About This Project Are you interested in translating research findings to make real-world impact? Do you want to improve the management of children’s pain?
This Masters project will involve partnering and consulting with parents of young children (0-12 years old) to understand strategies for disseminating evidence-based approaches for managing children’s pain across a range of pain contexts (e.g., common bumps and scrapes, managing vaccinations, tummy pains) to parents, including parents from diverse backgrounds. This will include shaping and refining messages that parents consider are important for them, and optimal strategies to deliver these messages.
This project will underpin the development of resources that translate research findings into accessible messages and formats for parents.
The aim of this Masters project is to partner and consult with parents of young children (0-12 years) to understand strategies for disseminating evidence-based approaches for managing children’s pain for parents, including parents from diverse backgrounds. Specific project objectives include: (1) conduct an online survey for parents of young children to gain a broad understanding about (i) what parents want to know about managing children’s pain, and (ii) knowledge translation/mobilisation strategies; and (2) conduct online focus groups with parents to gain a more nuanced understanding around key messages to deliver and dissemination strategies.
There is building research surrounding the management of children’s pain across pain contexts (e.g., ‘everyday’ pains, procedural pain, more significant pain, chronic pain), however very little of this research reaches the people who need it most: parents. There are very few resources, specifically targeted towards parents, that provide guidance on how to manage their child[ren]’s pain. This includes information on management/responding to children’s ‘everyday’ pains (e.g., common cuts, scratches, bruises; occurring in young children ~3-5 times daily), managing procedural pain (e.g., vaccinations, blood draws; most children gain 20+ vaccinations before the age of 5 years) which is often distressing for young children, and more significant and complex pains (e.g., persistent abdominal pain, chronic pain, emerging period pain). The findings of this project will help to inform the development of resources that translate research findings into accessible and digestible sources of information for parents.
It is anticipated this project will include:
- understanding what parents want to know about managing children’s pain, and
- identifying key knowledge mobilisation strategies, informed by parents, for disseminating research findings to parents in an accessible way.
The outcomes of this project will directly inform the development of resources that translate research findings relating to managing children’s pain, into accessible sources of information for parents of young children.
What you’ll doYou will get to work with field leaders in early childhood pain research (Dr Sarah Wallwork) and pain science research (Prof Lorimer Moseley AO), as well as parents of young children. You will be a part of an exciting new body of work that will translate important evidence-based childhood pain-related messaging to parents. You will work closely with parents and families from diverse backgrounds, which may involve attending and engaging in various community-focused events. You will learn important research skills in developing, conducting, and analysing online surveys, conducting online focus groups, qualitative data analysis, preparing ethics applications, and scientific writing. There may be opportunities to travel and present your work at local/national/international conferences.
You will be a valued member of the Body in Mind Research Group (within IIMPACT in Health); attending group meetings, seminars, and with opportunities to have mentorship from other Masters, PhD, and post-doctoral fellows in the group. You will also have opportunities to be involved in related research from within the group. The supervisors of this project have several international and national collaborators across fields, and the successful candidate will be given opportunities to connect and work with world experts as a part of their project.
The successful candidate will be encouraged and supported to be involved in the PICH (Pain in Child Health) trainee program, an international support network for trainees working in paediatric pain. This may involve attending and presenting at webinars (quarterly), fostering networking and international collaborations with other trainees in the field.
Where you’ll be basedYou will be based within the Body in Mind Research Group at the University of South Australia’s City East campus where you will be situated amongst other Masters and PhD students and early-career researchers in the lab. The lab hosts a highly supportive work environment that fosters open communication, collaboration, and work-life balance. The Body in Mind Research Group consists of approximately 15 PhD/Masters students, 3-4 Post-Doctoral Fellows, and 5 Senior Research Fellow/Senior Lecturers, and is led by Professor Lorimer Moseley. It is a vibrant group of people from diverse backgrounds (international) from across multiple disciplines (physiotherapy, psychology, exercise science, etc). We hold weekly social lunches and have access to student mentorship.
The Body in Mind Research Group is embedded within IIMPACT in Health which includes over 100 researchers conducting research across the topics of pain, stroke, breathlessness, paediatrics, and rural health. As a part of IIMPACT in Health and the Allied Health and Human Performance academic unit, you will have access to seminars, professional development activities, and social events.
Financial Support This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. A fee offset for the standard term of the program is available to Australian and New Zealand citizens, and permanent residents of Australia, including permanent humanitarian visa holders. Additionally, any Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicant who holds an offer of admission without a living allowance will be eligible for the Aboriginal Enterprise Research Scholarship. This scholarship is to the value of $50,291 per annum (2024 rates). Any Aboriginal Enterprise Research Scholarship recipient will also receive a fee waiver. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.
Eligibility and Selection This project is open to applications from Australian or New Zealand citizens, and Australian permanent residents or permanent humanitarian visa holders. International applicants are not invited to apply at this time.
Applicants must meet the
eligibility criteria for entrance into a Masters of Research.
All applications that meet the eligibility and selection criteria will be considered for this project. A merit selection process will be used to determine the successful candidate.
The successful applicant is expected to study full-time or part-time (in exceptional circumstances), and to be based at our
City East Campus in the heart of Adelaide. Additionally, applications from students studying externally will also be considered.
Essential Dates Applicants are expected to start in a timely fashion upon receipt of an offer. Extended deferral periods are not available.
Applications close on Sunday, 23 March, 2025.
