About the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation

More than just a football club, the Western Bulldogs has a long-standing history as the community club of the AFL. The Western Bulldogs Community Foundation is the club’s community arm that utilises the trusted brand of our football club to deliver life-changing programs. At its core, the Foundation delivers demonstrated impact in the areas of health and wellbeing, youth leadership, cultural diversity, social inclusion and community advocacy.

Across Melbourne and Victoria’s west, we reach over 20,000 community members each year, including direct capacity building for over 4,000 participants in our targeted programs. This critical work is underpinned by a whole-of-club commitment that is strongly supported by all three levels of government and a range of corporate and community partners. Our programs are independently and academically evaluated to ensure we meet the ever-changing needs of our community, and we are always evolving our content and delivery methods to be best practice.

We strive every day to create an impact that inspires. More information about the Foundation can be found at www.westernbulldogs.com.au/foundation.

Your contribution to the team includes

The Paid PhD Candidate will undertake a three-year industry-embedded research project within the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation, exploring how community sport-for-development organisations can operationalise a Theory of Change into a credible, sustainable and evidence-based impact measurement framework. Working closely with Foundation staff and academic supervisors, the successful candidate will deliver research that creates meaningful outcomes for both the Foundation and the broader community sector.

This role is responsible for:

• Conducting doctoral research focused on impact measurement, evaluation and reporting within community sport-for-development.
• Collaborating with Foundation staff, program participants and key stakeholders to co-design evaluation approaches and frameworks.
• Translating research findings into practical tools, reporting frameworks and recommendations that support organisational learning and community impact.
• Contributing to academic publications, conference presentations and industry-facing outputs.

Research Focus

• Review and analyse existing program evaluations, impact measurement approaches and organisational reporting practices.
• Develop and test a Theory of Change-aligned Impact Reporting Framework for the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
• Examine the application of theory-based evaluation methods and social value approaches, including Social Return on Investment (SROI).
• Work alongside Foundation staff to embed practical measurement systems that can be sustained beyond the life of the project.

Skills and experience

Must meet eligibility criteria as stipulated by VU INSPIRED PhD program (for domestic student applicants only). Refer to Application Guide – https://www.vu.edu.au/study-at-vu/fees-scholarships/scholarships/graduate-research-scholarships/vu-inspired-program

• Honours or Master’s research qualification, or equivalent research experience, in a relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated interest in program evaluation, social impact, community development, sport management, public health, education, public policy, psychology or related fields.
• Strong qualitative and/or quantitative research skills.
• Excellent written communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to work independently while building strong collaborative relationships with industry and academic partners.
• Passion for creating positive social outcomes through research and evidence-based practice.

What’s on offer

• Fully funded, PhD opportunity for a 3.5-year research project.
• Industry-embedded experience within the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation.
• Opportunity to create meaningful and lasting impact across communities throughout Melbourne and Victoria’s west.
• Access to Foundation programs, stakeholders and real-world research environments.
• Flexible working arrangements with opportunities for hybrid work.
• Close to West Footscray Station with free onsite parking available.

How to Apply

Please review VU’s industry-based graduate research stipend scholarship application guide with information on how to apply – https://www.vu.edu.au/sites/default/files/documents/2026-06/beyond-participation-research-scholarships-application-guide.pdf

Successful candidates will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check and a satisfactory National Criminal History Check.

EOIs currently open.

With strong interest expected, we’ll be reviewing applications as they are received and encourage interested candidates to apply early.

Western Bulldogs acknowledges that we reside on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional lands, and through them to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples past, present and emerging. Western Bulldogs encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to apply.