Research News & Funding Opportunities

Round Table Meeting: Justice, Equity and Education Thursday 24 June 1-2pm
Congratulations to FoE Staff awarded NDRP Round 1 Funding 2025
Congratulations to A/P Aaron Jarden and Ms Laura Smith – IPPA Award Winners 2025
Joint FoE/FBE AI workshop (final one) on 30 July 10-11.30am
Indigenous Partnerships Small Grant Program – Call for applications – closes Monday 4 August
Melbourne Research Experience Survey 2025 (MRES) Now open for GRs – closes Monday 4 August
IGAP Travel Awards – closes Tuesday 5 August
FoE Business Development Drop-In sessions: 13 August & 10 September
Sharing of iThenticate live reports with Chairs of Examiners
Research Conference – Abstracts NOW OPEN

1. Round Table Meeting: Justice, Equity and Education

Date: Thursday 24 June

Time: 1-2pm

Venue: Level 9, 915

Panel will include Professor Elizabeth McKinley from Social Transformations and Education, A/Prof Kathryn Coleman from Teacher Education, A/Prof Jenny Chesters from Youth Research Collective and A/Prof Victoria Millar from Mathematics, Science and Technology

Hosted by A/Prof Jason Beech and Dr Carla Luguetti from Social Transformations and Education & Dr Quentin Maire from Youth Research Collective.

Light snacks will be provided

2. Congratulations to FoE Staff awarded funding from the National Disability Research Partnership Round 1 Funding 2025

An inter-institutional team lead by University of Melbourne including FoE’s Matt Harrison, Lisa McKay-Brown & Sarah Timperley were awarded NDRP funding for the following project:

Reproductive justice and neurodivergence

Neurodivergent communities face systemic barriers to reproductive rights and justice. This participatory research centers neurodivergent expertise to investigate drivers of harm and co-design solutions that promote bodily autonomy and safety in reproductive healthcare.

Lead: University of Melbourne in collaboration with University of Technology Sydney and University of Queensland

Partners: Sexual Health and Family Planning ACT, Sexual Health Quarters WA, Sexual Health Victoria

Community: Neurodivergent people accessing reproductive healthcare

3. Congratulations to A/P Aaron Jarden and Ms Laura Smith – IPPA Award Winners 2025

At the International Positive Psychology Association conference, the Raymond D. Fowler Service Award that honors an IPPA member who has gone above and beyond to give his or her time in the service of advancing the field of positive psychology was awarded to A/P Aaron Jardin.

The SIPPA Student Impact Award that celebrates a student who has made significant contributions to the positive psychology community, literature, or practice was awarded to graduate researcher Laura Smith. This award recognizes an individual whose work, actions, or advocacy has created a meaningful impact, whether through advancing the field, fostering community well-being, or inspiring others through their dedication and leadership.

4. AI workshop (final one)

Date: 30 July Room

Time: 10-11:30am

Venue: 915, Level 9, 100 Leicester Street

In our fifth AI in Research Workshop for Faculty of Business and Economics and Faculty of Education academics, Professor Eduard Hovy and Dr Mel Mistica will dive into the use of generative large language models (GenLLMs) for research applications, including demonstrations of their capabilities in writing, literature reviews, data analytics, numerical analysis, image processing and more. This session will also introduce some of the ethical and legal aspects of gen AI including: hallucinations, bias, copyright and existing and proposed regulations in the EU, US and Australia.

5. Indigenous Partnerships Small Grant Program – Call for applications

The Indigenous Partnerships team welcomes applications for the Indigenous Partnerships Small Grant Program.

The Indigenous Partnerships Small Grant Program aims to support projects that are vital to implementing effective place-based methodologies and fostering meaningful and impactful partnerships. It is a one-off program of funding offered in 2025.

The grant approach is to provide the opportunity for the co-creation of academic work that is of mutual benefit for and with Indigenous communities. The grant aims to support projects that are vital to implementing effective place-based methodologies and fostering meaningful and impactful partnerships. The Grant Program has been established to support costs associated with the building of relationships and partnerships between Indigenous communities and the University of Melbourne. Key focuses of the grant will be sustainability, impact and or continuity.

The Grant Program will consider requests for up to $50,000, with additional Faculty investment and support. The final awards funds are at the discretion of the Selection Committee.

More information can be found on the Indigenous Partnerships Small Grant Program website.

How to apply

Applications for the grant are received throughout the year. Meetings of the grant Selection Committee will be held in late August. Applications will need to be received three weeks prior to each Selection Committee to be in consideration. For August selection committee, the deadline is Monday 4 August 2025.

