Dust Diseases Board Dust Diseases Prevention Grants - Expression of Interest FY27

Funding is available for:

• Risk identification - funds research that identifies new or under-recognised risks associated with dust diseases (*as relates to hazardous dust exposures in the workplace).
• Prevention research- supports the development and testing of interventions designed to prevent the onset of dust diseases in at-risk populations.
• Epidemiological research - funds studies that analyse the patterns, causes, and impacts of dust diseases within populations, providing vital data to inform public health strategies and preventive measures.

Requirements include:

• Comprehensive risk analysis - proposals should include a detailed analysis of current risks associated with dust diseases and how the proposed research will address these risks (*as relates to hazardous dust exposures in the workplace).
• Preventive Interventions - projects must focus on developing or testing preventive interventions, detailing the methodologies and expected outcomes.
• Community and Worker Engagement - proposals should demonstrate how they will engage with at-risk communities or workplaces to implement and evaluate preventive measures.
• Community Partnership - projects should demonstrate effective partnerships with local communities, health departments, or other relevant organisations to ensure the successful implementation of prevention strategies.
• Sustainability Considerations - projects should include considerations for the long-term sustainability of the proposed solutions or interventions.
• Diversity and Inclusion - DDB encourages proposals that consider the diversity of affected populations, ensuring that research and interventions are inclusive and applicable to a wide range of demographics affected by dust diseases.
• Open Access - the DDB encourages, and may require, that all outputs of research be made available through open access channels, ensuring that findings are accessible to the wider research community and public. 

Grant funds from the DDB cannot be allocated to the following items:

• indirect expenses - costs not directly tied to the project, such as professional membership fees, professional development courses, patent application and maintenance fees, entertainment expenses, insurance, and mobile phones.
• salaries for CIs and PIs
  • salaries or on-costs for CIs or PIs, whether partially or fully funded.
  • stipends for CIs or PIs pursuing Higher Degree by Research (HDR).
• consultancy services - fees for contracted research or consultancy services where external expertise is sought for tasks that involve minimal innovation or low risk.
• non-research production items - creation of computer programs, research aids, data warehouses, catalogues, bibliographies, or teaching materials unless they qualify as ‘research’.
• basic facilities - items and facilities expected to be provided and funded by the Administering Organisation/Institution, including:
  • bench fees or laboratory access fees
  • basic library access
  • work accommodation (laboratory and office space)
  • basic computer facilities (desktops, laptops, printers, standard software)
  • standard reference materials or abstracting services.
• capital works and infrastructure - capital works and general infrastructure costs.
• educational fees and liabilities - costs associated with international student fees or liabilities related to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) for students are not permissible expenditures.
• additional non-eligible costs
  • administrative Overheads: General office supplies, rent, and utility bills.
  • personal Expenses: Any personal costs incurred by Specified Personnel.
  • entertainment Expenses: Costs related to entertainment or hospitality.
  • non-Essential Travel: Travel expenses not critical to the project’s success.
  • office Equipment: Purchases of office furniture and non-specialised equipment not directly related to the research project.
  • unapproved Equipment: Equipment not directly related to the project’s objectives.

You can download the;

• Dust Diseases Board research stream grants program expression of interest form EOI FY27 (PDF 432.56KB)
• Dust Diseases Board research stream grants program guidelines and submission protocols FY27 (PDF 1.57MB)

The eligibility criteria apply to both EOIs and full applications.

The Administering Organisation/Institution is responsible for ensuring that all applicants listed in the Specified Personnel Details section of the application form meet the eligibility criteria.

These criteria ensure that all applications meet the necessary standards and that the Specified Personnel involved in the project are suitably qualified and prepared to fulfil their roles.

It is important to review these requirements carefully to ensure compliance and eligibility for funding consideration.

There are various eligibility criteria including those that apply specifically to the roles of CIs and PIs.

Please refer to Dust Diseases Board research stream grants program guidelines and submission protocols FY27 (PDF 1.57MB).