Push for Better Foundation is proudly supporting a student to undertake a three-year PhD at The University of Melbourne, exploring mental health and connection.
The scholarship is a first for Push for Better Foundation, following a successful 2022 that saw its flagship event, The Push-Up Challenge, engage 153,000 participants and raise $10.1 million for mental health.
“Tackling the preventative space can have a multiplier effect when reducing the burden of mental illness on our communities,” says Nick Hudson, CEO and chairperson of the Push for Better Foundation, and founder of The Push-Up Challenge.
“This scholarship is made possible by the efforts of thousands of participants in our event. We’re very lucky to have such a passionate following and we’re looking forward to continuing to make a big difference to mental health.”
The Push-Up Challenge asks participants to complete a number of push-ups each June, with the total push-up target corresponding to the number of lives lost to suicide in the previous reporting year. The event’s over-arching mission is to promote awareness, dismantle the stigma around mental illness and support early intervention and prevention for depression, anxiety and suicide.
Generous donations by thousands of Australians supporting their mates, family and colleagues who pledged to complete 3,139 push-ups in 24 days during The Push-Up Challenge 2022, have allowed Push for Better Foundation to support this important investment in population mental health research.
The University of Melbourne is now calling for expressions of interest from potential candidates. The research will take place within the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, under the supervision of Professor Nicola Reavley.
Candidates are encouraged to identify specific topics related to social connection and mental health, with a population health focus. Applicants must have Australian citizenship and those with lived experience of mental illness are encouraged to apply, however this is not a pre-requisite.
Applicants are invited to submit a one-page Expression of Interest letter, with a topic idea, together with their CV to Prof Reavley by 30 June, 2023. Further details available from The University of Melbourne.
