Australian Rotary Health invites applications from individuals or research teams in clinical or public health fields for grants in support of research projects relating to the MENTAL HEALTH OF YOUNG AUSTRALIANS.

Australian Rotary Health

Australian Rotary Health is a multi-district project for Rotary in Australia, with over 1,150 Rotary Clubs and 38,000 Rotarians supporting it. Australian Rotary Health has channelled more than $30 million into Australian research projects over its 30 year plus history. Australian Rotary Health will allocate around $2 million in medical research grants and scholarships by the end of 2014. Since its inception, Australian Rotary Health’s emphasis has been on community health with its current emphasis on Mental Health.

Australian Rotary Health & Mental Health

It is estimated that mental health problems and mental illness will affect more than 20 per cent of the adult population in their lifetime and between 10-15 per cent of young people in any one year. Many will recover spontaneously and, of the remainder, the vast majority can be treated and will recover fully. However, a smaller number will experience longer periods of distress and disability.

Myths, misunderstanding, negative attitudes and stereotypes surround the issue of mental illness. The prevalence and severity of mental illness imposes severe distress on individuals and their carers and is a major financial burden on families and the community.

Principal Goals of Australian Rotary Health

• To encourage, promote, stimulate and aid medical and health research in Australia
• To co-ordinate and manage Rotary health initiatives and community health projects
• To promote, encourage and stimulate public interest in the prevention and treatment of ill health in Australia

Information for Applicants:

• The Mental Health of Young Australians Research Grant is available for up to 3 years in duration; however, for 2017 we encourage 1 or 2 years grants.

• The total budget for one year of funding MUST NOT exceed $70,000 + GST. Applications requesting more than $70,000 + GST will not be considered.

• Grant funding will commence in February 2017 and quarterly thereafter. Payments will be sent directly to your administering institution.

• If you apply to another organisation for funding for the same project, and that application is successful, Australian Rotary Health must be notified immediately. Australian Rotary Health will only grant funding for separate components of the same project.

• Grant monies may not be used to fund any University administration fees payable during the course of the research.

• Funding cannot be used to pay a salary to a PhD scholar. Please refer to our Ian Scott PhD Scholarships.

• Funding cannot be used to pay a salary to the Principal Investigator named on the application, only Co-investigators.

• Supply by Australian Rotary Health of grant monies constitutes a taxable supply, and as such will attract GST.

• Eligible applicants are restricted by Income Tax authorities to entities endorsed as a deductible gift recipient under subdivision 30-Ba of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1997.

• The maximum number of Expressions of Interest per year, per Principle Investigator is ONE.

• Expressions of Interest and Applications will be assessed by a panel of experts. It is in your interest not to quote unpublished work or work which is not readily accessible in the current literature.

• Researchers undertaking randomised control trials are strongly advised to check the CONSORT Statement which can be found at consort-statement.org

• Experimental studies without a comparison group will generally not be funded.

• Projects on neurological disorders will generally not be funded.

• Projects investigating animal models will generally not be funded.

Eligibility Requirement:

• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, have Australian Permanent Resident Status, or New Zealand Citizen, and not be under bond to any foreign government. Applicants are to provide a certified copy of resident status or citizenship with the full application, if short-listed (ie., passport/visa).

• To qualify, projects must be undertaken within a university, public hospital, research institute or other body within Australia approved under Section 78 of the Income Assessment Act.

Reports:

• Successful applicants will be required to submit an interim report in September of each year, and are to be submitted on a prescribed form. These reports will be used for public relations and to assist the Research Committee if further funding is sought. A final and/or annual report is to be submitted on completion of the project or grant period.

• If the grant exceeds $5,000, the Board will require a statement of expenditure signed by an authorised person.

Publications:

• All publications or presentations emanating from an approved project must acknowledge Australian Rotary Health and copies must be forwarded Australian Rotary Health.

Application Procedure:

• Applicants are required to submit an Expression of Interest before submitting a full application on request.
• Applicants to send in by mail 5 copies of Expression of Interest.

• Expressions of Interest will be reviewed by members of the Research Committee in June.

• Short-listed applicants will be requested to submit a full application, which includes a) Executive summary; b) Project aim(s); c) Significance of the project; d) Outcomes and implementation of research findings into practice; e) Background, research plan and timeline; f) Budget request; and g) Budget justification. Instructions for submission can be found in the application form.

• Applications will be reviewed by a full Research Committee in late October.

• Applications will be assessed on a) Scientific excellence of the project; b) Innovation of the project; c) Track record of the applicant(s); d) Feasibility, including relevant partnerships; and e) Practical benefits to the mental health of the community.

Notification:

• All applicants will be notified in June 2016 to advise whether applicants have been short-listed or not. All short-listed applicants who submit a full application will be notified by email in December 2016 to advise whether they have been successful, timing depending on the date when NHMRC and other funding bodies advise of successful grants.

All applicants who are successful with a grant application to NHMRC or other funding body must advise Australian Rotary Health immediately.