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Support for Postgraduate Research Students

Here you can find support for postgraduate research

Graduate Research School

Whether you are a current research candidate, a prospective one thinking about your research career or a member of University staff, the Graduate Research School is the central administration and support unit for higher degree research candidates including information on scholarships . Email: [email protected] Phone: 02 9385 5500 HDR academic calendar  and key dates Research website   Graduate Research portal

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UNSW offers a number of support and development services for all students. Here you can access information on the additional support services that are available specifically for postgraduate researchers.

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Research Progress Reviews and Confirmation of Candidature

UNSW recognises that a higher degree research (HDR) project is a long-term endeavour that you will need to sustain over 3 – 4 years if you’re a PhD candidate, or 1.5 – 2 years if you’re a Masters candidate. Research Progress Reviews are designed to help you stay on track with your research project and complete your candidature on time, while getting the most out of your candidature experience. 

Reviews are intended to be a positive and productive process where you can gain recognition of your current achievements and ask for feedback on your research project and future plans from an independent panel of experts in your field. They are a requirement for continued enrolment in your degree.

If you are a PhD candidate, you will need to complete a Confirmation Review within your first nine to twelve months of candidature. The purpose of this Review is to confirm that you are on track to complete your PhD on time, and that you have completed all of the preliminary tasks including:

• PhD research plan
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• UNSW Research Integrity and Research Data Management training courses
• Attendance at the HDR Welcome and Orientation

The Graduate Research School (GRS) runs a Research Progress Review Seminar that outlines how to get the best out of your Reviews and Confirmation. For information on the next offering, please visit this page .

Can’t make it to the next Seminar? Watch a recording of the last session and download a copy of the slides here .

Additional Resources

All Faculties Your Progress  Research Progress Review and Confirmation of Research Candidatures Procedure Mastering Your PhD: Getting the Most Out of Progress Reviews – Science Magazine  

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This page will provide you with information as to what you will need to do to obtain storage space in the UNSW Data Archive through completion of a UNSW Research Data Management Plan ( RDMP ).

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To use the UNSW Data Archive you will need to have access to a storage allocation (directory) inside the Archive. You can either be granted access to an existing allocation, or create a new RDMP for a project you are associated with and request storage for this RDMP on the Archive. To gain access to an existing RDMP, an LCI or Research Project Manager for that RDMP will need to add you to the Membership tab of that project using the ResToolkit system. To find out how to do this or how to create an RDMP for a new project, please see the ResToolkit help site . You will need to add the UNSW Data Archive in the Platforms tab of that RDMP.

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How to Write a Research Proposal: (with Examples & Templates)

Table of Contents

Before conducting a study, a research proposal should be created that outlines researchers’ plans and methodology and is submitted to the concerned evaluating organization or person. Creating a research proposal is an important step to ensure that researchers are on track and are moving forward as intended. A research proposal can be defined as a detailed plan or blueprint for the proposed research that you intend to undertake. It provides readers with a snapshot of your project by describing what you will investigate, why it is needed, and how you will conduct the research.  

Your research proposal should aim to explain to the readers why your research is relevant and original, that you understand the context and current scenario in the field, have the appropriate resources to conduct the research, and that the research is feasible given the usual constraints.  

This article will describe in detail the purpose and typical structure of a research proposal , along with examples and templates to help you ace this step in your research journey.  

What is a Research Proposal ?  

A research proposal¹ ,²  can be defined as a formal report that describes your proposed research, its objectives, methodology, implications, and other important details. Research proposals are the framework of your research and are used to obtain approvals or grants to conduct the study from various committees or organizations. Consequently, research proposals should convince readers of your study’s credibility, accuracy, achievability, practicality, and reproducibility.   

With research proposals , researchers usually aim to persuade the readers, funding agencies, educational institutions, and supervisors to approve the proposal. To achieve this, the report should be well structured with the objectives written in clear, understandable language devoid of jargon. A well-organized research proposal conveys to the readers or evaluators that the writer has thought out the research plan meticulously and has the resources to ensure timely completion.  

