Flinders University is looking to maximise its opportunity for funding dispersed under the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Flinders’ researchers are strongly encouraged to register interest in the MRFF via a new survey.

Research Development and Support staff involved with the South Australian MRFF working group have developed a fact sheet on the MRFF and created a survey in order to develop a research capacity and collaboration portfolio across the Flinders Research Community. Flinders’ is looking to support our researchers who align with the MRFF Strategy and Priorities and build knowledge of the opportunities amongst our research community. Support and assistance will be provided for the development of competitive MRFF grant applications.

If you have an interest in the MRFF and are interested in finding out more information on upcoming initiatives, please complete the survey.

The MRFF fund is a $20 Billion investment by the Australian Federal Government and aims to build the Health and Medical Research Sector by driving innovation, translation and collaboration for a better-informed health care system for all Australians.

If you have any questions relating to the survey or fact sheet please direct them to nhmrc@flinders.edu.au.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) are consulting with the sector regarding three proposals to improve women’s participation in ARC-funded research.

Flinders University will be providing an institutional response to the request. If you wish to provide feedback for consideration for inclusion, please completed the survey questions and return to arc@flinders.edu.au by no later than 21 November 2019.

Alternatively, if you wish to provide an individual response, please complete the ARC survey by no later than 12 December 2019. The survey should take about 15 minutes to complete.

The proposals are:

1. improving women’s participation in the DECRA scheme by introducing a target of a least 50% of applications from women per institution by 2023
2. increasing women’s representation on the ARC College of Experts by introducing a target of 50% of women by 2023, followed by a target of 50% on Selection Advisory Committees by 2025 (not by discipline)
3. releasing additional information on the ARC website about the proportion of women by institution included in applications for ARC grants.

The survey seeks views on:

• whether the ARC should introduce the three proposals outlined above
• determine the possible impact of the proposed changes
• identify any appropriate modifications
• generate discussion of initiatives for future consideration.

Please see the ARC Gender discussion paper for further information.

Book now at ienrol research to access Flinders’ researcher training and development opportunities. Workshops, information sessions, seminars and drop-in sessions aim to provide ongoing development and support to all researchers.

Key workshops in the next three weeks include:
   Covidence - Systematic review webinar;
plus scheduled drop-in sessions that enable you to meet and work directly with our RDS teams.

Click on the links below to view the course details.

Drop-In Sessions: Industry, Government, International & Internal grants, Tuesday 12 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Tuesday 12 November 2019

Drop-In Session: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday 13 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: Social and Behavioural Research Ethics, Friday 15 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Tuesday 19 November 2019

Drop-In Session: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday 20 November 2019

Covidence - Systematic review webinar, Monday 25 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: Industry, Government, International & Internal grants, Tuesday 26 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Tuesday 26 November 2019

Drop-In Session: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday 27 November 2019

Further courses scheduled for later in the month and beyond are available at ienrol research.

The Australian Government has just released the guidelines for the International Space Investment – Expand Capability – Program, a commitment as part of the National Space Agency Agenda.

The program will support Australian businesses and research organisations to become involved with international space agencies or established international space programs.

The objectives of the program are to:

• unlock international space opportunities for the Australian space sector
• expand the capability and capacity of the Australian space sector, and support job creation
• demonstrate the Australian space sector’s ability to successfully deliver space-related products and services internationally
• support projects which contribute to building a vision and an Australian space sector that inspires businesses, the Australian community and the next generation of space workforce, researchers and entrepreneurs.

The minimum grant amount is $100,000. 

The maximum grant amount is $4 million.

Applications are now open and will close on 17 December 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 3 December 2019. As a letter of support and a grant agreement are to be included with the application, the internal closing date is to be adhered to in order for these to be provided by Research Development and Support. For application advice and assistance, contact Dr Sarah Jay, Research Grants Officer (IGII).

For more information, including the guidelines, sample application form and FAQ, please visit the International Space Investment Expand Capability Grants on the Businessgov.au website.

The Australian Government is inviting applications via a targeted competitive process to apply to contribute towards outcomes under the Department of the Environment and Energy’s Program 1.2: Science, Information and Research commencing in the 2020-21 financial year.

The Australian Biological Resources Study National Taxonomy Research Grant Program provides grants for research into taxonomy and systematics and to support the training and/or recruitment of taxonomists.

The program is the only grant program in Australia that is targeted towards the support of research into taxonomy, to:

• improve our knowledge of the Australia biota through targeted taxonomic research
• increase funding for taxonomy through enhanced co-funding opportunities
• build Australia’s taxonomic capacity by supporting tertiary research training and early career researchers.

