This mixed-method intervention builds upon extant exploratory e-cigarette research conducted by the supervisors that found that online e-cigarette discourse is overwhelmingly positive, promoting the benefits and/or joy of ‘vaping, and that public health advocates and the government sector are notably absent from the conversation, which is primarily dominated by industry and e-cigarette supporters. The primary aim is to counter the information and ‘positive’ messages promulgated by the e-cigarette and other electronic nicotine products industry and motivate action for public health practice and policy; by equipping existing and emerging public health and health promotion (PH&HP) professionals with the knowledge and skills to engage meaningfully with 15-24-year-olds (and other audiences) on digital and social media platforms to facilitate and deliver behaviour change (messages) to interrupt e-cigarette uptake. 

The primary target group is existing (i.e., practitioners, policymakers, advocates, educators, researchers) and emerging (i.e., tertiary students in the longer term) Western Australian based PH&HP professionals. The secondary target group is young people aged 15-24 years.

Stage 1: The construction of e-cigarette messaging suitable for engaging youth that is recognised as authentic, trustworthy, and convincing. To construct messaging, the following activities will be undertaken: a) discourse analysis of publicly available online sources of vaping related dialogue; b) focus groups with youth (15-24 years: e-cigarette users/non-users) to explore identified e-cigarette messaging and key frames, messages that resonate with them, their lived experience and perspective on e-cigarettes, and sources of trustworthy information; c) survey with a sample of young people (15-24 years; a segment of e-cigarette users) to test identified e-cigarette frames and messaging. 

Stage 2: The development (interviews with PH&HP professionals), implementation (through edX/CurtinX) and evaluation (via a RCT, using wait list control group) of a learner-centric online social media training and message framing intervention for existing and emerging PH&HP professionals. This intervention seeks to ultimately benefit young people by building PH&HP professionals social media competencies and capacity to design message frames most likely to engage (and sway, as appropriate) youth, and potentially influence policy and practice. 

• Future Students

• Faculty of Health Sciences

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa

• Merit Based

The annual scholarship package (stipend and tuition fees) is approx. $60,000 - $70,000 p.a.

Successful HDR applicants for admission will receive a 100% fee offset for up to 4 years, stipend scholarships, valued at $28,854 p.a. for up to a maximum of 3.5 years, are determined via a competitive selection process. Applicants will be notified of the scholarship outcome in November 2022. 

For detailed information, visit: Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships | Curtin University, Perth, Australia.

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All applicable HDR courses

This project will require good project management skills; a willingness to work as part of a project team, ability to take advice and communicate effectively; a willingness to learn new research skills (e.g. formative , process and impact evaluation) and undertake quantitative and qualitative analysis. This project will be conducted under the supervision of an experienced team 

If this project excites you, and your research skills and experience are a good fit for this specific project, you should contact the Project Lead (listed below in the enquires section) via the Expression of Interest (EOI) form. ahead of the closing date.

Eligible to enrol in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2023

To enquire about this project opportunity that includes a scholarship application, contact the Project lead, Professor Jonine Jancey via the EOI form above.