Purpose of Research Proposals  

A research proposal is a sales pitch and therefore should be detailed enough to convince your readers, who could be supervisors, ethics committees, universities, etc., that what you’re proposing has merit and is feasible . Research proposals can help students discuss their dissertation with their faculty or fulfill course requirements and also help researchers obtain funding. A well-structured proposal instills confidence among readers about your ability to conduct and complete the study as proposed.  

Research proposals can be written for several reasons:³  

• To describe the importance of research in the specific topic  
• Address any potential challenges you may encounter  
• Showcase knowledge in the field and your ability to conduct a study  
• Apply for a role at a research institute  
• Convince a research supervisor or university that your research can satisfy the requirements of a degree program  
• Highlight the importance of your research to organizations that may sponsor your project  
• Identify implications of your project and how it can benefit the audience  

What Goes in a Research Proposal?    

Research proposals should aim to answer the three basic questions—what, why, and how.  

The What question should be answered by describing the specific subject being researched. It should typically include the objectives, the cohort details, and the location or setting.  

The Why question should be answered by describing the existing scenario of the subject, listing unanswered questions, identifying gaps in the existing research, and describing how your study can address these gaps, along with the implications and significance.  

The How question should be answered by describing the proposed research methodology, data analysis tools expected to be used, and other details to describe your proposed methodology.   

Research Proposal Example  

Here is a research proposal sample template (with examples) from the University of Rochester Medical Center. 4 The sections in all research proposals are essentially the same although different terminology and other specific sections may be used depending on the subject.  

Structure of a Research Proposal  

If you want to know how to make a research proposal impactful, include the following components:¹  

1. Introduction  

This section provides a background of the study, including the research topic, what is already known about it and the gaps, and the significance of the proposed research.  

2. Literature review  

This section contains descriptions of all the previous relevant studies pertaining to the research topic. Every study cited should be described in a few sentences, starting with the general studies to the more specific ones. This section builds on the understanding gained by readers in the Introduction section and supports it by citing relevant prior literature, indicating to readers that you have thoroughly researched your subject.  

3. Objectives  

Once the background and gaps in the research topic have been established, authors must now state the aims of the research clearly. Hypotheses should be mentioned here. This section further helps readers understand what your study’s specific goals are.  

4. Research design and methodology  

Here, authors should clearly describe the methods they intend to use to achieve their proposed objectives. Important components of this section include the population and sample size, data collection and analysis methods and duration, statistical analysis software, measures to avoid bias (randomization, blinding), etc.  

5. Ethical considerations  

This refers to the protection of participants’ rights, such as the right to privacy, right to confidentiality, etc. Researchers need to obtain informed consent and institutional review approval by the required authorities and mention this clearly for transparency.  

6. Budget/funding  

Researchers should prepare their budget and include all expected expenditures. An additional allowance for contingencies such as delays should also be factored in.  

7. Appendices  

This section typically includes information that supports the research proposal and may include informed consent forms, questionnaires, participant information, measurement tools, etc.  

8. Citations  

Important Tips for Writing a Research Proposal  

Writing a research proposal begins much before the actual task of writing. Planning the research proposal structure and content is an important stage, which if done efficiently, can help you seamlessly transition into the writing stage. 3,5  

The Planning Stage  

• Manage your time efficiently. Plan to have the draft version ready at least two weeks before your deadline and the final version at least two to three days before the deadline.
• What is the primary objective of your research?  
• Will your research address any existing gap?  
• What is the impact of your proposed research?  
• Do people outside your field find your research applicable in other areas?  
• If your research is unsuccessful, would there still be other useful research outcomes?  

  The Writing Stage  

• Create an outline with main section headings that are typically used.  
• Focus only on writing and getting your points across without worrying about the format of the research proposal , grammar, punctuation, etc. These can be fixed during the subsequent passes. Add details to each section heading you created in the beginning.   
• Ensure your sentences are concise and use plain language. A research proposal usually contains about 2,000 to 4,000 words or four to seven pages.  
• Don’t use too many technical terms and abbreviations assuming that the readers would know them. Define the abbreviations and technical terms.  
• Ensure that the entire content is readable. Avoid using long paragraphs because they affect the continuity in reading. Break them into shorter paragraphs and introduce some white space for readability.  
• Focus on only the major research issues and cite sources accordingly. Don’t include generic information or their sources in the literature review.  
• Proofread your final document to ensure there are no grammatical errors so readers can enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted read.  
• Use academic, scholarly language because it brings formality into a document.  
• Ensure that your title is created using the keywords in the document and is neither too long and specific nor too short and general.  
• Cite all sources appropriately to avoid plagiarism.  
• Make sure that you follow guidelines, if provided. This includes rules as simple as using a specific font or a hyphen or en dash between numerical ranges.  
• Ensure that you’ve answered all questions requested by the evaluating authority.  

