2026-2027 Vacation Study Program - Project Submissions

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2026-27 VACATION STUDY PROGRAM

* indicates a required field.

BEFORE YOU START (please read)

The Vacation Study Program (VSP) is a 6‑week placement that provides a foundational research experience for 2nd–4th year university students. It provides a hands‑on experience to real‑world health research projects delivered within Canberra Health Services (CHS) or the Health and Community Services Directorate (HCSD).

For supervisors, VSP strengthens research capacity across CHS and HCSD by providing the opportunity to lead a research project, build project management and supervisory experience, and access workshops that support effective supervision.

Applications are merit assessed with places in the Program limited. As such, not all project proposals will be selected and funded. Incomplete/late applications will not be considered.

SECTION 1 - PROJECT INFORMATION

Provide a clear project title (avoid acronyms where possible).

1.2 Project summary

A project summary should clearly define the problem and its context, identify existing gaps in evidence, and articulate the research question.

  • Problem & context - Briefly describe the problem/need within the local and/or national context. What is the issue, for whom, and why does it matter?.
  • Evidence gap - Summarise key existing evidence (peer‑reviewed and/or relevant guidelines/grey literature). What do we already know, and what’s the gap your project addresses?.
  • Research question - State a clear research question your project is trying to answer. Consider using a framework e.g. PICO or CoCoPop etc. as a guide to generate your research question.
1.3 Proposed research methods

Methods should be aligned with the research question.
Please include:

  • Study type/design: e.g., scoping review, observational cohort study, qualitative interviews.
  • Data/sources: what, where from, and access arrangements.
  • Sample/eligibility (if relevant): inclusion/exclusion.
  • Analysis plan: what analyses will be undertaken and how results will be interpreted.
  • Student tasks across the research cycle: focus on meaningful research engagement (e.g., literature review, analysis, interpretation, writing and/or dissemination), not only routine tasks such as data extraction/cleaning.
  • 6‑week feasibility: clearly state what will be completed by Week 6, versus what may start before and/or continue after the placement. Note any key dependencies (e.g., data access, ethics approvals, software) and how you will manage risks early in placement.
  • Progress to date (if any): briefly summarise what’s already been done (e.g., protocol drafted, key literature identified, ethics application underway, data availability checked).

1.4 Data readiness

If your project uses existing data, confirm what will be ready for the student by Week 1.

Select all that apply and provide details. * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Select all that apply and provide details.

1.5 Please describe anticipated outcomes of your VSP project

Identify at least 1-2 other project outputs/deliverables (in addition to the program requirements: a final report and presentation). For example, planned research dissemination either at a conference i.e CHARM and/or journal publications etc.

For example, a nursing or medical student.

1.7 Benefits to the student and to the organisation

 In 4-6 bullet points, describe:

• what the student will learn (skills and experience).
• how the host organisation will benefit (service improvement, evidence base, outputs).
• how the work will be used after the placement (e.g., briefing, implementation, publication pathway).

1.8 How does this project align with Better Together: A strategic plan for research in the ACT health system

Identify which objective(s) from the Better together - A strategic plan for research in the ACT health system 2022–2030 this project supports and explain, in 2-4 sentences, how the project contributes in a practical way (e.g., value‑based care, workforce capability, research translation, partnerships, equity).

1.9 Will the student be in a patient-facing role at any time during the project * Required
Response required.

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "1.9 Will the student be in a patient-facing role at any time during the project" on page 1

Describe the patient‑facing activities, supervision arrangements, any required clearances (e.g., WWVP, immunisations), and how patient privacy/consent will be managed.

SECTION 2 - IT AND BUILDING ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

2.1 What building access will the student require. Select all required locations for the student to complete the project. Only request what is necessary for the project activities and supervision plan. * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for 2.1 What building access will the student require. Select all required locations for the student to complete the project. Only request what is necessary for the project activities and supervision plan.

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "2.1 What building access will the student require. Select all required locations for the student to complete the project. Only request what is necessary for the project activities and supervision plan." on page 1

2.2 What file access will the student require * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for 2.2 What file access will the student require

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "2.2 What file access will the student require" on page 1

Please enter the name of an existing staff member who's access to objective files will be the same as the students

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "2.2 What file access will the student require" on page 1

* Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value
2.3 What software will the student require * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for 2.3 What software will the student require

SECTION 3 - SUPERVISION DETAILS

Enter the details of the primary supervisor who will be responsible for day‑to‑day supervision and project delivery.
Organisation affiliation * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Organisation affiliation
Eligibility requirement: The PRIMARY supervisor MUST be from Health and Community Services Directorate or Canberra Health Services. Academic partners are welcome as co‑supervisors.
Enter your current position title.
Must be an Australian phone number. Provide an Australian phone number where you can be contacted during business hours.
Must be an email address. Provide your work email address.
Lead discipline * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Lead discipline
No more than 1 choice may be selected. 
3.2 Which best describes your research supervision experience? * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for 3.2 Which best describes your research supervision experience?