Benefits of the program include:

• increased support for students and early career researchers (including provision for retired taxonomists to mentor younger researchers through support for non-salaried researcher positions)
• provision for major, national-scale investigations incorporating multiple researchers and institutions.

Grant applications must address at least one of the Australian Biological Resources Study: Priority Areas for Research Grants.

The closing date for the Research Grant Program is 11 December 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 27 November 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Dr Sarah Jay, Research Grants Officer (IGII).

For more information, visit the grant opportunity on the Community Grants Hub website.

Joint and Operations Analysis Division (JOAD) and the Defence Innovation Partnership have launched the second Modelling Complex Warfighting (MCW) Strategic Research Initiative (SRI) call to academia in 2019.

The MCW SRI expressly seeks to revolutionise how they undertake Operations Research (OR) in Defence Science Technology to better handle the interaction of complex geopolitical, social, technological, economic and cultural factors for design of the Future Force. Force design is the process by which Defence conceives and produces a plan for its future capabilities.

Interested Australian researchers are encouraged to identify relevant fields of endeavour or expertise where they would be willing to engage and partner with DST on Modelling Complex Warfighting. Researchers are requested to submit proposals in response to one or more topics of interest. Proposals should outline research outcomes relevant to the topic(s), research methods, and relevant research experience. Proposals should be a maximum of 2 pages.

Further details and associated documents and FAQs can be found at the DST website.

Funding of up to $100,000 per proposal is available.

Expressions of interest should be submitted by 11:59pm (EDST) 25 November 2019. The projects will be for a period of 12 months commencing in January 2020. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft expression of interest is 11 November 2019. Mr Tony Kyriacou, Defence Partnerships Director, and Mary Lyons, Senior Research Grants Officer (IGII) can provide application advice and assistance.

The Australian Academy of Science, in collaboration with SAGE, invites you to register for Catalysing Gender Equity 2020, a two-day outcome-driven conference guided by the Women in STEM Decadal Plan to be held in Adelaide on 20-21 February 2020.

Representatives from across higher education and research, industry, education and government will be encouraged to celebrate success, showcase impact and growth potential, highlight key action areas and foster collaboration to achieve change, all guided by the six opportunities of the decadal plan.

“No sector can solve this alone. Leadership is required and it must be accompanied by accountability.”
Women in STEM Decadal Plan

Delegates will participate in a variety of workshops, seminars, gallery submissions and panels, each focused on progressing and implementing strategic recommendations and opportunities in the decadal plan.

Catalysing Gender Equity 2020 is an excellent event to connect leaders and actors from across the STEM ecosystem, including SAGE members. It will enable them to strengthen collaborations, build new networks and share evidence-based best practice.

In addition, all attendees can join SAGE in celebrating recipients of the Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Awards at the SAGE Awards Dinner on 20 February 2020. Event and dinner registrations will open 25 November 2019 and will be advertised through Inspiring Research.

The registration fee for the full two days is $450 (incl GST), and includes access to:

• inspiring plenary sessions focused on leadership, action and next steps
• sector-led workshops aimed at accelerating decadal plan strategic recommendations
• an Equity Action Gallery showcasing the wealth and impact of equity activities occurring across the nation.

A reduced rate of $350 (incl GST) is available for students (undergraduate, PhD and masters), not-for-profit organisations, and small businesses of less than 15 employees.

In addition, all delegates can join SAGE in celebrating recipients of the Athena SWAN Institutional Bronze Awards at the SAGE Awards Dinner on 20 February being held at the Adelaide Town Hall. Dinner tickets are $165 (incl GST) per person.

The Field Naturalists Society of South Australia Inc. (FNSSA) established the Lirabenda Endowment Fund with the intention of making available research grants to encourage and promote research into the biota and natural environment of South Australia.

Applications are invited from any person engaged in research that fits the criteria for selection, including for supervised project funding at the Honours Degree, Masters Degree and PhD levels and for projects conducted by University researchers.

The following are general guidelines to provide applicants with information on projects that the Lirabenda Endowment Fund is likely to support:

1. Projects that increase knowledge and understanding of native species and their habitats within South Australia.
2. Projects relating to management and conservation of South Australian species and their environment.
3. Projects that investigate factors relating to declining or threatened species of animals, plants and fungi. Preference is given to species that are endemic to South Australia.
4. Projects leading to improved management of species that cause environmental damage in South Australia.

 at South Australian Research Institutes and by individual researchers.

