Evaluating pharmacist activities in aged care homes: A mixed methods study

About the project

Contribute to improving quality care in aged care homes

If you are interested in pharmacy services and medication use in aged care and would like to advance your quantitative and qualitative research knowledge and skills, the University of South Australia is offering a hands-on project-based PhD project within UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance, in partnership with an aged care provider, selected in conjunction with the PhD candidate.

Our aim is to develop a national quality framework and indicators to monitor the newly implemented Aged Care Onsite Pharmacist program in Australia. Our project contributes to a larger project that is already being implemented. You will get the opportunity to work with various aged care facilities throughout the study.

You will be based within UniSA Allied Health and Human Performance’s precinct which is located at the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute in the heart of Adelaide’s Biomed City. You will collaborate with other members of the PHARMA-Care research team and other PhD students.

Working with a group of researchers within an interactive and multidisciplinary research environment, you will develop expertise in quantitative and qualitative research methods that can be applied to other research projects in the future. This project will inform policy and practice and advance your career in pharmacy, public health, aged care and program evaluation.

What you’ll do

In this project-based research degree, you will work closely with your supervisors but also engage with metropolitan and rural aged care homes in South Australia. You may need to travel to various aged care homes to collect data.

Upon completion, you will be skilled in data analysis, writing publications and presenting research at local, national and international conferences. There are many opportunities for you to hone your communication skills and start building a strong and influential professional network.

Where you’ll be based

You’ll be based within Allied Health and Human Performance. We offer degrees across a range of allied health and human performance disciplines, encompassing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, exercise and sports science, human movement, clinical exercise physiology, speech pathology, medical radiation sciences, health science, public health and medical sonography.

Our students learn in purpose-built interactive facilities and from industry-informed teachers, and gain hands-on experience working with real patients in our community clinics.

We deliver high-impact research in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of health issues. We partner with industry to address global health challenges and work collaboratively to solve them. Areas of research strength include pain sciences, rehabilitation, and high performance in sport.

UniSA’s community clinics provide affordable services to members of the public while giving students valuable opportunities for practical learning. Our clinics include physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics, and exercise physiology.

Our graduates are tomorrow’s health workforce: resourceful, engaged, and ready to create positive change in health and wellbeing, both locally and globally.

We solve critical health challenges, build strong relationships, and produce outstanding health professionals. Financial Support

This project is funded for reasonable research expenses. Additionally, a living allowance scholarship of $35,200 (2025 rate) per annum is available to eligible applicants. Australian Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants will be eligible to receive an increased stipend rate of $52,352 (2025 rate) per annum. A fee-offset or waiver for the standard term of the program is also included. For full terms and benefits of the scholarship please refer to our scholarship information for domestic students or international students.

Eligibility and Selection

This project is open to application from both Domestic and International applicants. Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for entrance into a PhD. Additionally applicants must meet the project selection criteria:

• Qualification in pharmacy, medicine, nursing, public health, or a relevant discipline
• Coursework in qualitative research methods, statistics, geriatrics, and/or aged care
• Knowledge of Australia’s aged care and health care systems
• Experience in quantitative and qualitative research methodologies

The successful applicant is expected to be based within UniSA's precinct in the South Australian Health and Medical Institute (SAHMRI) on North Terrace.

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 and to be based within UniSA's precinct in the South Australian Health and Medical Institute (SAHMRI) in the heart of Adelaide. Note that international students on a student visa will need to study full-time.

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 Monday, 25 November.