Research Grants

Speech Pathology Australia (the Association), the national peak body for speech pathologists working in Australia, is committed to promoting and funding high quality research into all aspects of speech pathology practice.

The research grants aim to support the growth of research within the speech pathology profession, build the evidence base, enhance speech pathologists’ practice, and benefit service users with communication and swallowing needs.

In 2023, grants will be offered in five categories. Details of all research grants are provided below. Further information about the Association's research grants can be found in the associated policy document 13.01 Research Grants.

Submission of research grant applications occurs via an online process. Identifying information should be entered online, and details of the research project (the de-identified Research Plan) must be attached as an MS Word document.

Tips and information for completing your research plan can be found here:

2023 Tips for Completing a Research Plan (New Researcher, Nadia Verrall, and QLD Registration Board grants)

Applicants may apply for a grant in more than one category per grant round, but may only apply once in each category per annum. An individual may be engaged in multiple grants/projects at one time, but can only hold the position of lead researcher (‘Applicant’ or ‘Partner’) on one Association Research Grant at any one time.

New Researcher Grants

Applications NOW OPEN! Closing date: 28 April 2023.

Two New Researcher Grants will be offered in 20233, each with a value of $18,000. These grants seek to recognise and encourage research undertaken by members who are new to the research process.

These grants seek to recognise and encourage research undertaken by members who are new to the research process.

Eligibility:

Eligible applicants are speech pathologists without formal research training, those enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Program (e.g., Masters or PhD), and those who were awarded a postgraduate research degree (e.g., Masters or PhD) in the two years prior to applying for the grant.
The applicant must be a current Certified Practising or postgraduate member of Speech Pathology Australia.
The research project must add to the evidence base regarding people with communication and/or swallowing disorders and must be relevant to the Strategic Plan of the Association.
The applicant must demonstrate their capability to undertake the project, including a statement of how they will obtain research support and expertise needed to conduct and complete the project.

For further details, eligibility criteria, and requirements, please refer to the Guidelines below. To submit an application, complete the online form via the submission portal and upload your completed research plan and CV.

2023 New Researcher Grant - Guidelines

2023 New Researcher Grant - Research Plan Template

ONLINE SUBMISSION PORTAL (NB. make one submission per online session)

Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant

Applications NOW OPEN! Closing date: 28 April 2023.

One Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant is offered every second year (available in 2023), to the value of $10,000.

The Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant is coordinated by the Association in memory of Nadia Verrall who practised in paediatric speech pathology in Western Australia and New South Wales.

The grants supports research into paediatric communication disorders which enhances the practice of speech pathologists working with children with communication disorders and their families.

Eligibility:

The applicant must be a current Certified Practising member of Speech Pathology Australia.
The research project must be in areas relating to communication disorders in children and must be relevant to the Strategic Plan of the Association.
The outcomes of the research must enhance the clinical practice of speech pathologists working with children with communication disorders and their families.
The applicant must demonstrate their capability to undertake the project, including a statement of how they will obtain research support and expertise needed to conduct and complete the project.

2023 Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant - Guidelines

2023 Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant - Research Plan template

ONLINE SUBMISSION PORTAL (NB. make one submission per online session)

Queensland Registration Board Legacy Research Grant

Applications NOW OPEN! Closing date: 28 April 2023.

Two Queensland Registration Board Legacy Research Grants will be offered in 2023, each to the value of $10,000.

The Queensland Registration Board Legacy Research Grants scheme is one of four schemes financed from the legacy funds remaining at the closure of The Registration Board of Queensland in 2013. The purpose of the Queensland Registration Board Legacy Research Grant is to support research on communication and swallowing disorders across the life span that enhances the clinical practice of speech pathologists in Queensland.

Eligibility:

This grant is open to all speech pathologists residing and/or practising in Queensland.
Applicants must be eligible for Certified Practising membership of Speech Pathology Australia.
The research project must be in areas of communication and/or swallowing disorders and must be relevant to the Strategic Plan of the Association. Research may focus on aspects of assessment, intervention or broader issues concerned with clinical practice as a speech pathologist.
The outcomes of the research must enhance the clinical practice of speech pathologists working in Queensland and contribute to the evidence base.
The applicant must demonstrate their capability to undertake the project, including a statement of how they will obtain research support and expertise needed to conduct and complete the project.

2023 QLD Registration Board Legacy Research Grant - Guidelines

2023 QLD Registration Board Legacy Research Grant – Research Plan template

ONLINE SUBMISSION PORTAL (NB. make one submission per online session)

Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant

Applications are currently closed and will reopen mid-2023.

One Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant (formerly Clinician-Researcher Partnership Grant) is offered in 2023, to the value of $36,000.

The grant funds a project that involves a team consisting of practitioner(s) and researcher(s) working in partnership to address an area that will add to the evidence base, benefit speech pathologists who work with individuals and communities with communication and/or swallowing needs, and benefit service users experiencing communication and/or swallowing needs. The research question(s) addressed may arise from clinical practice or may extend a research study to a practice context to provide external validity.

The project must be completed within a two-year time frame. Priority will be given to research applications that align with the Association’s Strategic Plan.

More details to follow in mid-2023. Guidelines and application documents are currently under revision.

ONLINE SUBMISSION PORTAL (NB. make one submission per online session)

Building the Evidence Base: Supporting Equitable Outcomes in Communication and Swallowing for Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander Peoples

Applications are currently closed and will reopen mid-2023.

One grant is offered within this category to the value of $18,000.

The Equitable Outcomes grant supports the Association’s commitment to Reconciliation and is designed to provide evidence to support members in designing evidence based, culturally responsive services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will also provide an opportunity for action to support and promote research that works in collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities from research design to dissemination of research outcomes. It aims to support projects in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities play a lead role from design to dissemination of outcomes.

More details to follow in mid-2023. Guidelines and application documents are currently under revision.

ONLINE SUBMISSION PORTAL (NB. make one submission per online session)

The Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a panel/pool of suitably experienced members and/or staff of Speech Pathology Australia. The review panel for the Equitable Outcomes Grant will include members/staff of Speech Pathology Australia with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, and/or experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples.

All applications are reviewed and rated using weighted review criteria. This results in numerical reviewer scores and a final score which is the average of the reviewer ratings. In cases where scores are close or markedly different, additional reviews and feedback may be sought. Reviewers also provide comments on the application.

The scoring criteria used to review applications within the different grant categories can be accessed via the following links:

Scoring criteria for New Researcher, Nadia Verrall, and QLD Registration Board grant categories

Scoring criteria for ‘Practitioner-Researcher Partnership’ and ‘Building the Evidence Base’ grants are currently under revision and will be available mid-2023.

The decision regarding award of grants involves consideration of scores and reviewer comments. The following factors may also be considered in decision-making and prioritisation of applications for award, including in instances where scores are close:

Alignment to the Association's current Strategic Plan
Impact/significance of contribution to the evidence base, speech pathology practice, and service users or other stakeholders
Consumer/service user or stakeholder involvement and/or consultation
Potential for capacity building of practitioners (for Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant category)
Originality of the research (known duplicates of research previously or currently being funded through the Association Research Grant scheme will not be funded)
Research projects with no or limited alternative funding opportunities
Applicants are of good standing with the Association (determined in consultation with the Manager Ethics and Professional Issues, or delegate).

Further information can be found in the relevant policy 13.01 Research Grants.