OCHRe News
27 OCTOBER 2024
Dear OCHRe Members and Friends
We wish you a safe and happy weekend. If you have news you would like to share, please send it through to the team at ochre@uq.edu.au by Wednesday 2pm AEST.
OCHRe Central Hub www.ochrenetwork.org
NEWS:
Aurora Education Foundation
Congratulations! First Nations Cancer Scholarship Recipients
The First Nations Cancer Scholarship Program is funded by the Australian Government through Cancer Australia. Established by the Aurora Education Foundation and Cancer Australia, the First Nations Cancer Scholarship (Scholarship) will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduate students, health professionals, and early-career researchers (ECRs) to undertake full-time postgraduate study (graduate certificate, masters or PhD) or research in a cancer-related field.
Recipient | Khwanruthai Ngampromwongse was named one of five inaugural recipients of a multi-million dollar-backed First Nations Cancer Scholarship helping Indigenous leaders in medical policy, research, care and improve cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Thai, Wiradjuri, and Ngemba Wayilwan PhD student Khwanruethai Ngampromwongse wants to change the experience and effectiveness of the medical system for sexual and gender diverse mob, not just work within it.
Read Khwanruthai’s full interview with the National Indigenous Times here.
Read about all five scholars here.
Internship Program | Winter Program opening soon
The Aurora Internships Program provides full-time or part-time equivalent paid internships for 4-6 weeks for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interns at organisations working to support Indigenous communities. Through the Internships Program, Aurora builds Indigenous leadership, advances Indigenous employability and strengthens the capabilities of the Indigenous sector. Internships are widely spread across a number of career paths that include the corporate sector, government, social welfare and Native Title organisations.
Applications for Auora’s Winter 2025 internship round will be
OPEN March 1 - 31, 2025.
For further information, click here.
Prizes and Medals | Nominations are open!
THE PRIME MINISTERS PRIZES FOR SCIENCE
Do you know an inspirational person, team, or community group that practices and preserves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems? Then get nominating today!
They could be the inaugural winner of a new prize in Australia’s most prestigious and highly regarded science awards. This year, the Prime Minister’s Prize for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Knowledge Systems will be awarded for the first time.
The $250,000 prize will be awarded to an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-led project.
Nominees must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person, team or community group.
For further information on the PM’s Prize, click here. Applications close 18 March 2025.
Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science
Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal
The Academy’s Outstanding First Nations Researcher Medal is awarded annually to an outstanding mid-career researcher of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, who is an emerging research leader working and making an impactful contribution in the and making an impactful contribution in the health and medical sciences in Australia.
AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM EUREKA PRIZES
The Australian Museum Eureka Prizes are the country’s most comprehensive national science awards, honouring excellence across the areas of research & innovation, leadership, science engagement, and school science.
Presented annually in partnership with some of the nation's leading scientific institutions, government organisations, universities and corporations, the Eureka Prizes raise the profile of science and science engagement in the community by celebrating outstanding achievement.
Entries close 7pm AEST Monday 14 April
Finalists announced Thursday 31 July
For further information, click here.
Development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy
National Health and Medical Research Strategy Survey | Have your say about the strategy
A survey has been developed to obtain the views of stakeholders about the National Health and Medical Research Strategy and its development, following the introductory webinar held on 5 December 2024 - chaired by Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM.
If you haven’t already done so, please complete the National Health and Medical Research Strategy webinar survey.
The closing date for the survey is Friday 28 February 2025.
Chair Webinar Held 5 December 2024 now available
The National Strategy will build on Australia’s strengths in health and medical research and leverage Australia’s world-leading research capability. It will aim to attract researchers and investors, and improve health outcomes in communities.
The Australian Government has appointed Ms Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM as chair of the National Strategy development process.
To access the webinar, click here.
Australian Health and Medical Research Workforce Audit
The audit reports on the results of a desktop review, survey and analysis of individual professional profiles. It gives insights into the workforce’s characteristics, pathways and challenges.
Read the report for more details.
Contact the National Strategy Secretariat if you have any further queries on HMRStrategy@health.gov.au.
More information is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care National Health and Medical Research Strategy website.
Scholarships & Bursaries
www.ochrenetwork.org/opportunities
Heart Foundation | Future Fellowship
The fellowship supports aspiring leaders who are developing independence and developing their own research portfolio, through to established leaders of cardiovascular research groups with extensive research portfolios.