Key Takeaways   

Here’s a summary of the main points about research proposals discussed in the previous sections:  

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the details of a proposed study and is created by researchers to submit to evaluators who could be research institutions, universities, faculty, etc.  
• Research proposals are usually about 2,000-4,000 words long, but this depends on the evaluating authority’s guidelines.  
• A good research proposal ensures that you’ve done your background research and assessed the feasibility of the research.  
• Research proposals have the following main sections—introduction, literature review, objectives, methodology, ethical considerations, and budget.  

Frequently Asked Questions  

Q1. How is a research proposal evaluated?  

A1. In general, most evaluators, including universities, broadly use the following criteria to evaluate research proposals . 6  

• Significance —Does the research address any important subject or issue, which may or may not be specific to the evaluator or university?  
• Content and design —Is the proposed methodology appropriate to answer the research question? Are the objectives clear and well aligned with the proposed methodology?  
• Sample size and selection —Is the target population or cohort size clearly mentioned? Is the sampling process used to select participants randomized, appropriate, and free of bias?  
• Timing —Are the proposed data collection dates mentioned clearly? Is the project feasible given the specified resources and timeline?  
• Data management and dissemination —Who will have access to the data? What is the plan for data analysis?  

Q2. What is the difference between the Introduction and Literature Review sections in a research proposal ?  

A2. The Introduction or Background section in a research proposal sets the context of the study by describing the current scenario of the subject and identifying the gaps and need for the research. A Literature Review, on the other hand, provides references to all prior relevant literature to help corroborate the gaps identified and the research need.  

Q3. How long should a research proposal be?  

A3. Research proposal lengths vary with the evaluating authority like universities or committees and also the subject. Here’s a table that lists the typical research proposal lengths for a few universities.  

Q4. What are the common mistakes to avoid in a research proposal ?  

A4. Here are a few common mistakes that you must avoid while writing a research proposal . 7  

• No clear objectives: Objectives should be clear, specific, and measurable for the easy understanding among readers.  
• Incomplete or unconvincing background research: Background research usually includes a review of the current scenario of the particular industry and also a review of the previous literature on the subject. This helps readers understand your reasons for undertaking this research because you identified gaps in the existing research.  
• Overlooking project feasibility: The project scope and estimates should be realistic considering the resources and time available.   
• Neglecting the impact and significance of the study: In a research proposal , readers and evaluators look for the implications or significance of your research and how it contributes to the existing research. This information should always be included.  
• Unstructured format of a research proposal : A well-structured document gives confidence to evaluators that you have read the guidelines carefully and are well organized in your approach, consequently affirming that you will be able to undertake the research as mentioned in your proposal.  
• Ineffective writing style: The language used should be formal and grammatically correct. If required, editors could be consulted, including AI-based tools such as Paperpal , to refine the research proposal structure and language.  

Thus, a research proposal is an essential document that can help you promote your research and secure funds and grants for conducting your research. Consequently, it should be well written in clear language and include all essential details to convince the evaluators of your ability to conduct the research as proposed.  

This article has described all the important components of a research proposal and has also provided tips to improve your writing style. We hope all these tips will help you write a well-structured research proposal to ensure receipt of grants or any other purpose.  

