Beyond broadcasting: Community radio as a model community organisation

We are currently looking for a PhD candidate to support a recently awarded ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award.

The candidate will contribute to exploring the importance of volunteering in local communities and the role of community radio therein. The primary focus of this role is to conduct research that supports community media outlets and other community organisations in identifying, attracting, and retaining volunteers through creative and community-engaged methods.

This project includes opportunities to collaborate with international partners and industry.

Scholarship details

This project is situated within the Griffith Centre for Social and Cultural Research (GCSCR). The GCSCR is dedicated to increasing our understanding of current challenges facing the modern world. Through the application of innovative humanities and social science research, incorporating the knowledge of academics from a broad range of interrelated disciplines, we are at the cutting edge of humanities and social science discourse.

You will be working with Dr Bridget Backhaus, a media studies researcher with extensive expertise in community and alternative media. Her work draws on participatory and practice-research methods to explore intersections of community media and social change.

The GCSCR has a strong tradition of world-class community media research. The candidate will have the opportunity to work alongside leaders in the field and contribute to growing our understanding of the role of community media in contemporary society.

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background.  The successful candidate will have a background or demonstrated interest in media studies and/or third sector studies.  To be successful within this role, you will have experience in qualitative methods including interviewing, facilitating focus group discussions, and analysing qualitative research data. You will have evidence of a passion for community-engaged research, with a strong interest or capacity in creative practice-research, volunteering, and working with communities.

  • Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic and international applicants.
  • Applicants must have completed, or expect to complete, a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to first class honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9) incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure.  For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

International applicants should ensure that English Language Proficiency requirements for the program are met before formally applying. Applicants to research programs will need to show they meet:

  1. A minimum overall band score of 6.5 on the IELTS (Academic) with no band score less than 6.0 OR
  2. A minimum score of 575 on the paper-based TOEFL including a score of no less than 5.0 on the TWE OR
  3. A score of 79 on the internet-based (iBT) TOEFL with no sub-score less than 19

The 2024 Griffith University Postgraduate Research Scholarship has an annual stipend of $33,480 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of full-time study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

A successful International applicant will also be awarded a Griffith University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship to cover tuition fees for up to three years. Please see the GUIPRS Conditions of Award for more information.

As a scholarship holder, you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2% worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious, creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffith's strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

For project related enquiries please contact:

Dr Bridget Backhaus




Email: b.backhaus@griffith.edu.au

For administration enquiries please contact:

Griffith Graduate Research School

Email: hdr-scholarship@griffith.edu.au

Please do not select the “APPLY” button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to b.backhaus@griffith.edu.au containing:

  • Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
  • Research proposal (max 500 words)
  • Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section
  • A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template
  • Names of two referees

The closing date for expressions of interest is:  5pm  Monday 27 May 2024

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship on-line