Honouring Research that Matters: 2025 HDR Awards

From pioneering research in clinical reasoning and curriculum design to impactful studies addressing global health challenges, our Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students and supervisors exemplify the university’s commitment to excellence, innovation, and purpose, underpinned by the mission Be Good.

“These awards not only celebrate the individual brilliance of our Higher Degree by Research students and supervisors but also highlight the essential role of mentorship, collaboration, and the pursuit of knowledge that drives real-world change. As we look to the future, our HDR community stands at the forefront of shaping a more informed and inclusive world.”

Professor Margee Hume, Dean, Higher Degrees by Research Centre

As part of 2025 Research & Innovation Week, Professor Kerry London, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research was thrilled to honour the achievements of the university’s researchers, supervisors, and Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students, who have contributed significantly to our growth, momentum, and maturity in research at Torrens University. Among the accolades, three HDR awards were presented:

• HDR Excellence Award: Celebrating outstanding contributions and achievements by Higher Degree by Research candidates, awarded to Dr Kelly Galvin.
• HDR Supervision Award: Recognising exceptional mentorship and guidance provided by HDR supervisors, awarded to the Business and Hospitality faculty, and the Research Centre for Organisational Change and Agility(COCA).
• HDR Outputs Award: Honouring impactful research outputs produced by HDR students, awarded to Gideon Dzando.

The 2025 Higher Degrees by Research Excellence Award

For excellence in Higher Degree by Research, supporting Torrens University Australia’s Be Good mission and making significant contributions to knowledge and outcomes in design-based research and clinical reasoning education.

Dr Galvin has demonstrated a promising career trajectory, securing employment as a Senior Lecturer at Swinburne University. Her thesis demonstrated reflexivity, original and critical thought, and a contribution to knowledge around design-based research, plus an understanding of the integration of a teaching artefact into a curriculum ecology.

The 2025 Research Supervision Excellence Award

The Research Supervision Excellence Award represents the university’s cornerstone of research endeavour, which is highly dependent on the quality of research supervision provided. The award was received jointly by the Supervisors from the Business and Hospitality faculty and the Research Centre for Organisational Change and Agility (COCA) for excellence in producing quality experiences and outcomes for our research students.

The 2025 Higher Degree by Research Outputs Award

The Higher Degree by Research Output Award recognises an HDR student who has produced an exceptional research output during their candidature, reflecting the academic rigour and societal relevance that underpin Torrens University’s mission, Be Good.

The 2025 award was presented to Gideon Dzando for his high-quality dissemination of research focused on the application of frailty screening instruments among older adults in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Gideon’s publication systematically reviewed existing tools, critically appraising their use and identifying key gaps in contextual relevance, cultural sensitivity, and feasibility. His work not only contributes to the academic understanding of geriatric care in SSA but also holds potential for informing more inclusive and effective health screening practices in diverse global contexts.

These awards have not only celebrated individual excellence but illuminated the collective strength of our research community. These honours reflect the unwavering dedication to fostering impactful scholarship, nurturing future leaders, and advancing knowledge that uplifts and strengthens social impact. The achievements of our HDR students and supervisors inspire us to push boundaries, embrace innovation, and remain steadfast in our mission, Be Good.