References  

• Sudheesh K, Duggappa DR, Nethra SS. How to write a research proposal? Indian J Anaesth. 2016;60(9):631-634. Accessed July 15, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5037942/  
• Writing research proposals. Harvard College Office of Undergraduate Research and Fellowships. Harvard University. Accessed July 14, 2024. https://uraf.harvard.edu/apply-opportunities/app-components/essays/research-proposals  
• What is a research proposal? Plus how to write one. Indeed website. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/research-proposal  
• Research proposal template. University of Rochester Medical Center. Accessed July 16, 2024. https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/pediatrics/research/documents/Research-proposal-Template.pdf  
• Tips for successful proposal writing. Johns Hopkins University. Accessed July 17, 2024. https://research.jhu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/Tips-for-Successful-Proposal-Writing.pdf  
• Formal review of research proposals. Cornell University. Accessed July 18, 2024. https://irp.dpb.cornell.edu/surveys/survey-assessment-review-group/research-proposals  
• 7 Mistakes you must avoid in your research proposal. Aveksana (via LinkedIn). Accessed July 17, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/7-mistakes-you-must-avoid-your-research-proposal-aveksana-cmtwf/  

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First Nations Social and Emotional Wellbeing Scholarship

• Be enrolled in an eligible UNSW degree program and must be commencing postgraduate coursework study in 2-year Master of Public Health (Extension) MPH(E)
• Be an Indigenous Australian (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander only)
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• A stipend of $50,291 per year (indexed, 2024 rate) for a maximum of 2 years for the Masters program. Pro-rated for part-time students.
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• $10,000 for the Masters program ($5,000 per annum for 2 years).
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Unanswered application questions or claims without supporting documentation will not be assessed. Late applications/supporting documentation will not be accepted.

Arc PGC Research Awards 2024

The Arc PGC Research Awards, supported by the GRS, recognises the exceptional contributions of HDR students, staff members and supervisors.

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Arc PGC Research Awards

The Arc PGC Research Awards, supported by the Graduate Research School (GRS), recognises the exceptional contributions of HDR students, staff members and supervisors who have gone above and beyond in elevating the academic, social and overall wellbeing of the HDR community at UNSW.

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The event will feature speeches from the Vice-Chancellor and Pro Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Graduate Research, followed by the announcement and recognition of the shortlisted nominees. Certificates will be presented to those attending in person. The ceremony will conclude with a networking opportunity, accompanied by food and drinks.

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Three years since the fall of Kabul: Tracking displacement within and out of Afghanistan

Afghan refugees continue to face immense challenges, whether they are inside the country or abroad. Are the responses from Australia and other countries meeting the moment?

On 15 August 2021, the Taliban captured Kabul, and within days their take-over of Afghanistan was complete. Since that day, more Afghans have fled their homes, extending, complicating and worsening one of the ‘ largest and longest ’ displacement situations in recent memory. 

On the three-year anniversary of the fall of Kabul, people continue to be displaced both within and out of Afghanistan, while refugees who previously fled the country due to persecution face immense challenges in finding stability, resettlement and asylum. Nations around the world – including Australia – have recognised the severity of the crisis and responded with special humanitarian measures for Afghan refugees. Despite these efforts, however, the plight of those forced to flee from Afghanistan remains a real and urgent issue that will persist in coming years.

At a glance: The situation in numbers

Afghans currently comprise the largest refugee population globally, with more than 6.4 million Afghans displaced in other countries as of 31 December 2023. Almost all are located in the neighbouring countries of Iran (3.8 million) and Pakistan (2 million), with just these two countries together hosting about 90% of all Afghan refugees or Afghan nationals in what UNHCR calls ‘refugee-like situations’. As a result, Iran and Pakistan are host to some of the largest refugee populations in the world.

Many more people remain internally displaced within Afghanistan, bringing the total number of displaced Afghans to nearly 10.9 million people. 

The risks of persecution in Afghanistan

Afghan people continue to face immense challenges at home. 

The UN Working Group on Discrimination Against Women and Children has called the systemic and continuous restriction of the rights of women and girls by the Taliban ‘ gender apartheid ’. The latest report by the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation for human rights in Afghanistan confirms that women and girls are excluded from secondary or tertiary education, cannot hold paid employment, and, in many situations, must be accompanied by a mahram (male escort) when venturing into public spaces. As put by the Special Rapporteur:

'In no other country have women and girls so rapidly disappeared from all spheres of public life, nor are they as disadvantaged in every aspect of their lives.’ 

