Exploratory grants

Our Open Exploratory Research category provides funding for exploratory or formative studies. These studies should aim to address gaps in health promotion research and show potential and intent to impact policy, programs, and/or practice in WA.   

Intervention grants

Our Open Intervention Research category provides funding for research projects that will develop and test a new health promotion intervention or lead to the development of a health promotion policy intervention.

Healthway Research Fellowships

Our Fellowship research category is designed to increase the number of experienced and trained researchers working in health promotion research in WA. Candidates can apply for a Postdoctoral Early Career or Senior Research Fellowship full time for up to three (3) years to undertake their research project. A key feature of these grants is a strong focus on establishing end-user partnerships and collaborative approaches, to provide an opportunity for the Fellow to contribute to the work of their partner agencies and Healthway, and establish skills, networks and relationships that will enhance their career and provide professional development opportunities.

Healthway Health Promotion Research Training Scholarships

Our Health Promotion Research Scholarship provides funding support for individuals studying a Masters or PhD. The aim is to assist in obtaining formal academic training for Postgraduate degrees in a field directly relevant to health promotion, through an approved tertiary institution with the goal to increase the number of experienced, trained practitioners, and researchers in WA working in health promotion research.

Aboriginal Research Training Scholarships

Our Aboriginal Research Training Scholarships are designed to increase the number of experienced and trained Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander practitioners and researchers in WA working to promote health in Aboriginal communities.

Funding is available to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander graduates in obtaining formal academic training in Aboriginal health related areas through an approved tertiary institution. The post-graduate course may be a graduate certificate, postgraduate diploma, honours, PhD or Masters.

Healthway Visiting Fellowships

Our Visiting Fellowship funding aims to increase the capacity of the health promotion workforce in WA by providing funding support to Organisations to host a leading expert (from interstate or overseas) to reside in WA for a period of up to three (3) months. The Visiting Fellow will have health promotion experience and skills which will benefit the local research and health promotion community, disciplines outside health promotion, and other relevant organisations, including state and local government, and not-for-profit agencies. 

Stage One – Expressions of Interest (EOI)

Expressions of Interest (EOIs) are assessed using the following criteria:

1. Alignment of the research to health promotion, Healthway strategic priorities and essential criteria for funding.
2. Appropriateness of the proposed Intervention and its relevance to health promotion policy and practice. (Intervention EOIs only)
3. Rationale and demand for the proposed research. Ability of the research to contribute new evidence.
4. Overall aim and objectives of the proposed research.
5. Knowledge translation plan that demonstrates strategies beyond communication and dissemination.
6. Research team skills and capabilities relevant to the research.
7. Budget items and proposed timeline for the research is appropriate and within the grant category guidelines.

Exploratory grants – full application

Applications are scored against the following criteria:

1. Development and/or contribution of the research to best practice strategies in health promotion.
2. The quality of the translation plan to demonstrate intent and capacity for the research to inform current policy and/or practice.
3. The relevance of end-user partnerships, and appropriateness of the collaboration and engagement strategies. 
4. Strength and rigour of the rationale and methodology (including literature review, research design, sample selection, methodology and cultural appropriateness, if appropriate).
5. Track record, multi-disciplinary composition (where appropriate) and capability of the research team. Performance and outputs from previously held Healthway research grants will be taken into consideration, where appropriate. This will include the quality of reports provided to Healthway from previously held research grants.
6. Appropriateness of the budget, and overall value for money in regard to the contribution of this research to health promotion in WA.

Intervention grants – full application

Applications are scored against the following criteria:

1. Ability to directly improve community health outcomes.
2. Development and/or contribution of the research to best practice strategies in health promotion.
3. The quality of the translation plan to demonstrate how the findings will be integrated into current practice and achieve sustainable, community health outcomes.
4. The relevance of end-user partnerships, and appropriateness of the collaboration and engagement strategies. 
5. Strength and rigour of the rationale and methodology (including literature review, research design, sample selection, methodology and cultural appropriateness, if appropriate).
6. Track record, multi-disciplinary composition (where appropriate) and capability of the research team. Performance and outputs from previously held Healthway research grants will be taken into consideration, where appropriate. This will include the quality of reports provided to Healthway from previously held research grants.
7. Appropriateness of the budget, and overall value for money in regard to the contribution of this research to health promotion in WA.
   
   

Requests will be assessed in consultation with Healthway’s Research Assessment Committee and relevant research experts, where appropriate. External agencies and proposed partners may also be consulted at the discretion of Healthway.

• The candidate’s referees (2) will be contacted by Healthway to discuss the applicant and their ability to conduct the proposed study program
• Shortlisted applicants may be invited for an interview with a panel of Healthway staff and Research Assessment Committee members.
• All funding decisions will be made by the Board. The Board may contact any person or organisation when seeking information on which to base its decisions. 
• Projects approved for funding by the Board also require the Minister for Health’s approval for disbursement of funds. 

• Relevance of the proposed research to health promotion and Heathway’s strategic priorities
• The research methodology and scientific validity of the proposed research
• Strength of the partnerships
• Strength of the knowledge translation plan
• Candidate’s ability to conduct the proposed study program and research
• Contribution of the research program to the candidate’s career in health promotion

Healthway will also consider the candidates previous academic performance, referee reports, and partners in the assessment of the request.

Employment details

• Fellowship and Scholarship holders may undertake up to eight (8) hours paid employment outside the research project, during the hours of 9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday, with the permission of the student’s institution, and must not interfere with a scholarship holder’s study program.
• Scholarship and Fellowship holders are entitled to a total of 20 days paid leave per annum, to be taken during their tenure. This leave will not be considered cumulative.
• Scholarship and Fellowship holders are entitled to sick leave in accordance with the conditions applying to the individual institution. The tenure of the scholarship will not be affected by sick leave. In special cases, where the student is ill for more than one (1) month, Healthway MAY agree to a temporary suspension of the scholarship.
• Up to 12 months Parental leave may be taken, during which time the scholarship or fellowship will be temporarily suspended.
• Extensions to the duration and deferment will only be considered by Healthway in exceptional circumstances and must be applied for in writing and submitted within the Healthway grants portal by the institutions research office.
• Deferment for longer than one year will result in the Scholarship being forfeited.
• Institutions may apply to Healthway to consider extending a scholarship tenure to a third year if the student’s progress in their Master’s degree warrants conversion to enrolment for a Doctor of Philosophy.
• Acknowledgment of Healthway must be made by the student, or past-recipient of a Healthway Scholarship or Fellowship, when any material which represents the results of work undertaken during tenure is submitted for publication, presented at conferences or covered in any other mass media.
• Any financial support from other organisations for the student’s research during tenure of the scholarship must be approved by Healthway prior to accepting such support.

• Requests for funding must be submitted online via the Lotterywest Healthway Grants Portal  by the responsible officer of the administering institution, generally the Research Grants office, on behalf of the applicant.
• Requests submitted directly from individual researchers will not be accepted, researchers don not have access to the Grants Portal.
• All administering organisations will need to be registered prior to submitting a grant request through the Grants Portal.
• For further guidance on the Grants Poral please request your Research Grants Office to contact us on 133 777 or healthway@healthway.wa.gov.au.