Ashenafi Habte Woyessa is from the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and is one of the recipients for the 2025 Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Doctoral Thesis Excellence and was supervised by Professor Paul Arbon, Associate Professor Amanda Muller and Associate Professor Mayumi Kako.
Ashenafi thesis was titled “Exploring Health Emergency Preparedness from a System Perspective: Implications for Resource-poor Health System Resilience”
We invited Ashenafi to share insights into his research and PhD journey.
What is your research about?
My research addressed critical gaps in system-level health emergency preparedness, using Ethiopia as an example of a resource-limited health system. Through in-depth interviews with healthcare managers, it identified persistent barriers and highlighted enabling factors, culminating in a theory for optimising preparedness that integrates systemic improvements, attitude shifts, and the strategic use of opportunities.
What does winning this award mean?
Receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Thesis Excellence at Flinders University holds profound personal and symbolic significance for me. This recognition reflects a journey defined by resilience, determination, and self-belief. It is the result of daring to dream beyond my circumstances. For a boy from a rural, remote area of Ethiopia, born to a family that never attended school, raised without shoes until 11th grade, separated from family for secondary schools and used to enduring days without food, let alone receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Thesis Excellence, earning a PhD at Flinders University was unimaginable. This honour is more than a personal achievement. It is a message to my children, Sonan and Kiya, and to young people everywhere that perseverance can overcome the hardest beginnings. I am deeply grateful to God, the Australian government, and Professor Paul Arbon for all the support that made this possible. I see this not as an ending, but as a commitment to make a meaningful impact.
Tell us about yourself
I am Ashenafi Woyessa, who grew up in a disadvantaged rural area of Ethiopia. Despite early challenges, I completed a BSc and an MSc with distinction, advanced through academia as a lecturer and researcher, and served as the department head of Nursing and later as dean of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Wollega University, Ethiopia. I recently earned my PhD at Flinders University, receiving the Vice-Chancellor’s Award for Thesis Excellence, and I aim to contribute to strengthening health systems in Australia and globally.
What led you to undertake a PhD? What inspired or motivated you?
My decision to pursue a PhD was driven by a deep desire to make a meaningful contribution to health systems and improve health outcomes, particularly in contexts where resources are limited and challenges are complex. Growing up in a disadvantaged rural area of Ethiopia, I experienced firsthand the barriers to health and education, which instilled in me a strong sense of purpose and resilience. Throughout my academic and research journey, I realised that research is a powerful tool for creating evidence-based solutions that can transform healthcare. The opportunity to work under the mentorship of Professor Paul Arbon at Flinders University allowed me to align my aspirations with rigorous research, ultimately inspiring me to explore feasible ways to strengthen health systems locally and globally.
What was the topic of your PhD and why is it important to you?
The topic of my PhD was “Exploring Health Emergency Preparedness from a System Perspective: Implications for Resource-poor Health System Resilience.” This research is deeply important to me because it addresses the critical challenge of how health systems, particularly in resource-limited settings, can prepare for and respond effectively to emergencies. My study allowed me to examine the systemic factors that influence preparedness, identify gaps, and propose strategies to strengthen resilience—ensuring that health systems can continue to provide care even in the most challenging circumstances.
Tell us about your research
This research addressed critical evidence gaps in system-level health emergency preparedness, using Ethiopian healthcare as an example of a resource-limited health system. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach, it employed iterative in-depth interviews with healthcare managers across the three tiers to examine progress in system preparedness, current readiness, and enabling and constraining factors within an interconnected health system. Despite some preparedness progress, readiness remains inadequate due to interconnected barriers—including weak coordination, resource constraints, system instability, learning gaps, and low adoption of recommended approaches—while an emerging international cooperative atmosphere and local adaptive mechanisms serve as key enablers. These findings led to the development of the “optimisation of health emergency preparedness in resource-poor health systems” theory, which emphasises an integrated strategy that combines attitude shifts, leverages local and global opportunities, and systematically addresses persistent barriers. A key insight for similar contexts is the need to move
What has been one of the most enjoyable parts of the journey?
One of the most enjoyable parts of my PhD journey was the regular catch-ups and mentorship sessions with my supervisors. These interactions were both motivating and stimulating, offering guidance while also encouraging me to think critically and creatively. I particularly enjoyed the process of trialling and refining emerging themes, and gradually developing my theory on health emergency preparedness. Equally rewarding were the milestone presentations and comment sessions at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, which provided valuable feedback, encouraged discussion, and marked important steps in my research journey.
What has been one of the hardest parts of the journey?
As my two young children and my wife arrived in the middle of my study, supporting their settlement, staying engaged with their schooling, and managing financial demands while pursuing my PhD was particularly challenging. The support I received from my supervisors, especially Dr Amanda Muller, and from their family, as well as from Blackwood Church of Christ, helped me finish on top of the challenges.
What’s a highlight of your student life at Flinders?
A highlight of my student life at Flinders was working with the veteran Professor Paul Arbon, whose mentorship, guidance, and enthusiasm had a profound impact on both my research and personal growth. Paul always treats me as a capable thinker, never as an empty vessel. He often says, “I would do it this way,” rather than dictating how I should do things, encouraging me to think critically and make my own decisions. At the same time, he is very committed to keeping me on track—a balance I would adopt regularly when I reach his level. I also greatly valued the supportive environment at the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, including regular supervisor catch-ups, milestone presentations, and feedback sessions, all of which made the journey both enjoyable and rewarding.
What are your future goals and plans?
I see my PhD as just the beginning of my journey. I hope to continue growing in academia and research, contributing to stronger health systems and better outcomes through evidence-based work. I am interested in supporting Australia’s health priorities, particularly in the aspect of integrating research as a core function to drive evidence-based care and deliver better, more targeted, long-term health outcomes. Ultimately, I aim to become a scholar whose works make a practical and meaningful difference to communities.
What advice would you give to current or prospective PhD students?
My advice to current or prospective PhD students is to plan your research carefully while maintaining a healthy balance between your academic work and personal life. Listen closely to your supervisors—their guidance is invaluable—and above all, stay fearless, embracing challenges with courage and persistence, just as Flinders encourages.