Human Rights Watch has reported that LGBTQI individuals and communities also face persecution within Afghanistan and have been subject to extreme violence, discrimination and the death penalty. Journalists and human rights defenders have been recognised by the Special Rapporteur as facing an increased risk of arbitrary detention. The Special Rapporteur has also reported that minority communities such as the Hazaras have been subject to discrimination, marginalisation and extreme violence, including ‘widespread and systematic’ attacks that bear the hallmarks of international crimes.

Furthermore, UNHCR has warned that the country confronts a severe economic and humanitarian crisis, worsened by post-conflict instability and disasters. Food insecurity, malnutrition and economic decline are key issues, with approximately half of the Afghan population facing acute food insecurity in 2024.

Expulsion efforts confront Afghans abroad 

Outside of Afghanistan, too, refugees face uncertainty and challenges in securing protection. In October 2023, for example, Pakistan announced an ‘Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan’, pursuant to which all foreign nationals without a valid visa would be required to leave the country by 1 November 2023 or face deportation. Following the announcement, more than 639,000 individuals returned to Afghanistan by the end of June 2024.  

UNHCR warned that the Plan would result in worsening economic and humanitarian crises in Afghanistan itself. A group of UN experts also raised concerns that the Plan violates the fundamental principle of non-refoulement , which prevents Pakistan from returning or removing someone to a place where they will be persecuted or face real risks of other serious harm. Similar concerns are also reflected in UNHCR’s 2023 Guidance Note on the Protection Needs of People Fleeing Afghanistan, which calls for countries to ‘ensure respect for the principle of non-refoulement at all times’.  

In July 2024, the Government of Pakistan agreed to extend the Proof of Registration cards of more than 1.45 million Afghan refugees for one year, effectively suspending their deportation. This move was welcomed by UNHCR , but Afghans who are undocumented or do not hold these cards remain subject to the Plan, and registered Afghans also face the prospect of deportation next year.  

How has Australia responded? 

The Australian Government has acknowledged that the situation is ‘a distressing time for many people in Afghanistan and here in Australia’. It has confirmed that it is prioritising Afghans under the humanitarian visa program and has designated the plight of Afghans being forced out of Pakistan in particular as a ‘high priority’. At the Global Refugee Forum in December 2023, Australia committed $20 million to supporting people displaced within Afghanistan and into neighbouring countries, such as Pakistan.

The Australian Government has also allocated 16,500 dedicated visa places for Afghans over four years (4,125 places per year to 2026), in addition to the existing 10,000 places allocated to Afghan nationals within the offshore Humanitarian Program (for people applying for protection from outside of Australia) from 2021-22 to 2024-25. Applications have already far exceeded the number of visa places available.

Priority for visa places is given to people outside Afghanistan who are:  

certified former Locally Engaged Employees (Afghan nationals who assisted the Australian Government during the Afghanistan War) and their immediate family members;

immediate family members of holders of Australian Refugee and Humanitarian visas;

refugees who have been referred by UNHCR to Australia for resettlement; and

women and girls, ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ and other identified minority groups.

Afghan was the top nationality for people granted visas in the offshore component of Australia’s humanitarian program in 2021-22 and 2022-23. In the onshore component, Afghan nationals were the fourth- and sixth-highest numbered intakes in 2021-22 and 2022-23 respectively.  

Despite Afghans being a priority, processing times for all offshore visa applications vary and remain uncertain. A further complicating factor is that the Australian Government is collecting the biometrics required for visa applications only in Iran and Pakistan, and not in Afghanistan.  

How are other countries responding?

Other countries have also enacted special responses to ongoing displacement within and from Afghanistan. Importantly, since December 2022, Sweden and Finland have recognised all asylum-seeking Afghan women and girls as refugees fleeing from gender-based persecution. Both countries have granted refugee permits to this group, with Sweden also permitting the review of older applications. Since February 2023, Denmark has also granted asylum to all women and girls from Afghanistan based on gender, and re-opened applications from Afghan females that were rejected between August 2021 and February 2023.

The policies of Sweden, Finland and Denmark are welcome recognition of the fact that the plight of women and girls seeking to flee Afghanistan is particularly dire. Other European countries, such as Switzerland , have begun to follow suit.  

