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 two weeks include:
   Australian Research Council visit - an ERA and EIA focused forum;
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.

Australian Research Council visit - an ERA and EIA focused forum, Monday 4 November 2019

Drop-In Sessions: ARC grants, Monday 4 November 2019

Drop-In Session: NHMRC and Health grants, Wednesday 6 November 2019

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

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

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 Australian Government has asked the NHMRC to consult with the Australian community on the possible introduction of mitochondrial donation into clinical practice. The key focus is to understand what the views are of the broader Australian community, once the scientific, ethical and social issues are generally understood.

This work follows on from a report published on 27 June 2018 from the Inquiry into the Science of Mitochondrial Donation and Related Matters (‘the Inquiry’) conducted by the Senate Community Affairs References Committee.

NHMRC established the Mitochondrial Donation Expert Working Committee to provide advice on the legal, regulatory, scientific and cultural issues identified by the Inquiry.

The consultation period for mitochondrial donation has started. There are a range of opportunities to engage with the consultation process, as described on the NHMRC Mitochondrial Donation website.

In particular, NHMRC has released a Mitochondrial Donation Issues Paper, which summarises the key social and ethical issues raised by the possible introduction of mitochondrial donation in Australia. It includes ten questions for consideration.

NHMRC is also now calling for written submissions via the NHMRC Online Services website. The closing date for written submissions is 5:00pm (ADST) Friday 29 November 2019. Late submissions will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

For further information, contact mito.consultation@nhmrc.gov.au.

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.

MinEx CRC, in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Association, has produced a video to illustrate the structure and purpose of the CRC Program.

The CRC Association is a not-for-profit organisation operating to promote the pursuit of science, particularly through the Australian Government’s CRC Program. Flinders is a member of the CRC Association.

The Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program supports industry-led collaborations between industry, researchers and the community. In its 28-year history, it has proven to be an effective model for linking researchers with industry to address R&D challenges with commercial outcomes.

This video is available via the MinEx CRC YouTube Channel:

What is a CRC?

Uploaded by MinEx CRC on 2019-10-01.

The Australian Academy of Science are inviting Early- and mid-career researcher (EMCRs) in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at an event designed to support the next generation of STEM leaders working in organisations in regional Australia. 

The Empowering Regional Research conference aims to create a space where researchers from diverse disciplines can explore collaborations and engage in conversations around the unique challenges faced by those working in regional and remote areas.

EMCRs in STEM working for employers located in regional Australia face unique challenges that can affect their career development.

Opportunities to access professional development and networking with potential collaborators can be limited compared to the opportunities EMCRs in metropolitan areas can have access to. The Empowering Regional Research conference aims to provide EMCRs with an opportunity for professional development, focussing on building skill in key areas that are applicable to industry, academia and other areas, and transferrable across different fields.

The event will be held on 12-13 February 2020 at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW.

Early bird registrations are now open.

Mobility grants are available to assist with offseting the expenses associated with attending for those participants who may not be able to attend without support, and/or people from traditionally underrepresented demographics. Applications close on 13 January 2020.

For more information, visit the Conference website.

The Australian Science Communicators Conference, to be held at Monash University on 16-19 February 2020 is your opportunity to showcase your research.

The 2020 theme is Priorities, Policies and Publics for Human Survival, and brings together Australia’s broad range of science communicators to share best-practice theory, workshops and case studies: up to 300 journalists, policy officers, publicists, writers, exhibition designers, educators, and many others.

Come along to hear the latest research, learn effective communication techniques and mingle with this skilled, diverse and influential community.

There are opportunities to showcase your research: email or call Phil Dooley via sponsorship@asc.asn.au or 0414 945 577.

For more information, visit the conference website.

Bidding for a CRC is a highly competitive process requiring cross-disciplinary teams to come together and collaborate. This takes planning, time and patience.

Developed by the CRC Association and Collabforge, this workshop will combine practical bid-creation content with a deep dive into the theory and practice of collaboration.

