Flourishing Health Systems: Embedding Disabled People’s Expertise in Health Design
History and purpose
This scholarship is funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand Research Programme grant: Flourishing Health Systems: Embedding Disabled People’s Expertise in Health Design led by researchers at Victoria University of Wellington and the University of Otago. The project began in July 2026 and will run until June 2029.
The PhD scholarship has been funded within the grant as part of a broader effort to strengthen research capability and capacity building in disability research.
The research programme is designed to support Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand (HNZ) to embed disabled people’s and tāngata whaikaha Māori lived expertise into health service design, planning, commissioning, and rehabilitation access decisions.
The aim is to work alongside existing HNZ priorities and work programmes, identifying practical ‘insertion points’ where lived expertise can strengthen real-time decisions about access, service pathways, prioritisation, and equity.
The project uses He Awa Whiria: the braided river methodology as its overarching approach. This reflects the way different knowledge streams can flow alongside and into each other while retaining their integrity.
Who is eligible?
Applicants must:
- be a Disabled person/Tāngata Whaikaha and/or Deaf/Tāngata Turi*
- have completed Honours or Masters in a relevant field e.g. disability studies, health promotion, health policy, rehabilitation, Māori health, public health, health science, social science or another relevant discipline
- meet the criteria for PhD admission at Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington
- be interested in undertaking collaborative, equity-focused research within the Flourishing Health Systems programme.
*Disability is understood broadly and inclusively. Applicants are not expected to represent the experiences of all disabled people, and no particular impairment, diagnosis or support need is required.
Selection criteria
The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of:
- relevant research, clinical, policy, community or lived-experience-related experience;
- demonstrated interest in disability, rehabilitation, health equity and/or disability-inclusive research;
- interest or experience in participatory, co-design or other collaborative research approaches;
- commitment to working in genuine partnership with disabled people and tāngata whaikaha Māori, including valuing lived expertise as a form of knowledge;
- understanding of, or willingness to develop capability in, Te Tiriti-responsive and culturally safe research practice;
- ability to work relationally and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary research team and with community and health-system partners;
- critical thinking, reflexivity, curiosity and capacity to work constructively with complexity and evolving research questions;
- the strengths, perspectives and capabilities the applicant would bring to the wider Flourishing Health Systems mahi; and
- academic preparation and research potential appropriate for doctoral study.
Application process
All enquiries should be directed to Dr Lesley Middleton Te Puna Hauora | School of Health: lesley.middleton@vuw.ac.nz
New Doctoral applicants to the university will need to apply for admission to the PhD programme and apply for the Flourishing Health Systems: Embedding Disabled People’s Expertise in Health Design Scholarship.
We recognise that conventional recruitment and doctoral processes can create barriers for disabled people. If you are interested in this opportunity but unsure whether the application process or PhD environment can meet your access needs, we encourage you to get in touch. We are happy to discuss what would help you participate equitably before you decide whether to apply.
Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview. The interview will be a two-way conversation and will provide applicants with an opportunity to discuss their research interests and how these might align with the wider programme; the strengths and capabilities they would bring to the mahi as a whole; how they approach collaborative and participatory research; and how undertaking a PhD may support their ongoing learning, development and future contribution. Applicants will also have an opportunity to ask questions about the project, supervision, accessibility and the doctoral experience.
All applications should include the specific documentation described in the next section.
Scholarship specific documentation
- CV
- Personal statement addressing why you wish to undertake a PhD and why this topic is of interest to you.
- Academic transcripts
Selection process
The decision to offer the scholarship will be made by a selection panel comprising senior members of the Flourishing Health Systems research team and chaired by one of the programme’s Co-Principal Investigators.
The panel will include people with relevant disability research and participatory research expertise.
The selection process will be designed to support equitable and accessible participation by shortlisted applicants.
Additional information
Stipend will be paid directly to the student as monthly payments. Tuition fees will be paid directly to the University.
Accessibility and working arrangements:
The Flourishing Health Systems team is committed to creating an accessible and supportive doctoral research environment. The PhD can include flexible ways of working, including an agreed mix of on-campus and remote work, flexible scheduling, and adaptations to meetings, travel, communication and research activities where feasible. The supervisory and project teams will work with the successful candidate to identify and support individual access needs, including reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, accessible materials, communication support and other practical adjustments. Access needs can be discussed confidentially.
The successful scholar will be expected to participate as a member of the Flourishing Health Systems research community. This may include agreed project and research-team hui, engagement with the Co-Production Team and other partners, contribution to relevant project activities, and input to Health Research Council progress reporting where this relates to their doctoral work. Expectations will be planned with the student and supervisory team so that project contribution supports, rather than displaces, progress on the PhD.
Conditions
- A completed online application must be submitted by 4.30 pm on the closing date. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. Any required supporting documentation (including references) must also be received by 4.30 pm on the closing date in order for the application to be considered.
- All offers of the Scholarship will be conditional upon the recipient being fully enrolled in a full-year programme (full time will be at the level of points considered by Studylink as full time) within the stipulated criteria and tenure of the scholarship. No payment of the Scholarship will be made until this condition is met.
- The Scholarship cannot be deferred to a later year.
- The Scholarship may be held in conjunction with other awards.
- Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw.
- Recipients are expected to act as Ambassadors for Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and participate in appropriate events or marketing if requested.
- At the discretion of the Deciding Authority, the application of the terms and conditions of the Scholarship may be modified in special circumstances or to avoid hardship to any candidate for the Scholarship.
Contact
The Doctoral Admissions and Scholarships team at pg-research@vuw.ac.nz