Project Overview

Low- and middle-income countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa have become important markets for gambling industry growth and profits as high-income countries such as Australia move to tighten gambling regulations. Driven by shareholders demand for market share growth and profits, gambling operators like other health harming industries such as alcohol and tobacco are engaged in predatory practices in these countries, including pervasive gambling advertisements and sponsorships, normalising gambling and gambling products as harmless leisure activities and easier way to make money. With gambling predominantly becoming a borderless and anonymous online activity, and countries in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa being important migrant source to Australia, there is the need to explore gambling regulations in these countries and examine how the source and host country factors may interact to shape gambling behaviour and gambling related harms among migrants living in Western Australia.

Aims

This research aims to examine the determinants of gambling behaviour and harms among migrants living in WA. Areas of focus will include comparative analysis of gambling regulations, gambling attitudes, experiences of migrants, drivers of gambling, and effective and comprehensive public health approaches.

Objectives

1. Conduct comparative analysis of gambling regulations in two migration source countries (Asia = 1 country, sub-Saharan Africa = 1 country) and the host country (Australia). 
2. Examine the factors that drive gambling behaviour among migrants from the two source countries currently living in Western Australia. 
3. Explore the gambling experiences of these migrants in their country of origin and in Australia.   
4. Examine domestic and cross-border approaches to prevent and minimise gambling and gambling related harms among migrants.

Significance 

There is little research done on how source country factors influence gambling behaviour and harms in host countries. This study will contribute to understanding how the wider determinants of migrant health and wellbeing including how source country factors may interact with host country factors to shape gambling behaviour. The study will provide evidence to support the recent call by the Lancet Commission on gambling for a global public health approach to addressing the transnational threat of gambling. Specifically, the study will contribute to identifying effective national and cross-border regulations to address gambling behaviour and gambling related harms.

The supervisory team for this PhD study has accessed this study to be feasible within the stipulated timeframe for PhD completion in the Curtin School of Population Health. The supervisory team brings a wealth of experience in HDR supervision and in the proposed area of research. This PhD is an opportunity to build on previous gambling research work of the supervisory team. The candidate will be based in the Collaboration for Evidence, Research and Impact in Public Health (CERIPH), facilitating a multidisciplinary training experience. CERIPH will provide infrastructure support, professional development, teaching and learning integration and facilitate knowledge translation. CERRPH will provide the opportunity for the candidate to work with external organisations strengthening the scholar’s appreciation of knowledge translation and effective collaboration with health organisations. The study will continue to raise Curtin’s profile as a key contributor to research addressing a range of health issues and determinants that result from cross-border movement.

An internship may be available for this project. There is the opportunity for the candidate to do an internship with CentreCare's gambling support service (Gambling Help W.A). CentreCare has been at the forefront of assisting those affected by gambling harms and is the only funded service of its kind in WA. CentreCare has accumulated extensive client data through its support service and this presents an invaluable opportunity for in-depth analysis and research. The supervisory team has initiated a research project with CentreCare funded by the Curtin School of Population Health and offers an opportunity for the candidate to deepen understanding of the complexities of gambling while conducting and translating research findings into practice.

• Future Students

• Faculty of Health Sciences

• Higher Degree by Research

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

• Merit Based

The annual scholarship package, covering both stipend and tuition fees, amounts to approximately $70,000 per year.

In 2024, the RTP stipend scholarship offers $35,000 per annum for a duration of up to three years. Exceptional progress and adherence to timelines may qualify students for a six-month completion scholarship.

Selection for these scholarships involves a competitive process, with shortlisted applicants notified of outcomes by November 2024.

1

All applicable HDR courses.

Ideally, the applicant will have: 
• a background in public health, health promotion, social or behavioural sciences;  
• an interest in community-facing, policy-relevant research; 
• strong verbal communication and interpersonal skills; 
• excellent written communication skills including the peer-reviewed and grey literature; 
• strong project management skills;  
• ability to work independently and as part of a team; and 
• experience or interest in mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) approaches.

 

Please send your CV, academic transcripts and brief rationale why you want to join this research project via the HDR expression of interest form to the project lead researcher, listed below. 

You must be enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2025.

Project Lead: Dr Emmanuel Badu