Listen to Kaldor Centre podcast ‘ The day the Taliban overtook Kabul: An interview with Ahmad Shuja Jamal ’, from 15 August 2023.

For more information, visit the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law .

Long COVID cost the Australian economy almost $10 billion in 2022 – new research

Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC L3 Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney

Associate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Australian Laureate Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University

Professor of Environmental Economics and Biosecurity, The University of Melbourne

Research Associate, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney

Disclosure statement

C Raina MacIntyre receives funding from NHMRC (L3 Investigator grant and Centre for Research Excellence) and MRFF (Aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 experimentally and in an intensive care setting) currently. She currently receives funding from Sanofi for research on influenza and pertussis. She has been on the WHO COVID-19 Vaccine Composition Technical Advisory group (2021-2024). She is the director of EPIWATCH®️, which is a UNSW, Kirby Institute initiative.

Long Chu receives funding from multiple organizations. However, he has received no external funding for this research or for any of his research related to COVID-19.

Quentin Grafton receives funding from multiple organizations, including the Australian Research Council. However, he has received no external funding for this research or for any of his research related to COVID-19.

Tom Kompas receives funding from the Australian Research Council and several other organisations. However, he has received no external or direct funding for any of his research on COVID-19 or Long COVID.

Valentina Costantino does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

University of Melbourne provides funding as a founding partner of The Conversation AU.

UNSW Sydney and Australian National University provide funding as members of The Conversation AU.

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The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates 10–20% of people suffer from long COVID after they recover from the initial COVID infection.

Common symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and “brain fog”, but more than 200 different symptoms have been linked to long COVID. The condition affects daily functioning and can be debilitating.

Our research, published today, estimated the economic burden of long COVID in Australia . We calculated long COVID cost the Australian economy almost A$10 billion in 2022 alone.

What is long COVID?

The WHO defines long COVID as the continuation or development of new symptoms three months after the initial COVID infection, where these symptoms last for at least two months with no other explanation.

We’re still learning about what causes long COVID, but persistent symptoms can be explained by the diverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) on different parts of the body . For example, the virus can affect the heart , blood vessels and lungs.

Research suggests long COVID is linked to persistence of the virus in the body long after infection , and this in turn causes dysfunction of the immune system .

SARS-CoV-2 can also affect the brain and cognition , especially executive function, which is the ability to plan, monitor and execute goals. This can result in difficulty performing work tasks and other activities of daily living among people with long COVID.

What we did

We used Australian data to estimate infections in 2022 and modelled long COVID and recovery rates across all age groups to understand the burden of long COVID.

We then used this data in a mathematical model to estimate economy-wide labour supply losses in 2022 and to determine the decline in real gross domestic product (GDP). Economic losses occur because people affected by long COVID may be unable to work, or work at reduced capacity, for a period of time.

We found that at a peak in September 2022, up to 1,374,805 people (5.4% of Australians) were living with long COVID following a single infection. Allowing for recovery from long COVID, up to 3.4% would still be living with long COVID after 12 months.

We estimated long COVID resulted in more than 100 million hours of lost labour in 2022. These lost employment hours translate to an economic cost of roughly $9.6 billion, equivalent to 0.5% of GDP for 2022.

Working-age adults between 30 and 49 were most affected. The estimated labour loss was greatest for people aged 30–39 (27.5 million hours, or 26.9% of total labour loss) who saw the highest overall numbers with long COVID of any age group. People aged 40–49 followed close behind, with an estimated 24.5 million hours lost, or 23.9% of total labour loss.

Higher numbers of long COVID in these younger age groups are likely because they experience more COVID infections, possibly because they are more mobile and mix more with others.

We did not include losses incurred by healthy employees who could not work due to caring for others with COVID or long COVID. Further, we only considered a single COVID infection, and the risk of developing long COVID thereafter. But we didn’t consider the risk from reinfections, which increase the likelihood of long COVID. Therefore our research likely underestimates the impact of long COVID.

Long COVID affects people of all ages, and can occur regardless of the severity of their COVID infection. Widespread and ongoing COVID infections means if even only a small percentage of people develop long COVID, this is still a very large number of people.

