Research funding and grant support
Funding and grants are an essential part of research; many organisations and government bodies provide funding for health and medical research in Australia. Funding may be available from:
- international agencies
- national programs
- state government agencies
- local organisations.
National grants and funding
The Australian Government Department of Education and Training publishes the Australian Competitive Grants Register (ACGR). This lists nationally funded grants and agencies.
All Australian Government grant schemes are advertised through GrantConnect. You can register for free and receive email alerts about new grant opportunities.
NSW Government grants
In NSW, funding is available through:
Many non-government organisations also provide funding, often focused on specific diseases or conditions. Some of these organisations include:
- Arthritis Australia
- Australian Rotary Health
- Bupa Foundation
- Diabetes Australia Research Program
- HCF Research Foundation
- The Heart Foundation
- MND Australia
- Leukaemia Foundation
- MS Research Australia
- National Breast Cancer Foundation Research
- Stroke Foundation of Australia
- Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia
- Beyond Blue.
Professional societies
Professional societies may also fund research for their members, they include:
- Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists
- Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.
Industry funding
Some pharmaceutical companies, such as Pfizer Pty Ltd, offer research fellowships, grants, or investigator-initiated research funding.
University support
If you are affiliated with a university, you may be able to access Research Professional, a grant information service. Contact your university’s research office to find out how get access to this service.
Western Sydney LHD funding

We provide several internal research grant programs including:
- Research and Education Network grants (annual)
- Allied health, nursing and medical Kickstarter grants (annual)
- Early Career Clinician-Researcher grants funded by the Westmead Charitable Trust
- The Westmead Fellowship (every 3 years)
- Research grants funded by the Westmead Medical Research Foundation.
Research grant submission support
Western Sydney LHD is an Administering Institution under the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). This means research grant applications can be submitted through Western Sydney LHD.
Some other funding bodies, including the Heart Foundation, also require applications to be lodged through an NHMRC Administering Institution.
If you want to submit a grant through Western Sydney LHD, contact the Research and Education Network (REN):
Email: wslhd-ren@health.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 8890 5125 or 0408 165 911
Contact REN before the closing date. Applications are usually due at least 1 week before the external deadline to allow for review and return.
If a grant needs sign-off by the Western Sydney LHD Chief Executive, the internal deadline will be 3 weeks before the external closing date.
