SHOW ME THE MONEY!Accessing research funding

as an allied health researcher in Canberra

Bernie Bissett

Senior PhysiotherapistAcute Support Physiotherapy

Canberra Hospital

& Clinical Assistant ProfessorDiscipline of Physiotherapy

University of Canberra

Acknowledgement:Dr Sue BerneySenior Physiotherapist

Austin Health Melbourne

Research Funding

• No dedicated Allied Health research positions in ACT Health

• Need to provide a high quality clinical service

• Costs of research– Equipment– Measurement Tools (eg SF-36)– Staffing– Publication costs– Data analysis

Research Funding Pressures

Research Funding for Allied Health?

Riding the Coat Tails

Successful funding 2007 - 2014• Auxiliary Research Grant (TCH) $5000 (2008)• Private Practice Fund (TCH) $48 800 (2010)• Chief Allied Health Office $504 (2013)• University of Canberra $ 11 000 (2013)• Chief Allied Health Office $4996 (2014)

Writing a grant application• Do your homework

– Forms, deadlines, signatures

• Read the criteria! – What are they looking for? Agendas . . .

– Address the SPECIFIC criteria concisely

• Find someone who has had success with that funding body previously – read theirs for flavour

• Edit and re-edit carefully (proof)

• Exploit the coat tails . . .

Canberra Hospital Private Practice Fund

• 16 page application

• Major Grants > $40 000• Minor Grants < $40 000

• Once per year

• Preference for medical staff (collaborate!)

• Mixed success

Chief Allied Health Office• 6 page application

• Allied health specific research grants up to $5000 offered in 2014

• Preference for interdisciplinary projects

• Broad spectrum of research activity supported

University Grants

• Collaboration with Academic Staff

• Consider enrolling! Masters in Research, PhD

Foundations

Not For Profit Organisationsourcommunity.com.au – great site for grant advice & links to NFP organisations

Grant Rejection• Feedback – how to improve for next time• Opportunity for developing skills• Try another avenue• Recycle!

Have a go . . . And play a long game

Research Funding Questions

Bernie.Bissett@act.gov.au