The workshop, to be held on 25 November 2019 at the Australian National University, will teach participants what makes a great bid, what the process of bid development entails, the roles of all bid participants, and how to build effective relationship/communication between researchers and industry to develop a compelling bid. This will help researchers to better understand how they can build successful partnerships with their industry partners, and form a bid concept that will deliver industry impact.

Attending this workshop will significantly increase the likelihood of a successful CRC or CRC-P application.

Who should attend: 

• Researchers who have the responsibility for or interest to develop CRC and CRC-P bids.
• Administrators who have the responsibility for helping coordinate, develop, approve and or administer CRC and CRC-P bids (eg from Commercialisation, Research, Scholarships, etc)
• Interested industry representatives

For more information and to register for the workshop, visit the eventbrite page.

Flinders University is a member of the CRC Association.

The National Health and Medical Research Council Development Grants 2020 is now open in Sapphire.

The Development Grants scheme provides financial support to individual researchers and/or research teams to undertake health and medical research within Australia at the proof-of-concept stage that specifically drives towards a commercial outcome within a foreseeable timeframe.

Support for the commercial development of a product, process, procedure or service that, if applied, would result in improved health care, disease prevention or provide health cost savings is provided under the scheme. Research must, via a commercial business plan, have detailed feasible strategies for commercialisation that takes into account the regulatory pathway, protectable intellectual property, commercial barriers and potential routes to market.

If you anticipate applying for the Development Grant round please register to access Sapphire. After registering you will be sent an email that will enable you to log-in and access your account, including your Profile.

The NHMRC is running a pilot during the Development Grant 2020 round. See our previous article for further information on the pilot and how to get involved.

The NHMRC will update Sapphire’s web page with latest news and other relevant information. We encourage you to check back regularly to keep yourself informed. 

Minimum data is due by 20 November 2019 and applications close in Sapphire on 11 December 2019, with the deadline for applicants for certification in Sapphire of 10 December 2019. 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.

An expansive data resource is now available to researchers in Flinders’ Colleges of EPSW and NHS, as the University becomes the first national partner to join the Raine Study – a cohort of 2,900 women, their parents, children and now grandchildren studied across a rich array of health and wellbeing factors for 30 years.

As an institutional member, researchers in these Colleges have free, easy access to this rich collection of data together with priority approval and review, for up to ten (multi-paper) projects every year.

The Raine Study is one of the largest studies across the gamut of life-stages to be undertaken anywhere in the world. Its data has contributed to more than 500 papers around the globe and many ground-breaking insights on health and quality of life.

For more information and details on how to access the databank, see the article from Flinders in Touch.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Centres of Research Excellence (CRE) scheme is now open. A fixed total budget of $2.5 million for 5 years is available for successful applicants.

The CRE 2020 provides support for teams of researchers to pursue collaborative research and develop capacity in clinical research, health services research and public health research. 

The objective of the CRE scheme is to improve health outcomes and promote or improve translation of research outcomes into policy and/or practice. The CRE scheme will also support researchers in capacity building activities, including in specific areas of need identified by NHMRC.

The intended outcomes of the CRE scheme are to: 

• support the conduct and development of innovative, high quality, collaborative research
• promote effective translation of research into health policy and/or practice
• foster and build capacity in the health and medical research workforce
• provide opportunities to expand and improve collaborations between research teams. 

Minimum data is due by 20 November 2019 and applications close in RGMS on 4 December 2019, with the deadline for applicants for certification in RGMS of 3 December 2019. If you are intending to apply, contact the NHMRC team in Research Development and Support (RDS) for the RDS deadline for compliance review. 

Applicants should note the following changes to the CRE 2020 Guidelines: 

All successful CRE applications will be awarded a fixed total budget of $2.5 million. Applicants are no longer required to submit detailed application budgets.

The CRE in Population Health Research stream has been renamed the CRE in Public Health Research to create consistency with NHMRC’s Broad Research Areas terminology. Renaming this stream does not affect the scope of research funded under the stream.

