Research grants worth $400,000 announced

Date:

Jan 12, 2012

Eight new research projects focusing on return to work, occupational health and safety, injury prevention and neurotrauma have been funded through the $400,000 Institute for Safety, Compensation and Recovery Research (ISCRR) 2012 Development Grants Program.

Professor Niki Ellis, ISCRR CEO said that the development grants are designed to fund projects that can deliver tangible benefits in the short term to ISCRR's partners, WorkSafe Victoria and the TAC.

"By supporting smaller scale projects conducted over a 12 month period, the grants provide an important opportunity for investigators to initiate research that has the potential to make a difference in a relatively short period of time," Professor Ellis said.  

This year, a total of $200,000 was allocated to research into safety, compensation and recovery with a further $200,000 being made available to researchers working in the neurotrauma - brain and spinal injury - field.

"The projects cover topics which range from gaining a better understanding of the recovery and return to work of women with injuries, injury prevention in an ageing workforce, and the experience of people with traumatic brain injuries who are living in shared supported accommodation. 

"Improving care and support for people with disabilities is currently on the social agenda in Australia.  We consider that our research makes a contribution to this", Professor Ellis said. 

"We had an outstanding response to the program, with over thirty proposals received from a broad range of institutions throughout Australia.  Overall, the applications were innovative and of a high calibre.

"ISCRR was established to develop a collaborative research model which closes the gap between the real world of policy and practice and the academic world of research.  We are finding that creating opportunities for dialogue between policy makers and researchers on what is needed and what is possible is the key.

"This is proving to be a powerful tool for developing research projects with relevance and the potential for change.

"Our annual Development Grants program is an integral part of our collaborative approach and is of great interest to our industry partners because of their ability to produce benefits in the short term.

Applications were assessed on the basis of alignment with ISCRR's research strategy, potential positive industry impact, scientific quality and feasibility, innovation and the track record of the research team.

View details of the Development Grant recipients.