The guidelines and application forms are available on the Society’s website. The closing date for applications is 5.00pm Friday 13 December 2019.

Maddie Riewoldt’s Vision has opened their call for expressions of interest from appropriately qualified scientific or medical researchers and research that is specifically directed towards finding a cure for both congenital and acquired Bone Marrow Failure (BMF) syndromes.

Two programs are open in this round, with a closing date of 1 December 2019. Contact the RDS Grants team today if you are interested in applying.

The programs are:

• Grants-In-Aid, to support research projects into the causes and treatment of Bone Marrow Failure (BMF) - $50,000 AUD per annum for up to two years
• Program grants (high clinical impact, multidisciplinary investigators/multiple site research collaboration of international standard) - $1 million AUD to be awarded over a minimum three and maximum of five year period

For more information and to access the application templates, visit the Maddie Riewoldt's Vision website.

Each expression of interest also requires the following:

• a brief CV (max 1 page each, 12 point font) for the principal investigator and all named co investigators;
• include current and prior positions (last 5 years), positions of responsibility (last 5 years), top ten publications (last 10 years); and
• a 100 word statement of impact of your research on clinical outcomes.

The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association are calling for interested attendees and presenters for the 21st International Mental Health Conference, 29-31 July 2020, Gold Coast, Australia. 

Over three days, the 2020 agenda will provide opportunities to collaborate with international and national mental health leaders. You will learn best practice, grow meaningful connections and implement real solutions to mental health care.

This conference aims to further develop your knowledge of mental health to assist you in making a real difference to your clients.

The Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association are calling for interested attendees, presenters or partners.

Super Early Bird Registrations close on 29 November 2019. Presentation submissions close Friday 14 February 2020.

For more information, visit the Conference website.

As of 30 October 2019, Flinders University has a new way of managing researcher ethics and biosafety applications.

ResearchNow Ethics & Biosafety for animal ethics has been launched and is a major first step in improving the efficiency of Flinders’ ethics application and approval processes.

ResearchNow Ethics & Biosafety is a new online system available to Flinders researchers who need to seek ethics approval for their research. It can be accessed via your Okta dashboard. ResearchNow Ethics & Biosafety will need to be added to your Okta dashboard via the "+ Add Apps" green button (top right) in the first instance.

The first module being released relates to animal ethics. Additional modules for human ethics and biosafety are planned for release in the near future.

Up until now, animal ethics application and approval processes have been managed by paper or PDF forms shared between applicants, reviewers, and approvers.

The new form is entirely online. This helps improve the efficiency of the animal ethics process by:

• Ensuring the applicant always has access to the latest version of the form
• Collecting required information at the beginning, through an easy to use interface
• Providing guidance to the  applicant while they are completing the application form, so they know exactly what information is needed to assist in an efficient approval of their application 
• Automatically notifying required reviewers online
• Enabling a reviewer to digitally sign-off their review or provide approval. This functionality will be available on any device, at any time allowing access from anywhere in the world

More information is available at the ResearchNow Ethics & Biosafety website - https://staff.flinders.edu.au/research/research-now-ethics-biosafety.

The SA Government Office for Ageing Well provides a range of Community Grants to fund initiatives that reflect the South Australian Government’s commitment to supporting South Australians to age well. Projects and activities seeking funding should contribute to building and maintaining inclusive communities focussed on ageing well.

This call has now been opened for organisations seeking funding who are working together with older people, including those from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Flinders researchers can apply for Grants for Seniors and Positive Ageing Fellowship Grants under this program.

The Grants for Seniors fund organisations to provide opportunities for older South Australians to engage with the community. Grants of up to $5,000 can pay for goods like equipment, materials or consumables that stimulate activity and social engagement for older people. Up to $10,000 can be used for seniors’ cultural, social, educational or sporting projects.

The Positive Ageing Fellowship Grants provide one-off ageing specific capacity building grants of between $20,000 – $40,000 for projects that create or extend opportunities for older South Australians to be involved and active in their communities and contribute to an age friendly South Australia. The Grants enable community organisations across the state to apply for funding for capacity building projects that support older South Australians, including those from diverse communities and backgrounds, to age well and be recognised for their valued contributions across their lifetime.

The 2019-20 Positive Ageing Fellowship Grants will fund projects aligned to one or more of the following themes:

• Homes and communities.
• Meaningful connections.
• Navigating change.
• Respecting diversity.
• Challenging ageism.

In addition, all Positive Ageing Fellowship Grant applicants should demonstrate that their project aligns with the Positive Ageing Fellowship Grants Theory of Change.

