Ian Cox Memorial Social Work Honours Scholarship

The Ian Cox Memorial Social Work Honours Scholarship has been established in memory of the late Ian Cox, who was Director-General of the Department of Community Welfare from 1970 to 1984. He was also an Associate Professor and lecturer in Social Work at UniSA from 1987 to 2000. Ian Cox was instrumental in a comprehensive reform of juvenile justice and made a significant contribution to establishing community engagement with the government's program of support for South Australians experiencing disadvantage. Each year, the Department for Child Protection awards the Ian Cox Memorial Social Work Honours Scholarship to two students at the UniSA School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy valued at $10,000. The scholarship aims to encourage research that supports the Department's purpose of caring for and protecting at risk children and young people. During the year students receiving the scholarship will also have their HECS fees paid by the School of Psychology, Social Work and Social Policy. The scholarship was established to inspire inquiry and further research in the area of child protection, in recognition of the work of the late Ian Cox, Director-General of the Department of Community Welfare from 1970 to 1984, and Associate Professor and lecturer in social work at the University of South Australia from 1987 to 2000. Throughout his career Ian Cox was a champion for all Australians, researching, advising and pioneering new ways of working to improve services to those experiencing disadvantage. He also advocated for the rights of parents to have their voices heard in professional discussions about their children and families and to access their own information.

Eligibility

Applicants must be undertaking research in one of the following Department for Child Protection Research Priority Areas: - Reducing Aboriginal children in care; research will focus on addressing the disproportionate number of Aboriginal children in care by supporting strength and safety in Aboriginal families, communities and culture. - Research should be conducted on priorities arising from and endorsed by the Aboriginal community to enhance acceptability, relevance and accountability. - Improving care experience; research will support children and young people in out of home care to thrive and transition successfully to adult life. - Supporting families and carers; research will contribute to prevention and early intervention through supporting families, carers and communities to thrive, including building the evidence base on child abuse risk factors. - Deliver a better system; research will improve the organisations ability to keep children and young people safe.Findings of the research must be applicable to policy and/or service development within South Australia.Eligible applicants must be Australian citizens or Permanent Residents.Selection will be based on academic merit and a written statement and short-listed applicants may be invited to attend an interview with the scholarship selection panel. During the year students receiving the scholarship will also have their HECS fees paid by the Academic Unit UniSA Justice and Society.

Further details

Applicants must be undertaking research in one of the following broad areas of interest: the disproportional representation of Aboriginal families and children in the Child Protection system and at risk; early Intervention and prevention for families at risk of entering the Child Protection system; improving the capacity and effectiveness of the Child Protection system, including workforce development, and Carers; children in the Child Protection system: wellbeing, Voice, Cultural, disabilities, Out of home Care; transitioning from Care Findings of the research must be applicable to policy and/or service development within South Australia.