Collaborative Grants

Supporting Development of Interventions to Address the Health of Rideshare Drivers

This project aims to support the development of multi-level interventions that will address the occupational health and safety and improve the health of rideshare drivers (and precarious work groups) in Australia. To achieve this goal, comprehensive data on this workforce, and their work arrangements and working conditions is needed. This information will inform policy development related to occupational health and safety of rideshare drivers and be constructive both through direct effects on compliance by passengers, rideshare drivers, and rideshare companies, and through their indirect influence in communicating occupational safety expectations to these groups and other key stakeholders. 

Dr Johnathon Ehsani (2008) and Dr Brett Shannon (2021) have undertaken this collaboration in order to develop effective survey tools combined with feasible administration methods are required to collected detailed occupational and health data, especially in a precarious work environment, in order to determine relationships between features of work and adverse health outcomes. These pilot data will also provide knowledge formation into well-being in the overall rideshare population and within specific worker subpopulations (e.g., among different sub-types of rideshare drivers) and will allow for preliminary identification of aspects of rideshare well-being that might be targets for intervention. 

Opportunities for Open Data Standards in Building and Urban Design 
The future development of Australia's built environment must tackle two key challenges:

1. transitioning to net-zero construction practices and
2. improving access to affordable housing.

These solutions are often perceived as conflicting. For instance, implementing regulations to enhance building sustainability or government investments in mass housing construction are believed to raise overall construction costs. A more fundamental issue lies in the scarcity of public data available for independent and transparent measurement of progress towards these goals. Furthermore, there is a lack of data sharing within and between building design and urban planning ecosystems, impeding the development of innovative solutions that could address both challenges effectively. This project aims to combine the respective expertise of Dr Joe Gattas (2010 John Monash Scholar) in computational building design and Claire Daniel (2015 Commonwealth Bank John Monash Scholar) in data-driven urban planning. Together, Joe and Claire will explore the opportunities, barriers, and intersections between open data standards for building and urban designers.

The Obesity and Weight Stigma Challenge on Social Media: Perspective of Health Professionals

Health and provision of healthcare do not exist within a silo. However, health care providers rarely take the opportunity to understand social movements which silently shape the way patients engage with the concept of health and thus the way health information is acted upon. Dr Gemma Sharp (2007 John Monash Scholar) and Dr Maria Bilal (2020 Australian Universities’ John Monash Scholar) aim to explore the perspectives of health professionals and the treatment of patients across the weight spectrum and the influence of various social media driven body size movements. The Scholars plan to undertake in-depth research to understand what is involved in the treatment of obesity and weight-related issues. Overall, this project aims to begin a key conversation around spearheading health behaviour change that empowers patients and promotes weight-related health outcomes that are in the national interest.

Endometriosis for leaders: A masterclass and design workshop with John Monash Scholars  

At least one in ten Australians assigned female at birth will be diagnosed with endometriosis. As John Monash Scholars, Dr Amy McLennan (2009 John Monash Scholar) and Jessica Coldrey (2021 Victorian Government John Monash Scholar) have the potential to contribute significantly to improving individual and societal outcomes by taking endometriosis conversation into a new territory, beyond the confines of gynaecology. This project aims to bring a wide range of Australian leaders and John Monash Scholars together to learn about the past and present of endometriosis and collectively reframe the conversation in Australia moving forward.

Called To Serve, A Work for SATB Choir

Embodying the spirit of General Sir John Monash, Michael Grebla (2016 Zelman Cowen John Monash Scholar) and Ben Mylius (2014 Murray-Darling Basin Authority John Monash Scholar) are composing music and writing lyrics for music that aims to celebrate the legacy of General Sir John Monash and the values that the Foundation Scholars stand for. Michael has a Master of Music Composition from the New England Conservatory of Music and Ben has a PhD in Law and Political Science from Yale and then Columbia University. Together, they hope to inspire positivity and healing through story and music. 

A Treatment for Oesophageal Atresia

Michaela Taylor-Williams (2019 Woodside John Monash Scholar) and Dr Brendan Jones (2019 Chairman’s Circle John Monash Scholar) are working on a treatment for Oesophageal Atresia, a deadly birth defect that occurs when a child is missing the organ that connects their throat to their stomach. Oesophageal Atresia causes feeding problems, severe reflux, and an increased risk of cancer. Michaela is currently completing her Scholarship for a PhD in Physics at the University of Cambridge and Brendan his PhD in Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine at University College London. Together, they are working to develop multispectral endoscopic imaging of engineered oesophageal tissue. 

The politics of anti-corruption reforms in Southeast Asia

Dr Jacqueline Baker (2004 John Monash Scholar) and Dr Sarah Milne (2005 John Monash Scholar) have come together to ask the question – ‘how can best practice anti-corruption reforms go wrong’? They are using Cambodia’s 10-year anti-corruption regime as a case study that will aim to paint a broader picture of what is happening across Southeast Asia. Studying corruption (abuses in power) is difficult because there is currently little research and data. However, corruption underpins how things work in this region as countries rely heavily on illicit financial flows. 

Boy on Fire - A Short Film

Alies Sluiter (2015 Australian Cultural John Monash Scholar) and Tom Williams (2015 Woodside John Monash Scholar) are creating a short film entitled Boy on Fire. The film is written and directed by Alies and draws on her experience working in a juvenile detention centre whilst attending Columbia University where she studied a Master of Fine Arts and Filmmaking. Tom, who attended the China Europe International Business School to undertake a Masters in Asia and Entrepreneurship, is the producer. This film explores themes of atonement, the cycle of victimhood and the psychology of forgiveness.