Both opportunities close on 5.00pm Friday 17 January 2020. The Flinders internal deadline for a completed final draft application is 6 January 2020. For application advice and assistance, contact Sarah Jay, Research Grants Officer (IGII). If you require assistance with facilitation with community groups, Sarah can liaise with Carmela Sergi, Health Partnerships Director.

For more information, including the guidelines and FAQs, visit the Office of Ageing Well Community Grants webpage.

Note that funds are limited, therefore proposals that use existing infrastructure and demonstrate collaboration with other community groups or organisations are encouraged.

Mary can be contact internal deadline is 6th Jan.

The Federal Government Department of Health has opened a funding call for the Child and Youth Health grant, as part of the Nation Action Plan for the Health of Children and Young People 2020-2030 (the Action Plan). 

There is a total of $2 million over four years from 2019-20 for the Child and Youth Health Grant Opportunity, covering two parts: Part A: Program implementation ($1.5 million over four years from 2019-20); and Part B: Health professionals’ education and awareness-raising activities ($0.5 million over four years from 2019-20).

The Action Plan provides a roadmap to improve the health and wellbeing of all Australian children and young people.

It is intended to guide collaborative approaches under the following priority areas:

1. improving health equity across populations;
2. empowering parents and caregivers to maximise healthy development;
3. tackling mental health and risky behaviours;
4. addressing chronic conditions and preventive health; and
5. strengthening the workforce.

The closing date for applications is 2.00pm (ACT local time), Monday 25 November 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 11 November 2019. For application advice and assistance, contact Gareth Rees, Senior Research Grants Officer (NHMRC and Health).

For more information, visit the grant opportunity on GrantConnect.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has announced a Targeted Call for Research into Myalgic Encephalomyelitis and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS).

The Australian Government has committed $3 Million for research to help develop a better understanding of the causes and mechanisms of ME/CFS.

The intended aims of the ME/CFS Targeted Call for Research are to:

• Develop a scientifically valid, evidence-based understanding of the pathophysiology and aetiology of ME/CFS and the way it impacts on the physical, social and psychological wellbeing of affected persons.
• Identify approaches that will assist patients presenting with symptoms of ME/CFS to be accurately diagnosed, including the identification potential biomarkers to facilitate effective management and treatment.
• Cultivate interdisciplinary research collaboration, both locally and internationally.

Applications for the call are submitted through NHMRC’s RGMS, with minimum data entry closing on 15 January 2020. Applications close on 29 January 2020 with the deadline for applicants for certification in RGMS by 28 January 2020. 

If you are intending to apply, contact the NHMRC team in Research Development and Support (RDS) for the RDS deadline for compliance review. 

For more information, visit the NHMRC website. Information on Flinders investment and support, and RDS application process visit the Flinders NHMRC Scheme page.

The Consumer Policy Research Centre (CPRC) 2019/20 Research Pathways Program is now open for Expressions of Interest. 

The Research Pathways Program is underpinned by the CPRC's goal to build greater shared understanding of ways to improve consumer outcomes - producing impactful research that changes policies and practices. 

Complex challenges facing consumer markets today often cannot be addressed in isolation. The CPRC fosters interdisciplinary research and enter partnerships where no single sector or organisation can significantly improve consumer outcomes in isolation.

Consistent with the CPRC’s own research approach, the Research Pathways Program aim to deliver research projects which:

• Are policy-informed, and with a view to impacting policy outcomes;
• Seek to form an evidence-base for program and policy initiatives, including addressing evidence gaps;
• Avoid duplication;
• Are evaluative in nature, assessing and monitoring the impact of policy and programmatic interventions.

Three types of funding options are available each year:

• Stream 1 – Professor Maureen Brunt AO Essay Prize ($10,000)
• Stream 2 - Research Grant ($100,000)
• Stream 3 - Partnerships ($200,000 over two years)

The Research Grant Expressions of Interest is open until 20 December 2019. The Flinders internal closing date for a completed final draft application is 6 December 2019. For application and advice, contact Rupali Saikia, Research Grants Officer (IGII).

The Essay Prize will launch on 19 November 2019 and the Partnerships Funding program is open until 20 March 2020. More information on these two programs will be available at a later date.

The topic for the 2019 Research Grants is Technology and inequality. Technology has become an inextricable part of lives. It is largely unknown what the long-term impact on this will be on our physical, emotional and mental wellbeing, and on broader issue of inequality within our markets and society.

Consumers are increasingly purchasing, using and being exposed to direct and ambient data collection through the adoption of technology by homes and businesses.

