MDHS Diversity and Inclusion Grants
Supporting the achievement of our Faculty's Diversity and Inclusion goals
MDHS Diversity and Inclusion Grants support academic staff to undertake scholarly-based work that contributes to the implementation of our Faculty’s culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, for all staff and students.
Examples include but are not limited to: research into the enablers and barriers for the career progression of staff with diverse personal attributes, experiences and backgrounds; or research into mitigating bias that can inform continuous improvements to our Faculty’s approach to assessing academic performance, including for promotion. These are only examples and applicants are encouraged to bring their own personal aspects and insights to their applications.
The Faculty of MDHS awards two grants each round. Grants include a maximum award of $25,000 for salary and research-related expenses.
MDHS Diversity and Inclusion Grants
The 2022 grants were awarded to the following teams:
Capturing transgender people in research: Guidelines for researchers
A/Prof Ada Cheung, Medicine - Austin Health, Melbourne Medical School
The Trans Health Research team will develop guidelines for including trans people in research projects. Using a co-designed approach with trans healthcare experts, researchers and community members, this project aims to develop best-practice guidelines for including trans and gender diverse people in research.
Creating safe spaces for physiotherapy student learning of physical examination
Ms Jessica Lees, Dr Rachel Toovey, A/Prof Catherine Granger, Dr Megan Sharp, Dr Selina Parry, Dr Kath Sellick, Em Clayton, Kate Johnson, Dr Kim Alison, Free Clouston, Department of Physiotherapy, Melbourne School of Health Sciences
This multidisciplinary team will design trauma-informed curriculum for physiotherapy students when learning peer physical examination. The project aims to incorporate diverse experiences to facilitate meaningful consent and also advance the practice of graduates to improve patient safety.
The 2021 grants were awarded to the following:
First Nations Health Representation and Workforce across the Faculty through shared learning
Dr Ngaree Blow, Madelyne Hudson-Buhagiar and Brooke Conley
This project aims to enhance Diversity and Inclusion within the Faculty of MDHS through the development of a toolkit to assist building a co-delivery approach of First Nations health to address the under-representation of First Nations peoples at all levels within Faculty of MDHS (Faculty). The toolkit will enable integration of Indigenous knowledges into curriculum, increased employment for community members and recognise the importance of cultural knowledges and lived experiences. Qualitative research methods will explore the experiences of First Nations tutors, their motivations for undertaking the role, barriers and enablers to career progression and cultural safety, as well as obtaining cultural insights into partnerships with Indigenous communities.
A logic model evaluation of Ways of Knowing in healthcare: A program designed to build cultural safety and collaborative practice
Joanne Bolton, Dr Ngaree Blow and Professor Elizabeth Molloy
Using a logic model program evaluation process, this research will explore how the "Ways of Knowing" program is being received by staff and students, and to what extent it has supported the development of collaborative and culturally safe capabilities. Both qualitative and quantitative research methods will appropriately be selected to support cultural and psychological safety of the research processes, and the outcomes will inform how we can continue to improve the experience and impact of this important curriculum.
Genuinely engaging for co-design: Developing a resource for participatory health research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people with mental-ill health
Dr Jennifer Bibb, Mr Phillip Orcher, Mr Josh Moorhouse, Ms Caroline Tjung & Professor Victoria Palmer
The aim of this project is to develop a three-part video series to support new approaches to diversity and inclusion. These videos will be co-produced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people with lived-experience of mental ill-health. They will be available to Faculty staff and students and the wider University to support researchers embarking on co-design or participatory health research with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and people who live with mental ill-health.
Advocating for early to mid career academics within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Dr Marianne Coleman, Dr Flora Hui, A/Prof Kristin Diemer, Dr Gemma McKibbin; Dr Michelle Hall, Dr Belinda Lawford, Dr Kate Hayward, Dr Rebecca Jarden, Dr Elaina Kefalianos
This collaborative project from early-mid career academics aims to better identify and advocate for early-mid career academic issues. The project will use a participatory, systematic approach, that promotes inclusion and maximises reach to EMCAs across the MDHS Faculty.
