The Australian Government recognises public concern about the health effects of electromagnetic energy (EME), and the need to ensure that standards and public health policies continue to be based on the best available scientific information. Since 1996, the Government has run the EME Program to provide information to the public and support research into health issues associated with mobile phones, mobile phone base stations and other communications devices and equipment. The program is funded by a $1 million dollar levy paid annually by radiocommunication license holders and collected by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
The EME Program consists of three components:
- A public information program managed by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).
- An Australian EME research program administered by the NHMRC; and
- Australia’s participation in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) International Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Project which assesses the health and environmental effects of EME exposure.
Information about international EME research can be found via the World Health Organisation website.
The table below lists NHMRC grants awarded for research investigating the impact of EME on human health and physiology. Further detail about selected grants can be found by clicking on the corresponding Grant ID.
NHMRC is encouraging additional applications for EME research through a number of funding schemes in 2012 including Centres of Research Excellence, Project Grants, Early Career Fellowships and Scholarships.
NHMRC grants for EME research
|
Grant ID** |
Institution |
Funding awarded* |
End date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1042464 |
University of Wollongong |
$2,498,842 |
2017 |
|
Monash University |
$701,040 |
2013 | |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
$244,336 |
2011 | |
|
Monash University |
$548,616 |
2011 | |
|
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
$2,653,680 |
2009 | |
|
University of Sydney |
$1,200,000 |
2005 | |
|
University of Sydney |
$309,006 |
2005 | |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
$213,570 |
2005 | |
|
University of Adelaide |
$1,122,103 |
2001 | |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
$73,000 |
2001 | |
|
NSW Cancer Council |
$97,670 |
2000 | |
|
Flinders University |
$95,000 |
1999 |
* Initial amount does not include indexations, extensions or project variations
** Click on the Grant ID # to view a summary of the project