant both for academic knowledge and the making of policy.
The PhD topic to be pursued will be shaped by the disciplinary training and academic concerns of the successful applicant. It can focus on any one of variety of approaches, including the cultural, legal, administrative, institutional, or experiential aspects of the history of Australian adoption. The collection and online publication of oral histories will be an important part of the research program.
Scholarship duration: 3 years full-time.
Value: Award holders will receive a stipend equal to the Australian Postgraduate Award of $20,427 (2009 rate) per annum.
Applications: Interested candidates should send the following documents by email to Professor Marian Quartly or by snail mail to :
School of Historical Studies,
Monash University,
Clayton Campus Vic 3800
1. A Copy of their academic record and curriculum vitae
2. A brief statement explaining why this particular project is suited to their talents and experience, together with some indication of how they would like to approach the topic.
3. The names and contact details of two academic referees.
Closing date: expression of interest should be received by Monday, 19th January 2009