We provide research grants to support innovative healthcare projects that align to the ACI's strategic priorities. Projects funded in 2023–24 will focus on supporting early-career researchers; rural and regional health; and trauma and critical care.
Applying for a grant
Selected research projects will receive up to $30,000 (including GST) towards their projects.
Eligibility criteria for 2023–24 grants
- Projects should run for a maximum of 18 months.
- Applicants must be able to accept funding from July 2023 (i.e. financial year 2023–24).
- All research must adhere to the relevant standards of research conduct.
- If successful, applicants agree to present their progress and findings at public forums organised by the ACI. They must also be willing to share project outputs on the Innovation Exchange.
- Projects funded in the 2023–24 grant round will focus on
- supporting early-career researchers, and/or;
- rural and regional health, and/or;
- trauma and critical care.
- Applicants do not need to be NSW Health staff, but must meet the following eligibility criteria.
The lead investigator can be working towards a PhD or Masters by Research, or will have worked less than five years since their PhD or Masters by Research was awarded.
The lead investigator must list a senior researcher who will be the advisor or mentor on the research project. The senior researcher should be a clinician-researcher or academic researcher who has experience in at least one aspect of the research project.
Career interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, or other reasons that may have impacted the eligibility timeframe, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The research study must be entirely conducted in a rural or regional area within NSW, including the following local health districts (LHDs):
- Far West
- Mid North Coast
- Murrumbidgee
- Northern NSW
- Southern NSW
- Western NSW
- Hunter New England, excluding Cessnock, Maitland, Port Stephens, Newcastle and Lake Macquarie local government areas (LGAs)
- Illawarra Shoalhaven, excluding Kiama, Wollongong and Shellharbour LGAs
- Nepean Blue Mountains (Lithgow LGA only).
Some metropolitan districts may include rural areas; for example, South Western Sydney. Use the Health Workforce Locator to determine whether investigators are in a rural or remote area.
Clinicians and researchers testing outreach services from a metropolitan centre are not eligible. This includes virtual care services based in a metropolitan centre.
- Research focused on evaluating projects or interventions designed to improve access, experience and/or outcomes of trauma and critical care for patients in NSW.
- Studies on at-risk populations are encouraged. For example, people from Aboriginal communities; older adults; people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people from remote, rural and regional settings, or natural disaster settings.
Exclusions
The following types of research are excluded from our Research Grant Scheme:
- ‘bench to bedside’
- basic research
- drug trials
- large infrastructure build projects, such as databases
- pre-clinical studies
- clinical efficacy studies.
What can grant funds be used for?
Funds can contribute towards participants' out-of-pocket expenses related to the research project.
Funding should not be used for:
- on-costs, like shared office costs (if your institution insists on incorporating on-costs from your project budget, this will need to be deducted from the amount requested in your proposal)
- general IT equipment (e.g. computers), unless it is specialised equipment that serves a specific function in the project.
2023-2024 grant applications now closed
Applications for the 2023-2024 ACI research grant scheme is now closed.
If you wish to be considered for a late application or require more information, please contact ACI-Research@health.nsw.gov.au.
Grant proposals should highlight the practical application of the research in clinical practice. Refer to the NSW Health guide on translating your research findings.
Assessment and outcome of your application
- Each application is peer-reviewed by relevant experts, NSW Health staff and ACI clinical network/s.
- All applications are assessed on research quality; novelty and innovation; significance; feasibility; and alignment to the ACI's strategic priorities.
- Applicants will be notified of the outcome in August 2023.
Information for grant recipients
Successful applicants sign an agreement outlining deliverables and milestones, as per the grant proposal.
Use the following templates to report on the progress of your research and provide a final project report. Reports must be submitted to the ACI Research Manager.
Any changes to milestones and/or the project end date must be negotiated with the ACI Research Manager.
Contact
For further information, contact ACI-Research@health.nsw.gov.au