For applicants to be considered for funding, they must meet the eligibility criteria, click link below. All levels are relative to opportunity.
Applicants may choose to apply to one of three levels:
Level 1 applicants to be a minimum three years and less than seven years post PhD
Level 2 applicants to be a minimum seven years and less than ten years post PhD
Level 3 applicants to be a minimum ten years and less than fifteen years post PhD
Three stage application process
Stage One Applications closes: Thursday 13 March 2025
For further information click here.
CSANZ 4th Indigenous Cardiovascular Health Conference 2025
Travelling Fellowships available to First Nations people
University of Queensland HDR student | Travel Funding Opportunity
Dr Belinda Lloyd Memorial Translational Research Travel Grant
2025 applications for the Dr Belinda Lloyd Memorial Translational Research Travel Grant are now open. The Travel Grant aims to support both Higher Degree by Research students and early career researchers within the Faculty, who are working on research with the strong potential to translate into health policy and/or practice. The grant provides financial support for those conducting population health research in relation to accessibility, advocacy, destigmatisation, and/or harm minimisation, who are wishing to present their research at relevant national and international conferences.
Applications close Friday 28 March 2025. Further information, click here.
The University of Melbourne
Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics | PhD Opportunities in Indigenous Health, Epidemiology and Applied Biostatistics
The Aboriginal-led Indigenous Epidemiology and Health Unit, headed by Professor Sandra Eades, in the Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics at The University of Melbourne has several opportunities for talented students to undertake PhD’s in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. The Centre has scholarships for appropriately qualified students to commence research in 2025 in this exciting area, and additional scholarship opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
For details, and to submit your application, click here.
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences | PhD Scholarships
Two exciting PhD scholarship opportunity aligned with an MRFF funded project to foster a healthy start to life for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. This opportunity is only for domestic applicants with valid working rights.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are automatically eligible for UoM PhD scholarship stipend of $52,300 pa. Additionally, a top-up of $15,000 (+$5,000 travel support) pa funded by the Relighting the Firesticks project will be offered by the Indigenous Health Equity Unit, for a total of $72,300 pa.
For further information, click here.
Katherine West Health Board (KWHB)
PhD opportunity | Evaluating the Impact of Health Coaching in Aboriginal PHC
Location: Darwin or Katherine
Salary: KWHB – negotiable based on experience
Chronic diseases disproportionately affect Aboriginal Australians and are responsible for more than 70% of the gap in life expectancy. These conditions can be managed effectively in Primary Health Care (PHC); however, Aboriginal service-users have identified inadequate self-management support as a key gap in the current PHC service model. This is compounded by high staff turnover of non-Aboriginal staff and subsequent experiences of culturally unsafe care.
During 2025, KWHB will be implementing a new health career entry qualification for Aboriginal residents in remote communities – Aboriginal Health Coaching.
A PhD opportunity exists to assist with the evaluation of the implementation of health coaching using developmental evaluation and implementation science methods. It will be conducted in partnership and under the guidance of Aboriginal leaders throughout the KWHB communities and is well supported through a panel of experienced stakeholders across academia, policy and PHC practice.
For further information, contact: sinon.cooney@kwhb.com.au (CEO KWHB)
Pre-Recorded webinars on Health Research
Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) | Western Australia
Webinars on Research methods
CAHS delivers a number of webinars on research throughout the year. You can register to attend the webinars when livestreaming OR you can watch the recording once it is made available by CAHS.
Watch their most recently recorded seminars and workshops
If you were unable to join any of the latest sessions, you are invited to submit the access forms to watch in your own time. Topics include: Data Collection and Management (REDCap), Innovation for Research, Qualitative Research Methods, Involving Aboriginal Communities in Research and Conducting Systematic Reviews
To access recordings, click Child and Adolescent Health Service | CAHS - Seminar schedule
Events & Opportunities in 2025 |
see www.ochrenetwork.org/events
UQ Poche Centre | ATLAS Seminar
Carol El-Hayek: What is ATLAS and why do we need it?
