The digital world is reshaping experiences of childhood and parenting, opening up new opportunities but equally bringing challenges that need to be urgently addressed. Apps, platforms and devices can generate and collect huge amounts of data from children from the day they're born, and sometimes even earlier, while parenting involves more and more digital tools since the rise in popularity of mobile phones. But what happens to all that data? Who makes the rules when commercial companies create parenting apps or devices? How reliable are these tools? Should GenerativeAI tools have access to, or be trained on, children’s data? And what balance between sharing and protecting young children’s data best protects their rights and future privacy?

Working in the Connected programme of the Curtin node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, the successful candidate for this PhD scholarship will explore and analyse some of the big challenges around digital childhoods today, and map best practice for parents in the future. This scholarship in particular will support a research project examining children’s, and parent’s, data flows and privacy both today and in the future.

• Future Students

• Faculty of Humanities

• Higher Degree by Research

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

• Merit Based

This scholarship provides a living stipend of $42,500 p.a (comprising $37,500.00 + a $5,000.00 top up), based on full-time studies, for up 3 years, with the potential for a 6-month extension if required.

1

Any HDR student wishing to study in the broad Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, especially media and communications.

• Essential: full-time enrolment
• Essential: the successful recipients must also not be in receipt of any other scholarship.
• Essential: English language IELTS level of 7 and above 
• Essential: Successful completion of an Honours or Masters programme with a research component (or equivalent) First class or upper second-class honours, and/or Masters degree by research in a field relevant to the project (for example, but not limited to, Communications, Cultural Studies, Digital and Social Media, Social Sciences, Arts, Humanities).
• Desirable: interest in the apps, platforms and devices which collect and collate children’s data
• Desirable: experience in qualitative research methods

To express your interest, please submit an EOI form address to Prof Tama Leaver (T.Leaver@curtin.edu.au ) in advance of the closing date (12 March 2025) with the following information/documents:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Academic transcripts
3. A brief covering letter (no more than 2 sides A4) that addresses the eligibility criteria. The letter should explain why you are interested in the project and how your skills, attributes and experience make you a good candidate for this scholarship.
4. Applicants are encouraged to provide a sample of academic writing (e.g., excerpt of Honours or Masters thesis or a published article).

Early Expressions of Interest before the closing date are encouraged.

1. You must be enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by 1 July 2025.
2. Recipients must complete their milestone 1 within 6 month of enrolment and remain enrolled on a full-time basis for the duration of the scholarship.

For enquires, please contact Professor Tama Leaver via email t.leaver@curtin.edu.au.