Research Funding Opportunities & Events

If you are interested in any of the funding opportunities, please contact foe-research@unimelb.edu.au asap.

  1. Bupa Foundation Community Grants – closes 6 June 5pm
  2. National Foundation for Australia-China Relations 2025-26 Grants Program – closes Monday 30 June, 12:00pm AEST
  3. IELTS Joint-Funded Research Program -anticipated date applications close Monday 30 June
  4. Australian Rotary Health – Improving the Mental Health of 0-12 year olds EOI closes Monday 30 June
  5. Fulbright Scholarships – closes 1 July
  6. First Round Table for the year – Thursday 29 May

1. Bupa Foundation Community Grants- closes 6 June

Community organisations have the opportunity to share in a total of $600,000 in grants, aimed at supporting programs that contribute positively to mentally healthy and sustainable societies. Funding of up to $10,000 is available for initiatives that align to one or more of the Bupa Foundation’s focus areas:

  • Healthy minds – building mentally healthy and resilient communities
  • Healthy planet, healthy people – supporting a healthy planet for healthy people

https://www.bupa.com.au/about-us/bupa-foundation

Applications demonstrating a meaningful connection to Bupa will be highly considered.

Applications are now open until 5pm AEST on 6 June, 2025.

2. National Foundation for Australia-China Relations 2025-26 Grants Program – closes Monday 30 June, 12:00pm AEST

The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations is pleased to announce the 2025-26 grants round is now open for applications. 

The Foundation’s grant program objectives are to strengthen risk-informed engagement with China in Australia’s national interest and to reinforce social cohesion by engaging our Chinese-Australian communities, showcasing their contribution and strengthening their voice and agency. 

The intended outcomes of this grant opportunity are to: 

  • facilitate dialogue that increases mutual understanding in priority areas that further Australia’s national interest, including arrangements that establish or strengthen relationships with counterpart organisations in mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan 
  • build Australian knowledge of and capability to engage mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan in our national interest, including fellowships or scholarships that improve language capabilities and lived experience 
  • support key Australian industry sectors to engage markets in mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan 
  • further climate change, net zero, green economy and clean energy transition outcomes 
  • showcase Australian excellence in, and enhance people-to-people links through, exchanges in culture, the arts, sports, education, academia, innovation, science, health, aviation, and tourism 
  • engage our diverse Chinese-Australian communities, showcase their significant contributions to Australian civic life, foster leadership and strengthen their voice and agency to engage in Australian civic life  
  • enhance understanding of modern and multicultural Australia by international students from mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan and connect emerging leaders in this cohort to Australian society, institutions or industry   
  • promote media and public communication activities on the above. 

https://www.australiachinafoundation.org.au/2025-26-grant-round

3. IELTS Joint-Funded Research Program -anticipated date applications close Monday 30 June

Provides funding to undertake applied research projects in relation to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Proposals are welcomed from researchers and institutions with expertise in language learning and assessment research. This includes suitably qualified researchers and organisations with a direct and ongoing connection with IELTS, e.g. consultants, examiners, and IELTS Administration Centres.

Both individuals and teams are invited to apply. Early-career researchers are encouraged to join a team led by more experienced researchers. 

IELTS Research Areas of interest:
– Test development and validation issues
– Test preparation practices
– Issues relating to contexts of test use
– Issues of test impact
– Issues of technology.

https://ielts.org/researchers/funding-and-awards/research-funding

4. Australian Rotary Health – Improving the Mental Health of 0-12 year olds – EOI closes 30 June

Principal Goals of Australian Rotary Health

  • To encourage, promote, stimulate and aid medical and health research in Australia
  • To co-ordinate and manage Rotary health initiatives and community health projects
  • To promote, encourage and stimulate public interest in the prevention and treatment of ill health in Australia

Please see website for more details https://australianrotaryhealth.org.au/research-project-grant-application-and-guidelines/

5. Fulbright Scholarships – closes 1 July

Provides a range of scholarships and awards to Australian citizens across all career stages.

Awardees take part in an academic and cultural exchange, pursuing research or study at a U.S. institution, experiencing life abroad and bringing back their knowledge and experience to share with their communities in Australia.

Australian Fulbright Scholarship recipients are interviewed and selected by panels of experts from academia, government, professional organisations and the U.S. Embassy. The panels are looking for the following attributes:
– High academic and professional merit
– Strong program proposal
– Defined potential outcomes
– Ambassadorial skills.

There are four categories available:
– Postgraduate
– Postdoctoral
– Scholar
– Distinguished Chair.

Applications are open from January to July each year.

Australian Applicants

6. First Round Table for the year

Date: Thursday 29 May

Time: 1-2pm

Venue: Conference room 915 or zoom https://unimelb.zoom.us/j/88690538459?pwd=acGnD73i6NnvsiEf7rIIvfzBzopUuD.1&from=addon

 If prompted for a password, please enter: 852925

Hosted by Professor Nikki Rickard, Centre for Wellbeing Centre

Panel will include Professor Jon Quach from the Learning Intervention Academic Group, Professor Pasi Sahlberg from the Teacher Academic group, Professor Dianne Vella-Brodrick, Dr Tan Chyuan Chin and Dr Catherine Smith from the Centre for Wellbeing Science