Carol El-Hayek is a Senior Research Fellow in the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, managing the ATLAS Indigenous primary care surveillance network
The Indigenous Primary Care Surveillance & Research Network (ATLAS) is a sentinel surveillance system set up to monitor sexually transmissible infections (STI) and blood borne viruses (BBV) in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. The project is led by Professor James Ward at the UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health. It is a unique system partnering with ACCHOs and ACCHSs around Australia to receive clinical data from around 90 sites for the purpose of understanding and improving engagement in STI and BBV care. The presentation will describe ATLAS in detail, its objectives, and its future direction.
Date: Tuesday, 25 February, 2025
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm
Location: virtual, via Teams
For further information, click here.
MACH Aboriginal Health Showcase | Tuesday 1 April 2025
Theme | Listen and Learn: Co-Design and Innovation in Indigenous Health
The Aboriginal Leadership Group at Melbourne Academic Centre for Health (MACH) invites you to the inaugural MACH Aboriginal Health Showcase. This free event, available for attendance in-person or online, will highlight Aboriginal-led programs and initiatives addressing health priorities across our Community.
They are currently seeking presenters. For full details on how to submit an abstract see the MACH website.
For further information, click here.
SING Australia | Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics
University of Queensland Poche Centre
Pathways Program to a PhD: Doing Research for Mob
Ever thought about further studies to expand your career opportunities in the health and wellbeing space? Are you working in the health and human services industry and looking for a change or a new challenge? Do you want to learn about doing research with your community? Have you ever wondered about research and what's involved in a PhD?
Then UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Pathways Program to a PhD is for you.
To register your interest in the next Pathways Program to a PhD, which will be held on 19-21 August 2025, please complete the Pathways to a PhD expression of interest form.
When: 19 - 21 August 2025
Where: The University of Queensland, St Lucia and Toowong Campuses.
If you would like to learn more, contact poche.hdr.pathways@uq.edu.au.
Link to website here.
Winston Churchill Trust | Are looking for the next cohort of Churchill Fellows
A Churchill Fellowship offers Australian citizens and permanent residents a life-changing opportunity to travel overseas for four to eight weeks to learn more about a topic or issue that they are passionate about.
The Trust is on the lookout for the next cohort of Churchill Fellows!
Applications open 28 February
Information sessions during February and March
Please share this link among your networks to help spread the word: https://www.churchilltrust.com.au/events/
The face-to-face sessions will be held in Toowoomba, Cairns, Alice Springs, Darwin, Newcastle, Launceston, Geelong and Bendigo.
For further information, check out the Trust’s website here.
Indigenous Allied Health Australia
For more information and to register, click here.
Funding Opportunities | See www.ochrenetwork.org/grants
GRANT CONNECT
All Australian Government grant opportunities are advertised on Grant Connect including NHMRC, MRFF, ARC and many other grants. Below are some current opportunities.
For current list of all grants on Grant Connect click here.
Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF)
National Critical Research Infrastructure Initiative
The 2024 National Critical Research Infrastructure initiative invests in research infrastructure to ensure Australian researchers find innovative solutions to complex health problems in areas of unmet medical need.
Applications Close | 31 March 2025 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time)
For further information, click here.
Emerging Priorities and Consumer Driven Research Initiative - 2024
Integrated Multidisciplinary Models of Primary Care Grant Opportunity will support medical research and medical innovation projects that evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of new or existing models of integrated, multidisciplinary team-based primary care for people who would most benefit from this type of care, including but not limited to First Nations Australians, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability including intellectual, children, older populations (either in residential aged care homes or those ageing at home), or those with social disadvantage or multiple chronic conditions.
Minimum Data closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 5 March 2025
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 2 April 2025
For further information, click here.
PPHRI – 2024 Chronic Respiratory Conditions Grant Opportunity
The MRFF Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative (PPHRI) aims to enable or support research into new ways to address preventive and public health issues in Australia.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 02 April 2025
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 30 April 2025
For further information, click here.
Rapid Applied Research Translation
This initiative supports the translation of research evidence into clinical practice and better quality of care for patients by encouraging collaborations between academic researchers, health service providers, consumers and other end users on projects to improve health care delivery, service and systems sustainability.
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 7 July 2025
For further information, click here.
Global Health Initiative – 2025 Mental Health and Climate Change Grant Opportunity
The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects that, through co-design with consumers and health services, develop scalable and sustainable interventions to mitigate the impact of climate change on Australians’ mental health.
Minimum Data closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 25 June 2025.
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 23-Jul-2025
For further information, click here.
