Funding Opportunities

Now open – 2025 Western Alliance Rapid Research Translation Grants

Western Alliance Rapid Research Translation (RRT) Grants support the rapid (within 18 months) implementation/scaling and evaluation of evidence-based health improvements across rural and regional Western Victoria. Proposed changes must be identified within and be of significance to the participating health organisations.

Amount: Total pool of $100k (up to $40k per project)

Funding to be used for: Activity to support implementation/scaling and evaluation (e.g., backfill of key staff time, development/implementation of training and communication strategies, infrastructure or resources to support implementation/scaling or evaluation activity). Note that funding must not be used for service delivery.

Eligible applicants: Those working in Western Alliance member health organisations (Barwon Health, Colac Area Health, East Grampians Health Service, Grampians Health, Maryborough District Health Service, Portland District Health, South West Healthcare, Western District Health Service, Western Victoria PHN), with the support of Western Alliance University members, Deakin University and Federation University.

To read about projects awarded Western Alliance RRT Grants in previous years, please click here.

To view a recording of the Western Alliance RRT Grant information session, please click here. 

To read the grant guidelines and submit an EOI, please download the EOI form here.

Expressions of Interest close at 5pm, Thursday 14 August 2025. Shortlisted projects will be invited to submit a formal application.

Now open – Funding support to major external grant applications

Western Alliance is formally offering support to applicants for major external grant opportunities, for example NHMRC partnership grants or similar, where the objectives of the proposed project align with those of the Western Alliance and its member organisations. Projects must involve at least one Western Alliance health sector member organisation.

Financial support of up to $20,000 (in total), as well as in-kind support, will be offered to prospective bids who meet the criteria as indicated below:

• Collaboration of Western Alliance member organisations
• Alignment with Western Alliance principles and themes/platforms
• Focus on translational research which will improve health outcomes for regional/rural communities across Western Victoria

Since 2021, Western Alliance has provided $180,000 in funding to projects that have gone on to secure funding of over $15 million from state and federal agencies including MRFF and the Cancer Council. Projects include:

• A/Prof Nicole Kiss (Deakin University), Colac Area Health, Grampians Health. Revolutionising sarcopenia care for people living with cancer: Establishing effective screening and referral pathways into evidence-based treatment in rural and specialist cancer services. $1,500,000 (MRFF)
• A/Prof Anna Ugalde (Deakin University), Colac Area Health, East Grampians Health Service, Grampians Health, South West Healthcare & Western District Health Service.
  Driving equitable cancer outcomes across Australia: Establishing a nationally scalable model to embed best practice cancer care into rural health services. $4,900,000 (MRFF)
• Prof Alison Kennedy (Deakin University), Western Victoria Primary Health Network, Barwon Health & Western District Health Service. A Whole of Community Systems Approach to Co-Designing and Implementing a Safe Spaces Model of Primary Healthcare for Sexuality Diverse Young People in Western Victoria. $1,950,000 (MRFF)
• Prof Trish Livingstone (Deakin University), All Western Alliance member health services. Establishing a Centre of Excellence in Cancer Carer Research. $1,200,000 (Victorian State Government)
• Prof Antonina Mickoka Walus (Deakin University), Barwon Health. CoDeEndo: Co-Designing, Evaluating, and Implementing Supportive Care for Endometriosis. $1,200,000 (MRFF)
• Prof Antonina Mickoka Walus (Deakin University), Barwon Health. Randomized E-hypnotherapy for Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome Trial (REST). $1,300,000 (MRFF)
• Dr Samantha Dawson (Deakin University), Barwon Health & Colac Area Health. The effect of a gut-focused dietary smartphone app for pregnant women on infant mental health-related outcomes: Beyond Bugs and Bumps RCT. $930,000 (NHMRC)
• Catherine Williams (Barwon Health /Deakin University),  Barwon Health. Building capacity to establish the first regional Allied Health Clinical Trials Unit specialising in Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care. $550,000 (Cancer Council)
• Prof Andrea Driscoll (Deakin University), Colac Area Health, South West Healthcare, East Grampians Health Service & Grampians Health. I-HEART – Implementation of Heart failure guidelines in Regional Australia. $1,500,000 (NHMRC)

Please click on the link to be directed to the expression of interest form: Western Alliance support for major external research grants EOI