This year, CPRC welcomes Expressions of Interest for their Research Grants from consortia exploring two key research areas:

• Analysis of emerging data collection and use technologies, products and services and their impact on equality
• Emerging models and systems that build greater equality, inclusion and welfare through data collection and use

For more information, visit the CPRC website.

The ABC are inviting you to join them for an evening of real science told by real scientists: no props, no slides – just great stories on Thursday 21 November 2019 from 6.00 pm.

It’s all part of Ockham’s Razor – the ABC podcast for anyone with a compelling story of science. Featuring Flinders' Dr Rachel Popelka-Filcoff, with ABC Science presenter Bernie Hobbs as MC, this live event is being held at the Museum of Discovery (MOD), the UniSA Cancer Research Institute Building, North Tce, Adelaide.

Rachel will present on ancient routes of ochre exchange and how she is using nuclear spectroscopy to examine the origins of ochres used in Aboriginal objects to help develop an understanding of the ancient routes of ochre exchange.

Ockham’s Razor is a soap box for all things scientific, with short talks about research, industry and policy from people with something thoughtful to say about science.

For more information and to register to attend the free event, visit the Eventbrite page. 

The next Public Economic Forum, hosted by the Melbourne Institute, will bring together leading Australian and international thought leaders to discuss the latest research findings and innovative initiatives, and to provide evidence-based social policy recommendations on how early disadvantage exposes many to a lifelong cycle of deprivation that persists across generations.

Evidence suggests that children exposed to adverse economic conditions and parental joblessness in their pre-adult life are likely to experience poor educational achievements and labour market outcomes that, in turn, determine future economic achievements and health outcomes.

Understanding the role of early disadvantage in the Australian context is crucial given the considerable share of children exposed to income poverty and parental joblessness. 

Register for the Public Economics Forum to be held on 26 November 2019 to hear about:

• The nature and persistence of intergenerational disadvantage in Australia and internationally;
• Examples of successful initiatives to reduce poverty and promote wellbeing;
• The roles of parenting and financial capability in developing successful outcomes;
• What this evidence means for the design of (new) policies and practices that will benefit disadvantaged families and Australian society. 

The speakers and their topics are:

Professor Miles Corak, City University of New York – Intergenerational mobility in comparative contexts.

Ms. Kylie Macfarlane, General Manager Corporate Responsibility, Commonwealth Bank – The roles of parenting and financial capability in developing good outcomes. 

Associate Professor Irma Mooi-Reci, School of Social and Political Sciences, The University of Melbourne – Intergenerational persistence of joblessness in Australia.

Dr Nicolás Salamanca, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economics & Social Research, The University of Melbourne – Factors behind intergenerational disadvantage in Australia.

To learn more about the speakers, visit the Eventbrite page.

The Forum will be held on Tuesday 26 November 2019, 11.30am to 2.00pm in the National Portrait Gallery, King Edward Terrace, Parkes, ACT 2600. Registration includes two-course sit-down lunch and beverages. 

Group Discount Pricing for 4 tickets or more is $100 including GST (per person), and regular pricing from 31 October is $120 including GST

Registration is essential, register online at the Eventbrite page.

Research Development and Support (RDS) is welcoming expressions of interest (EOI) from potential mentees and mentors to participate in the Flinders University Researcher Mentoring Scheme, February – December 2020. EOIs are due Friday 22 November 2019. 

This whole of University initiative is a strategy to support our early-career researchers (ECRs) and those transitioning to mid-career status. 

The scheme provides training and support to ECRs (mentees) to develop and maintain an effective, outcomes focused one-on-one mentoring partnership with a senior Flinders academic (mentor). Matching is based on a mentee’s articulated aims, goals and needs. The scheme is underpinned by ECR-focused researcher development opportunities run throughout the year.

The annual Scheme has positively impacted on ECRs’ well-being and research profile, including grant income, publications and engagement. Mentees have reported that the scheme has enhanced their ability to plan their research career, set goals, lead, manage and collaborate within and across their discipline.

My mentor’s research area is very niche and she has built an international reputation in the area – so I have some great insights into strategy to get research noticed, build capacity, and identify strategic opportunities to take advantage of.  

I got some great mentoring on strategic networking both within and outside the university, which I had no idea about. I think the best part is having someone to talk to about whatever is going on… someone who can be objective.  

The eligibility criteria and application documents to participate as a mentee or mentor are available from Dr Marina Delpin, Scheme coordinator, RDS. Please contact Marina to discuss any queries you may have about the mentoring scheme.