Clinical Trials Activity Grant Opportunity
The objective of this grant opportunity is to provide grants of financial assistance to support medical research and medical innovation projects.
Minimum Data closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 5 March 2025
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 2 April 2025
For further information, click here.
National Health and Medical Research Council
Targeted Call for Research: High Healthcare Service Utilisation
The TCR: High Health Care Service Utilisation grant opportunity aims to effectively create a more balanced and efficient health care system. The proposed opportunity needs to be considered as an integral part of general health in primary care services.
Minimum data due | 5.00 pm (ACT local time) on 26 February 2025
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 12 March 2025
For further information, click here.
Targeted Call for Research: Anal Cancer 2025
The TCR: Anal Cancer 2025 grant opportunity seeks to fund research aimed at improving awareness and to provide further guidance for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of anal cancer for both consumers and healthcare professionals.
Minimum data due | 5.00 pm (ACT local time) on 30 April 2025
Close Date & Time | 5.00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 14 May 2025
For further information, click here.
Synergy Grants
The objective of the Synergy Grant scheme is to support outstanding multidisciplinary teams of investigators to work together to answer major questions that cannot be answered by a single investigator.
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT local time) on Wednesday 5 March 2025
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 2nd April 2025
For further information, click here.
Development Grants 2025 for funding 2026
The intended outcomes of the Development Grant scheme are:
increased rates of translation of health and medical research into commercial outcomes, resulting in improved health and medical knowledge
Minimum data due | 5:00 pm (ACT local time) on 14 May 2025
Application closes | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) on 11-Jun-2025
For further information, click here.
Australian Research Council
Centres of Excellence
The ARC Centres of Excellence grant opportunity facilitates significant collaboration at scale which enables the complementary resources of universities, other research organisations, governments and businesses, not for profit organisations to support outstanding pure basic, strategic basic and/or applied research in all fields (except medical research).
Close Date & Time | 5:00 pm (ACT Local Time) 27 March 2025
For further information, click here.
Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2025
The Linkage Projects scheme supports projects which initiate or develop long term strategic research alliances to apply advanced knowledge to problems, acquire new knowledge and as a basis for securing commercial and other benefits of research.
To facilitate successful collaboration between higher education institutions and other parts of the innovation system, there will be two assessment rounds for Linkage Projects for funding applied for in 2025. Please refer to the Important Dates document for detailed information about the assessment round dates.
Close Date & Time | 25 June 2025
Estimated Grant Value (AUD) | From $100,000 to $1,500,000.
For further information, click here.
CSIRO
ON Prime | Take your research to the next level
ON Prime is a free program designed to help research teams of two to five people take their projects to the next level through customer discovery activities and more. We work with researchers at any stage of their project across all disciplines.
Applications due | 5 pm AEDT Wednesday 26 February
For further information, click here.
Employment
Charles Darwin University
Professor in Health Service Redesign
The Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights (Molly Institute) was established in honour of the Burarra Elder and midwife, Molly Wardaguga (1938-2009), who worked extensively to improve health outcomes, with a vision of returning the control of First Nations birthing services to First Nations communities.
As a Professor in Health Services Redesign, you will lead the research agenda and research workforce in the area of First Nations maternal, infant and child health. Providing leadership and advice to the Director in order to advance the research agenda of the Institute and University will be key in leading research methods and methodologies in line with First Nations ‘ways’.
For further information about the position, click here.
University of Melbourne
Enterprise Research Fellow | Onemda, School of Population and Global Health & Health Science
Location: Parkville, Melbourne
Role type: Full-time; Fixed-term for 2 years
Salary: Academic B – $119,231 – $141,581 p.a. plus 17% super
Provide support for projects aimed at improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing
Work closely with the Director of Onemda and other high-profile academics across multiple Schools
Salary packaging, subsidised health and wellbeing services, fitness and cultural clubs, Myki discounts, and a 25% discount on graduate courses to our staff and their immediate families!
Closes at 11:55 pm on Monday 3 March 2025.
For further information, click the UOM link – here.
Please share the ad on LinkedIn and through other networks if possible.
REMEMBER: If you have news you would like to share or promote a program(s) from your organisation, please send it through to the team at ochre@uq.edu.au by Wednesday 2pm AEST. OR, enter it directly into the OCHRe Website here.
