PhD Scholarship Regional Destination Transformation Developing Route Tourism Along the Savannah Way

This is an exciting PhD opportunity to join the Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT)s project Unearth Etheridge: Tourism Developments along the Savannah Way. GIFT is working with Etheridge Shire Council to transform Etheridge Shire into a central tourism hub along the Savannah Way. Guided by the Councils comprehensive Tourism Masterplan the Unearth Etheridge project focuses on sustainable tourism development that promotes economic diversification and enhances the visitor experience across the region. The transformative Unearth Etheridge project will deliver four tourism infrastructure developments along the Savannah Way aligning with the Etheridge Shires 10year Tourism Masterplan and key regional state and national priorities.

Connected to and extending the Unearth Etheridge project this PhD project will investigate the opportunities challenges and processes involved in developing and positioning the Savannah Way as a worldrenowned drive route. The Savannah Way is a 3700km route connecting Cairns with Broome. Continued development of the Savannah Way is critical for the sustainable and resilient development of remote communities in Northern Australia with tourism a key vehicle to drive economic growth. Outcomes of this PhD project will inform policy to guide peak bodies government agencies and local communities to develop diverse yet complementary tourism offerings across each region encouraging the dispersal of domestic and international visitors along the Savannah Way.

As a PhD candidate connected to the Unearth Etheridge project team youll take on complex challenges using your skills and experience to advance and drive meaningful change. You will work under the supervision of the Project Leads Associate Professor Anna Kralj and Professor Brent Moyle to generate new interdisciplinary knowledge of the structural organisational and personal factors affecting the development of route tourism in remote Australia.  The evidence base of the PhD project will draw from and also build on various elements of the ongoing program of research and consultancy the Unearth Etheridge project team is conducting with Etheridge Shire Council and will inform future strategies for tourism development along the Savannah Way.

Qualifications :

The selection of applicants for the award of higher degree research scholarships at Griffith University involves consideration of your academic merit and research background. Expressions of interest can only be accepted from domestic applicants. Applicants with a background in stakeholder engagement and community consultation in remote Australian communities communityled design principles visitor interpretation and project management will be preferred. You also need to be able to work effectively with industry partners to solve realworld problems.

• Expressions of interest are welcome from domestic applicants only.
• Applicants must have completed or expect to complete a bachelors degree with honours equivalent to second class (division A) honours or a Masters degree (AQF Level 9 incorporating a significant research component of a standard comparable to a bachelor honours degree or be regarded by Griffith University as having an equivalent level of attainment in accordance with Schedule One of the HDR Scholarship Procedure.  For further information on the eligibility requirements for the program refer here.

Please note:

• Extensive experience in community consultation experience design interpretive design and content creation is highly desirable.
• Experience working with communities in remote Australia is desirable.

About the scholarship
This 2025 Scholarship has an annual stipend of $34752 (indexed) for a period of up to three years of fulltime study. Please see the GUPRS Conditions of Award for more information. This project also includes a annual stipend TopUp Scholarship of $17000 for a period of up to three years of fulltime study.

What Griffith offers
As a scholarship holder you will study with a University that ranks among the top 2 worldwide and spans across campuses in South East Queensland. At Griffith University weve worked hard to create a culture that will challenge you to be curious creative and courageous. We also support the professional and personal development of all our HDR candidates and invest in the skills of our people. Griffith University values diversity inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people of all backgrounds to apply. Griffiths strategic goals are to also increase the proportion of women in senior academic and administrative roles and in Science Technology Engineering Mathematics and Medicine (STEMM).

EOI Process
Please do not select the APPLY button. All expressions of interest must be submitted to  containing:

• Statement addressing your suitability for the project/scholarship
• Evidence that you have completed a program with the required grades as detailed in the about you section including a  copy of your academic transcript
• A curriculum vitae (CV) using the Griffith CV template.
• Names of two referees

The closing date for expressions of interest is: Tuesday 22nd April 2025 at 5pm AEST.

The preferred applicant will then be invited to apply for the program and scholarship online

For project related enquiries please contact:
Associate Professor Anna Kralj
Email: 

For administration enquiries please contact:
Griffith Graduate Research School
Email: