ACC has announced the recipients of its inaugural postgraduate research scholarships, launched in collaboration with Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara.
Six students have been awarded funding for projects focused on injury prevention, recovery strategies, and areas of significance for ACC’s long-term priorities.
The scholarships, introduced in 2024, are open to master’s degree students commencing research in 2024 or 2025. Awards range from $7,500 to $15,000 and support full-time and part-time candidates enrolled at approved New Zealand universities.
Eligible research topics must align with ACC’s focus areas, including injury prevention and sustainable recovery practices.
Hana Sikma (pictured), pursuing a master of philosophy degree in health and environmental sciences at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), is researching the impact of emergency medical service response times on health outcomes for individuals aged 65 and older who experience hip fractures from falls.
Her project evaluates data across socio-economic and cultural groups, with a particular emphasis on equity for Māori and Pasifika populations.
Her dual experience as a physiotherapist and paramedic informs her aim to influence improvements in 111 call triage systems, potentially reducing response times and improving outcomes for older patients.
At the University of Otago, Merrick Rodrigues is working on a master's in public health, studying how pre-existing disabilities influence injury severity and recovery.
His research uses longitudinal data from two large-scale studies that span 12 years, offering insights into injury recovery for New Zealanders with disabilities.
The work focuses on addressing gaps in knowledge about effective recovery methods, especially for Māori participants, who form the largest subgroup studied in this area.
Also at the University of Otago, Merope Griffin is pursuing a master of health sciences degree with a project exploring how factors such as socio-economic status, rural living, and ethnicity intersect to influence injury-related deaths.
Her research draws on five years of mortality data, with a focus on rural Māori communities under 65 years.
Griffin’s clinical experience as a GP registrar has highlighted the burden of preventable injuries in rural settings, guiding her efforts to identify patterns and recommend targeted interventions to reduce inequities.
Luke Hollis is undertaking a master of health psychology degree at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, where his research focuses on recovery processes for male survivors of childhood sexual abuse.
He is investigating how disclosure influences recovery, with attention to culturally appropriate therapeutic methods and Māori health partnerships.
His project incorporates Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through consultations with Māori advisors and collaboration with Māori health services.
Pursuing a master of science in psychology at the University of Otago, Reghan Laurie is studying mental health service access and support for dairy farmers.
Laurie’s project will analyse the unique challenges faced by farmers, including high levels of stress and burnout, and seek to bridge the gap between urban-centric mental health services and rural needs.
Drawing on his personal experience in farming, Laurie aims to explore potential service improvements and factors that motivate farmers to remain in the profession.
At Massey University, Adrian Pretorius is working towards a master of public health with research focused on older adults and their use of mobile apps for fall prevention.
Through interviews, Pretorius aims to understand user preferences, barriers, and motivators for engaging with digital tools. His findings will contribute to designing more effective health technologies to support injury prevention among older adults and promote independence.
The ACC scholarship is administered by Universities New Zealand – Te Pōkai Tara.
Applications will reopen on June 1, 2025, and close on Aug. 15, 2025. Further information is available on the Universities New Zealand website.