Student experiences of diversity and inclusion in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Dr Megan Sharp, Dr Barrie Shannon, Dr Ruby Grant
This project aims to develop a better understanding of how students experience diversity and inclusion within the MDHS Faculty. The project will use innovative visual methods to address key research questions and will produce rich qualitative data to share the perception and story of MDHS students’ lived experiences.
Eligibility criteria, recognising scholars making a positive impact on the achievement of our Faculty's Diversity and Inclusion goals
Eligible staff include fixed-term, continuing (research contingent) and continuing academic staff in the Faculty
Staff must not already be employed as part of their normal roles and responsibilities, to undertake scholarly-based work that is aligned with our Faculty’s Diversity and Inclusion goals and that contributes to the achievement of our Faculty’s Diversity and Inclusion targets
Selection criteria guiding the values-based assessment of applications
In assessing grant applications, the Faculty's Selection Panel
will consider:
Clarity of objectives and alignment with the Faculty strategy Advancing Health 2030 |
Intended outcomes, including the capacity to develop new approaches towards the Faculty’s commitments and/or build on our existing understandings of diversity, equity and inclusion |
Opportunities for the work to demonstrate high-quality and impact and attract future funding |
Opportunities for sustainable divisional, institutional or sector-wide adoption of new approaches and understandings of diversity and inclusion |
The extent to which the proposed work would raise the visibility and profile of the Faculty in relation to diversity and inclusion (for example engaging with more than a small group of staff or a single School or Department) |
Existing challenges or barriers preventing the work from otherwise being funded and completed |
Apply for a Grant following these key dates and step-by-step instructions
Key dates
- Monday 5 September 2022
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9.00AM
Applications open
- Monday 10 October 2022
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5.00PM
Applications close
- Monday 14 November 2022
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Notification of outcomes
Step-by-step instructions
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Explore the grants website
Read the Grants website in detail, including the:
- Overview, including terms of the Grants and expectations of recipients
- Eligibility and selection criteria
Discuss the potential of your application with your supervisor, Head/Director, as well as with mentors and trusted colleagues
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Prepare your application
Commence your online application form:
MDHS Diversity and Inclusion Grants Application Form
Draft your written application based on the selection criteria on this website:
- Include a summary paragraph describing the reasons why you are seeking a grant (maximum 200 words)
- Include an overview of the proposed project, including alignment with the Faculty Strategy (maximum 500 words)
- Describe the intended outcomes of the project (maximum 500 words)
- Describe the opportunities the project may generate (maximum 300 words)
- Include a brief project budget and justification (maximum 200 words)
Attach optional supporting material:
- Maximum 5 A4 pages
- Clarify the reason for including supporting material in your written application
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Submit your application
Complete and submit your application online:
- Submit your completed application online by 5.00pm on 10 October 2022
- Note the online application form strictly enforces word limits, and page limits should be adhered to—additional pages will not be considered by the selection committee
- Note all applications are confidential
Conditions of Award
Up to two grants are awarded each round to a maximum of $25,000 per award. |
The grants are for research that is specifically focused on advancing the diversity and inclusion activities within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences (MDHS). |
Funding can be used to support salary and research-related expenses directly related to the research activity. Eligible expenses include: consumables, contribution towards salary of an existing RA/Postdoc (not the lead CI) who as part of their overall duties is working directly on the research. Prior approval must be sought for equipment purchases. |
The grants are available up to a maximum period of 12 months, nominally for the period 1 January to 31 December 2023. |
The recipient is responsible for the project, for its concept, and for communication of the results. The strategic decisions called for in pursuit of the research, progress and research results must be shared with the Associate Dean, Diversity and Inclusion. Results of the research are intended to inform Faculty strategy. |
Recipients are expected to provide appropriate acknowledgement of University support when communicating research outcomes. |
Recipients are required to provide a written report at the six month point, and also on completion of the grant. This report should provide information on the research achievements, publishable outcomes, and details of applications submitted to external funding bodies. |