By way of comparison, 2% of Australians have coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of illness and death in Australia (and the world). Even if only 3.4% of people have ongoing long COVID, this imposes very large public health and economic costs.

And unlike coronary heart disease, which disproportionately affects older people, our study suggests the impact of long COVID is highest in working-age adults, which is why the economic impacts are so great.

A global trend

Many countries including the United States and the United Kingdom are experiencing similar economic losses due to long COVID, with rising numbers of people unable to work.

Recent estimates indicate roughly 400 million people around the world have had long COVID. The condition may be costing US$1 trillion annually – equivalent to about 1% of the global economy.

The weight of evidence around long COVID and its impact on population health has experts calling for the condition to be factored into policy decisions.

What can we do?

In Australia, it’s primarily the immediate outcomes of acute COVID, such as hospitalisation and death, which are used to determine eligibility for antivirals and the importance of vaccines. Healthy people under 70 are not eligible for subsidised antivirals , while vaccines are restricted for children and adult booster rates are low .

But there’s strong evidence vaccines reduce the likelihood of long COVID, and some evidence antivirals may also lower the risk. Long COVID should therefore be factored into Australian policy and guidance on antivirals and vaccines.

Other measures that reduce the risk of COVID infection will also reduce long COVID risk. These include a focus on safe indoor air , and mask use in high-risk, crowded places during COVID epidemics , especially in health-care and aged-care settings.

Finally, we need to consider how to support those with long COVID who can’t work. Long COVID is the sting in the tail of SARS-CoV-2, and planning proactively for it will reduce the impacts on society.

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Nine’s Wide World of Sports

AusBreaking defends selection process as cult hero Raygun accused of 'getting zero points on purpose'

A senior Australia sports official has accused Olympic breaker Dr Rachael Gunn of aiming for "zero points on purpose" in aid of her academic research.

Gunn failed to win a single point in any of her Olympic heats in Paris.

Raygun - who is a university lecturer that conducts research focusing on the "cultural politics of breaking" - became a viral sensation.

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AusBreaking on Tuesday leapt to the defence of their selection process after questions were raised about how Gunn qualified for the Games.

They claim they adhered to the criteria issued by the World DanceSport Federation, which aligns with the IOC standards.

"The selection process for Australia's breaking team heading to Paris was conducted over two days... and aimed to ensure a fair and transparent outcome," a statement by AusBreaking said.

"A panel of nine international adjudicators, a head judge and a chairperson who oversaw the competition, using the same judging system at the Paris Games and trained to uphold the highest standards of impartiality.

"Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris.

"Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day."

B-Girl Raygun of Team Australia.  Getty

However, UNSW professor and Australian Rugby League commissioner Megan Davis believes Gunn's motivation was not aligned with the goal of the competition.

"Getting zero points on purpose in three rounds for an academic study subsidised by the taxpayer both at a university and Olympic level isn't funny and isn't 'having a go'," Davis said on social media.

"It's disrespectful to other competitors. I'm glad most Aussies aren't buying the Kool-Aid."

Gunn's online platform in the build up to Paris, according to AusBreaking, focused on "consistently advocate in the media for breaking's history, artistic and athletic values, and its cultural origins".

However, Davis believes Gunn was driven by the "mainstream media" which has recast her as a cult hero.

"Affluent, comfortable life, educated, not a care in the world, nothing matters really, what fun, what a fun Aussie gal, chortle chortle," Davis said of Gunn's persona.

Questions were raised if Gunn had received funding from the Australian Sports Commission or Macquarie University to support an academic trip, however the reports were debunked.

Gunn did receive a grant of $20,278 from the City of Sydney Council in 2022 to research 'Spaces for Street Dance' but it was not in relation to her Paris campaign.

Breaking head judge Martin Gilian backed AusBreaking's statement which condemned "global online harassment and bullying of Raygun".

"The pressure to perform on the Olympic stage is immense, especially against the opponents in her particular group. We stand in solidarity with Raygun," AusBreaking concluded.

Gilian added: "Breaking is all about originality and bringing something new to the table and representing your country or region.

"This is exactly what Raygun was doing. She got inspired by her surroundings which in this case, for example, was a Kangaroo.

"Unfortunately for her, the other B-girls were better."

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