The links below provide the information pack and application form.

Applicants are encouraged to discuss their applications with the Associate Director (Indigenous Partnerships) at mary.robb@unimelb.edu.au or 0402 782 608.

Applications can be sent to i-partnerships@unimelb.edu.au

Notification to successful applicants will be received by September. Please note that this is the final meeting of the Selection Committee for 2025.

6. Melbourne Research Experience Survey 2025 (MRES) Now open for GRs that commenced before January 1 2025

This survey provides an invaluable opportunity for our GRs to share their experiences, enabling to continually enhance the quality of the offered research programs.

GRs who commenced their studies before January 1, 2025, will be emailed a unique link to the survey, which will remain open until Monday, August 4, 2025. All responses are confidential and candidates will not be identified in any reporting. As an added incentive, all GRs who complete the survey by August 4, 2025, will have the opportunity to enter a draw to win one $750 or one of five $150 Virtual Mastercard gift cards (or a GoGift Global gift card if based overseas).

7. IGAP Travel Awards 2025

Applications are now open for the 2025 International Grants Accelerator Program (IGAP) Travel Awards. Up to $5,000 available to support international visits that strengthen UoM’s global research funding capability. Open to academic and professional staff. Apply by: 5 August 2025
More information: Here 
Enquiries: res-devschemes@unimelb.edu.au 

8. FoE Business Development Drop-In sessions: Learn about Multidisciplinary Collaboration and IP Fundamentals

The Business Development team, together with RIC are hosting 2 x upcoming drop-in-sessions. We encourage you and your colleagues to please register and attend!

Session 1: Reimagining Education: Multidisciplinary Collaboration for Impact

Date: Wednesday 13^th August

Time: 11am – 12pm 

Venue: L915, Level 9, 100 Leicester St

Presenters: Professor Felicity Baker, Professor Alicia Spittle, Ms Kiesha Arbour

This session will broaden your understanding of multidisciplinary research, inspire new collaborative directions, and provide connections to researchers across the University.

Hear from a Panel of leading researchers from MDHS and Music to inspire new potential multidisciplinary collaborations. Our Panel will:

Share their unique journeys from research to impact
Provide insight into where to seek support, guidance and connections along the way
Inspire new ways of conceiving research translation for impact
Answer audience questions

Session 2: IP and Commercialisation Fundamentals and Pathways

Date: Wednesday 10^th September

Time: 11am – 12pm 

Venue: Level 6,613 and 614 Meeting Rooms

Presenters: Carlie Rodgers, Lead – HASS Knowledge and Technology Transfer & Social Purpose Ventures  

This session will unpack:

IP and Commercialization Pathways: Gain a comprehensive understanding of intellectual property (IP) and the various commercialization pathways available, such as IP disclosure, proof of concept, technology transfer, and industry partnerships. 
Education on IP and Resources: Learn what constitutes intellectual property and how to access valuable resources to protect and develop your IP effectively. 
The UoM Innovation Ecosystem: Learn about the growing UoM innovation ecosystem and what programs and support are available to help along your journey.
Case Study Insights: Hear about successful UoM commercialisation ventures including their real-life experiences and lessons learned. 
Interactive Workshop Discussions: Engage in thought-provoking discussions to explore the commercialisation opportunities for your specific research or ideas.

9. Sharing of iThenticate live reports with Chairs of Examiners

Candidates are now asked to share their live reports with their Chair of Examiners at thesis submission as well as attach PDF copy of the report in the Thesis Examination System. A guide to sharing the live report can be found here.

Graduate researchers are asked to look at the list of Chair of Examiners nominees, but supervisors should also advise their candidates who the Chair of Examiners is. In FoE, this is Associate Professor Peter Woelert. In some cases, due to availability or Conflicts of Interest, an alternative chair will be nominated. It is hoped that having access to the live report will assist Chairs in their assessment, particularly being able to view any filtering used by the candidate to create the report. Specific guidelines for chair of examiners in interpreting iThenticate reports are available.

10. Abstract Submission & Conference Registration for the 2025 Faculty of Education Research Conference

The Changing World of Education: Opportunities and Challenges

Date: Wednesday 29^th October 2025

Location: Arts West

Conference Registration

Please register to attend the faculty conference by 5pm, Thursday 16^th October here:

https://go.unimelb.edu.au/sr4p

Abstracts should be submitted by 5pm, Thursday 14^th August here:

https://go.unimelb.edu.au/8r4p