Major Research Grants Program
Lowitja Institute provides Major Research Grants to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations. The grant period is two years and the maximum amount available per project is $200,000.
As part of our commitment to Knowledge Translation, an additional $20,000 grant is offered to all recipients of Lowitja Institute’s Major Research Grant within 12 months of the commencement date, to support organisations to deliver on their vision and aspirations in relation to research impact. This grant assists in getting the right message to the right audience, to achieve impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
In our Major Research Grant Round 2022, we awarded 16 organisations. Learn more about these.
Our next round of Major Research Grants will open in mid 2024
Community-led research
Aboriginal-led research will influence policy and practice within the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC) and other relevant funding organisations to ensure knowledge is rapidly translated into measurable improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people Australia-wide.
The Major Research Grants provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to transform their ideas into reality. The 2024–26 grants will support the research of new ideas that align to one of the Lowitja Institute Research Agenda themes:
- Self-determination
This theme seeks to uphold historical, contemporary and future truth-telling as a fundamental process for the decolonising of health and wellbeing policy and practice. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have the right to regain control to lead research and decision-making processes to contribute to social transformation throughout generations.
- Sovereignty
This theme seeks to acknowledge the political and intellectual sovereignty of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. It upholds sovereignty in the political discourse including determining the agenda, the creation, governance, control, and protection of knowledge.
- Cultural determinants
This theme seeks to recognise the importance and relatedness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural determinants which includes our knowledge systems as integral part to strong health and wellbeing.
- Racism
This theme recognises the ongoing legacy of colonisation and the impacts on health, and healthcare delivery and access. It seeks to uphold Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights to culturally safe systems free of racism through privileging community-led solutions to policy development and implementation to health service management and delivery, research, education and training, to improve health system quality and safety.
Who can apply?
The Major Research Grants are for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations only.
What is the criteria?
Organisations are not expected to have research experience for the Major Research Grants. 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.