The applicant team interview has been removed from the peer-review process.

Additional funding may be available to support health and medical research on the health effects of radio frequency electromagnetic energy.

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

The Australian-French Association for Research and Innovation (AFRAN) Inc. is an incorporated association that aims to actively promote the development of cooperation between France and Australia in the areas of research and innovation.

The Association’s main goal is to provide Australian and French students, researchers, R&D managers, industry players, innovators and policy makers with an online networking and collaboration platform, a series of networking events and fora, and support to initiate and grow bilateral research collaboration and innovation with global impact.

Membership is currently free, and members are able to:

• Access to a supportive community of high profile academic, researchers, policy makers and industry leaders.
• Effective tools to build research networks and develop new opportunities.
• Comprehensive access to critical information and expertise for research development, informing decision-making and supporting innovation, e.g. Latest bilateral research and innovation policy developments, international funding opportunities, job and internship opportunities.
• Targeted knowledge on bilateral research expertise and industry capability.
• Visibility of French-Australian research and innovation collaborations through publicity of member actions through its website, newsletters and networks.
• Dedicated AFRAN seed-funding opportunities to members’ initiatives (e.g. workshops, scientific cafés, local AFRAN community meetings).

To join, visit the AFRAN website.

Join Professor Alison Kitson, Vice President and Executive Dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and Foundational Director and Knowledge Translation Lead for the Caring Futures Institute, at the BRAVE lecture, Handle with care: caring for older people - getting the fundamentals right to be held at the Victoria Square campus from 5.30 pm on Tuesday 12 November 2019.

Alison will present on fundamentals of care and other important care-related issues.

Established in October 2018, the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety has gained widespread public interest, generating over 4000 telephone calls to the commission information line, and receiving over 6500 public submissions.

It could be argued that this major inquiry investigating the quality of Australian residential and in-home care is long overdue with media reporting and government reviews in the last decade highlighting systematic failures and an increase in notices of non-compliance issued, and sanctions imposed on providers.

With an interim report due from the Commissioners by 31 October, and a final report now due in April 2020, Alison and her team have reviewed the transcripts from the Royal Commission in order to analyse and synthesise the evidence of the community’s experiences of the fundamentals of care.

With this information, they will inform new practices, policies, and recommendations of care/care models for the aged care sector.

To register to attend, visit the Registration page.

Through its education and research programs, Flinders encourages new ways of thinking, and supports experimentation and daring, with the mission to contribute on an international scale through ‘changing lives and changing the world’. So we invite you to share and collaborate with us on our BRAVE journey. We will impart our knowledge and new discoveries, elevate discussion and inspire debate; all with the view to facilitate the betterment of our society. To find out more about the BRAVE series, please visit the Flinders website.

Be BRAVE, be bold, be at Flinders. 

You are invited to hear from Professor Caroline McMillen, Chief Scientist for South Australia and share your thoughts on her vision for the Science Technology, Engineering Maths and Medicine (STEMM) Research and Innovation (R&I) Value Chain in South Australia at the State of Science Presentation and Consultation.

This event will be held on Wednesday 6 November from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm at the UniSA City West Campus.

Professor McMillen began as Chief Scientist for South Australia 12 months ago and over this time has been meeting, speaking and listening to stakeholders across the STEMM R&I Value Chain in South Australia. This process and feedback has led to the development of ‘The State of Science, Research and Innovation Discussion Paper’.

Professor McMillen would like to share this discussion paper and gather your feedback to help shape and the development of a new science and innovation strategy for South Australia.

This strategy, referred to as EXCITE, aims to grow the STEMM R&I Value Chain in South Australia to deliver economic and social outcomes that will assist in driving the South Australian Government’s economic Growth Agenda. Key enablers of Excellence, Collaboration, Innovation and Translation, and an Enabled Future Workforce are seen as central tenets to the South Australian Excite Strategy with the strategy to include a number of strategic actions.

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