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RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award

Information for applicants

Deadline for submission of applications has been extended to Friday 3 June 2011, 5.00 pm AEST

Introduction

The RACGP recognises that improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is one of Australia's highest health priorities. The College supports research which makes a difference to health outcomes, policy and practice, and the capacity of general practice to engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders' health issues. It particularly encourages a systematic approach to strategic and policy-driven research focusing on primary care, developing collaborative approaches and the building of research capacity within indigenous populations and communities.

In 2003, the then RACGP President Professor Michael Kidd, waived his right to any form of payment and placed his allowance of $45,000 in a secure interest bearing account with the interest to be used as the basis of an annual award to support general practice initiatives in indigenous health. The RACGP Council endorsed the recommendation to establish the RACGP Indigenous Health Award, which was offered for the first time in 2004.

In 2005, the Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute (APHCRI) joined the College as co-funder of the award to build capacity in primary health care research in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health care. The Institute contributed $3000 each year, increasing this to $6000 in 2009, which now enables two awards to be offered annually. The Institute anticipates these awards will not only build a wealth of research knowledge to draw on to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes, but also to develop and encourage researchers in this important field of work in Australia.

Award Details

Two RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Awards, valued at $4500 each, are available for a 12 month period to provide support for:

• indigenous medical students
• medical students to gain experience in indigenous health
• indigenous medical graduates undertaking GP training
• registrars and GPs undertaking research and educational projects in indigenous health
• other activities supporting the provision of high quality health care to indigenous people

Awards are made by the RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award Committee, a subcommittee of the RACGP National Research Awards Committee (NRAC).

Eligibility        

Applicants for the RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award must be either a medical student or a GP or GP registrar who is a member of the RACGP. New and emerging researchers are particularly encouraged to apply.

Selection Criteria

Applications will be judged on:

• training potential for applicants
• significance and relevance to indigenous health
• quality of the proposal
• value for money

In reviewing grant applications, the RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award Committee will place a higher weighting on training potential versus other criteria.

Completed original application forms should be mailed to the RACGP Foundation Manager and e-mailed to research@racgp.org.au.

Conditions

1. Unless otherwise indicated, the award must be used in the year for which it is awarded.
2. The award will be paid only to incorporated bodies that have an ABN and ACN and not to individuals.
3. By applying for the award, each applicant will have consented to permit the RACGP and APHCRI to publicise their name, institution, and title of their project.
4. Personal information provided to the RACGP by award applicants will be used for the purposes of administering the award. The RACGP Privacy Statement explains how the RACGP usually collects and uses personal information provided to the RACGP and how it can be accessed.
5. If required, successful applicants must obtain an ethical clearance from an ethics committee constituted under NHMRC guidelines.
6. Any unused funds are to be returned with the final report or 15 months from the date of project commencement, whichever occurs first.
7. Unless the purpose and conditions of the award can be fulfilled, the award must be forfeited and all payments refunded within 1 month of notification of forfeit.
8. An award may be revoked at any time upon three months’ notice given by the RACGP.

Selection Process

9. The RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award Committee, a subcommittee of the National Research Awards Committee (NRAC), is responsible for the independent, objective evaluation and review of award applications. All decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
10. Successful award applicants may receive an outline of de-identified referees’ comments, which may require a satisfactory written response before the final award can be made.
11. All award applicants (successful and unsuccessful) will be notified by end of August 2011.
12. Successful award applicants are expected to receive their award at an event hosted by the RACGP state faculty where the award winner resides.  

Reporting Requirements

13. Successful applicants must provide a 1-2 paragraph biography, a 1-2 paragraph layman’s summary of the project and an electronic photograph for use on the RACGP and the APHCRI websites or in relevant RACGP publications.
14. Proof of ethics approval (if required) must be provided no later than 12 months from the date on which the grant recipient is notified of the outcome of their application. If proof of ethics approval is not received within this timeframe, the offer of funding may be withdrawn.
15. A progress report must be provided 6 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later.
16. Notification of project completion is due 12 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later.
17. A final report is due 3 months from the date of project completion (i.e. 15 months from the date of ethics approval or from the date on which the recipient is notified of the outcome of their application, whichever is later).
18. The RACGP Foundation, Australian Primary Health Care Research Institute and the RACGP/APHCRI Indigenous Health Award must be acknowledged in any publications arising from research funded by the award.
19. If the project is delayed in any way or if any of the deadlines are unable to be met, the researcher must request an extension of this timeline. A Request for Extension form can be obtained by emailing grantholders@racgp.org.au. If any of the reporting requirements are not met without an extension being granted, funding may be withdrawn.

Payment of Awards

20. Awards will not exceed $4,500.
21. Awards will be paid upon receipt of:
• a tax invoice
• publicity materials (see 13 above)
• proof of ethics approval from a Committee constituted according to the NHMRC (if required)

Any variation to this payment schedule must be agreed upon by both parties.

Last Modified: 6 May 2011
Authorised By: RACGP Foundation