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "3.2 Which best describes your research supervision experience?" on page 1

Provide details of your RESEARCH supervision experience (not clinical placement supervision).

Please Include:

  • Supervisee level(s): honours / HDR / intern/RA / summer student / other
  • Your role: Primary supervisor, Co-supervisor/secondary supervisor or Advisor
  • Approx. number of research projects supervised to completion
  • Typical methods you’ve supervised (e.g., quantitative analysis, qualitative analysis etc.)
Outputs achieved (tick all that apply): * Required
Response required.
Clear the selected value for Outputs achieved (tick all that apply):

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "3.2 Which best describes your research supervision experience?" on page 1

If you are new to research supervision, please describe the strategies or supports in place to ensure effective supervision for this project. Please include:
  • Name and email of a co-supervisor with strong research supervision experience who will actively support you and the student.
  • How you will ensure the student receives methodological/analysis support (e.g., access to stats/methods support).
List your two most recent publications or research outputs (preferably from the past 5 years). If you have limited publications, include other relevant outputs (e.g., reports, guidelines, conference abstracts, audits). Examples include: citation/DOI, conference abstract title, internal report title, or poster/presentation title.

3.4 Co-supervisor Nomination

Will this project have a co‑supervisor?

A co‑supervisor can be from any ACT organisation (e.g., HCSD, CHS, academia, HCCA, or other partner organisations).

* Required
Response required.

Co-supervisor details (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "" on page 1

Co-supervisor role (select all that apply)
Clear the selected value for Co-supervisor role (select all that apply)
Include (as applicable) prior research supervision (e.g., honours/HDR/intern projects), methods expertise (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, reviews, audits) and example outputs supported (report, abstract/poster, publication, presentation).

SECTION 4 - ETHICS REQUIREMENTS

If your VSP project is a new project, you will need to make an application for ethical review. All ethics applications are made via the REGIS platform REGIS Login - REGIS (nsw.gov.au) For a low risk project, the committee meets every two weeks and researchers should factor in a four week turnaround time from submission to review and outcome. For a greater than low risk project, the committee meets every month and researchers should factor in an eight week turnaround time from submission to review and outcome.

4.1 Does your project require Ethics approval? * Required

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "4.1 Does your project require Ethics approval?" on page 1

Confirm how the project will remain feasible within the 6‑week placement given ethics timing * Required
Response required.Response required.
Clear the selected value for Confirm how the project will remain feasible within the 6‑week placement given ethics timing
Will your project need to be amended to add a VSP student? * Required
Response required.
Existing ethically approved projects require an amendment request to add a student.

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Will your project need to be amended to add a VSP student?" on page 1

Ethics information about adding a student to project (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "Will your project need to be amended to add a VSP student?" on page 1

You will need to submit an amendment request to add a student. These submissions are accepted via email to ethics@act.gov.au To add a student, you will need provide a letter to the committee, please use the ROAR* acronym/method, providing the student’s name, role in the project and a copy of their CV and Good Clinical Practice (GCP) certificate.  The preferred GCP training provider is A-CTEC Home | ACTEC (myopenlms.net) access to the platform is free of charge.

    • Reason for submission
    • Overview of situation/amendment from PI
    • Any ethical implications
    • Required action/s

Ethics information about which type of approval they should apply for (Not Applicable)

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "4.1 Does your project require Ethics approval?" on page 1

Student projects are considered to be research training and are categorised as research rather than quality assurance/improvement (QAI). Supervisors are advised to submit all projects for ethical review.

What type of ethics approval will you apply for:
Clear the selected value for What type of ethics approval will you apply for:
Please note: Low risk projects should factor in a four week turnaround time from submission to an outcome and projects greater than low risk should factor in an eight week turnaround time from submission to outcome.

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "What type of ethics approval will you apply for:" on page 1

Explain why your project does not require ethics approval

SECTION 5 - SUPERVISOR AVAILABILITY AND COMMITMENT

5.1 Will you be available to support your student at the pre-placement presentation session on Friday, 31 October? * Required
Approximate duration 9am-12pm - supervisors are not required for the full session.
List any planned leave or periods of limited availability (e.g., Christmas/New Year). Confirm how supervision will be maintained during these periods (e.g., co‑supervisor coverage).
5.3 Will you be able to meet with the student face‑to‑face twice a week during the 6‑week placement? * Required
5.5 Will you be available to support your student at the final presentation session on Friday, 6 February? * Required
Approximate duration 9am-1pm – supervisors are not required for full session but are strongly encouraged to attend as much as possible.

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "5.1 Will you be available to support your student at the pre-placement presentation session on Friday, 31 October?" on page 1

This section is not applicable because of your response to question: "5.5 Will you be available to support your student at the final presentation session on Friday, 6 February?" on page 1

SECTION 6 - DECLARATIONS

I have read and I agree to the Health and Community Services Directorate privacy policy. * Required
Response required.
Confirm you understand funded placements are limited and you may be contacted about funding options if your project is not funded. * Required
Response required.