Lowitja Institute research commissioning aims to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to transform their ideas into aspirations that meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and improve health and wellbeing outcomes within a generation. The Lowitja Institute Project Grants support the research of new ideas that align to the Lowitja Institute Research Agenda themes (see below):
- Empowerment,
- Sovereignty,
- Connectedness, and
- Cultural safety and respectful systems in the health sector.
Project grants are available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations (that is organisations with a majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Board) as the main applicant and grant holder. Projects must also be led by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.
Organisations that do not have existing relationships with researchers or internal research expertise are welcome to contact us if they are interested in discussing how we might assist in pairing them with a suitable researcher.
Grant types
Two grant types will be offered:
- Discovery - projects that focus on investigating the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and building the evidence-base around what we know works for our communities.
- Implementation - projects that focus on translating existing knowledge into practice to achieve positive outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Your organisation may apply as the sole leader of the project, or in partnership with another stakeholder organisation. Partner organisations must make cash or in-kind contributions to the project of at least 50% of the grant amount requested. Projects must be no longer than 2 years, and the maximum amount available per project is $200,000. An additional grant of up to $20,000 will be offered to each project for knowledge translation, that is getting the right message to the right audience to achieve impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait lslander communities.
Projects must be no longer than 2 years, and the maximum amount available per project is $200,000. An additional grant of up to $20,000 will be offered to each project for knowledge translation, that is getting the right message to the right audience to achieve impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait lslander communities.
How to apply
Applications for the Lowitja Institute Project Grants will open on Monday 20 July 2020 and close on Monday 12 October 2020. Applicants that have not received a 2020 Lowitja Institute Seeding Grant will be required to submit an Expression of Interest.
Grants Details |
Timeline |
Open date |
20th July 2020 |
Closing date - EOIs |
12th August 2020 |
Closing date - Applications |
12th October 2020 |
Notification of outcome |
Early November 2020 |
Commencement of funding |
December 2020 |
Final reporting for research projects |
April 2023 |
Step-by-step application process
- Read through the provided information and download the Expression of Interest form.
- Register for and attend an online Q&A session (see below) for further information.
- Complete EOI form, providing evidence of the Host Organisation’s eligibility, initial stakeholder engagement and the proposed project team. Expressions of Interest will close on 12 August 2020. Once complete, email to grants@lowitja.org.au
- Await outcome of your Expression of Interest – if successful, you will be invited to submit an application via the Lowitja Institute Project Management Hub.
- Ensure your proposal is complete and submitted by 12 October 2020.
- Await outcome of the assessment of your proposal – this will be in early November 2020.
- Successful applicants will enter into contract negotiations, with the aim of having all successful projects launched in December 2020.
Selection criteria
The Lowitja Institute is interested in research proposals that meet the following selection criteria:
- Meet the applicant eligibility criteria (see below)
- Address one of the Lowitja Institute Research Themes (See below) and a clear aspiration and/or need in policy or practice
- Address the Lowitja key principles
- Led by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander lead or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researcher
- Demonstrate partnership with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers or researchers with relevant expertise
- Demonstrate meaningful impact and engagement (see below) – for example, potential to build research capacity, stakeholder engagement and partnerships
- Include a complete and detailed and realistic project description, project plan and budget
- Demonstrate opportunity to work with people from a wide range of backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disabilities, mature aged and older people, young people, people who identify as LGBTIQ, and people in contact with the criminal justice system
Considering the COVID-19 public health emergency, applicants need to reflect a realistic timeframe for their project and address current public health guidelines and physical distancing protocols in their project proposal. Applicants are encouraged to adopt new ways to facilitate the delivery of projects, for example, communication technologies and online platforms.
Q&A Drop-in sessions
The Lowitja Institute will host online Q&A sessions from 28 July 2020, to provide potential applicants with information about the project funding requirements. Due to limited places per session, bookings are essential. Please register here.
Please Note: Applicants are advised to read the program guidelines online and gather information on project proposals prior to attending a drop-in session. If you would like to check whether your project meets the eligibility criteria beforehand, please contact Alex Zurawski – alex.zurawski@lowitja.org.au
- Lowitja Institute research themes

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Aim
Lowitja Institute’s Research Agenda 2019 to 2023 aims to achieve positive health and wellbeing benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples through the empowerment, sovereignty, and connectedness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Themes
The Agenda focuses on four key themes:
- Empowerment,
- Sovereignty,
- Connectedness, and
- Cultural safety and respectful systems in the health sector.

Download the above image and information
- Applicant eligibility criteria

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Applicant Eligibility
Lowitja Institute Project grant applications will be accepted from Aboriginal and Torres Strait organisations that meet all the following criteria:
- Registered ABN or ACN
- Current insurances:
- Public Liability insurance to a minimum of $10 million in respect of any claim or series of related claims
- Professional Indemnity insurance to a minimum of $10 million in respect of any claim or series of related claims
- Worker’s Compensation insurance for all employees and sub-contractors involved in delivery of the services
- Registered under the relevant federal/state/territory legislative acts
- Employs at least five people
- A legal entity that can enter into legally binding agreements
- Is not bankrupt or subject to insolvency proceedings, is financially solvent, and has systems in place that ensure it will remain solvent
- Types of research impact and examples

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Research impact
Research impact is an emerging national requirement of government funded projects. The Australian Research Council defines research impact as the ‘contribution research makes to the economy, society, public policy or health that is beyond contributions to academia’.
At Lowitja Institute, we have adapted this definition and drawn on a variety of sources to develop a definition specific to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health context: research impact is the positive and sustainable long-term benefit for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, beyond the realms of academia.
It is important to demonstrate and measure research impact as it helps us know if our research has been translated successfully into policy and practice for the benefit and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Types of research impact
Lowitja Institute has identified five types of research impact which consists of:
- Health impact
- Knowledge impact
- Economic impact
- Social impact
- Environmental impact
- Cultural impact
The table below (Table 1) provides a description of each type of impact and examples which may be relevant to your project. The examples provided are there to provide guidance for you to think about the impacts your own project might demonstrate..png)
Download the above table and information