Show Me
ACU has partnered with the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), Ausmed and Monash Health to launch the Cynthia Wellings PhD Scholarship, to advance nursing leadership in digital health.
The scholarship, worth $89,000 over three years, will support research into informatics and digital health, including areas like standardised nursing terminologies, AI in nursing, and co-designing digital health technologies with patients.
Named after Ausmed founder and nursing education champion Cynthea Wellings, this scholarship is a significant investment in the future of nursing practice in Australia.
Director of ACU’s Graduate Research School Michelle Lopez said the university’s scholarship program brings together talented PhD candidates, experienced academics, and industry partners to deliver evidence‐based solutions to real‐world challenges.
“By contributing $233,000 to this PhD scholarship, ACU is demonstrating its commitment to collaborative engagement and high-impact research,” Ms Lopez said.
“The investment also reflects our dedication to enabling flourishing lives, fostering thriving communities, and shaping an ethical future – core pillars of ACU’s vision.”
The PhD scholarship will support research into informatics and digital health, with the exact project to be determined based on the successful candidate’s interests, experience, and prior education.
Potential research areas include:
ACU Associate Dean of Learning, Teaching and Professional Experience Professor Stephen Guinea is leading the working group responsible for implementing this initiative.
ACN chief executive Adjunct Professor Kathryn Zeitz FACN described Cynthea as a leading champion of nursing education, and an outstanding example of nursing leadership in digital transformations.
She said nurses must be key drivers of the effective implementation of digital health technologies to enhance patient safety and promote the use of data to improve care quality and efficiency.
“Nursing leadership is integral to the success of digital health,” Adjunct Professor Zeitz said. “This new scholarship represents a significant investment in the future of nursing practice in Australia.
“By fully embracing digital health and informatics, we’re ensuring that patients and the health system will benefit from nurses’ expertise in healthcare innovation and deep understanding of the realities and needs of healthcare delivery.”
Expressions of interest close 27 February, with full applications due 1 April 2026.
We're available 9am–5pm AEDT,
Monday to Friday
If you’ve got a question, our AskACU team has you covered. You can search FAQs, text us, email, live chat, call – whatever works for you.
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Copy Link