The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is committed to improving the health outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and encourages applications that address Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

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Funding rules

As part of NHMRC's stated commitment to advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, NHMRC has established certain requirements and processes designed to ensure that research into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is of the highest scientific merit and is beneficial and acceptable to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Applicants proposing to undertake research which specifically relates to the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, or which includes distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations, biological samples or data, should be aware of, and must refer to the following documents in formulating their proposal:

To qualify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research, at least 20% of the research effort and/or capacity building must relate to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria (IREC)

Qualifying applications must address the NHMRC Indigenous Research Excellence Criteria as follows:

  • Community engagement
    The proposal demonstrates how the research and potential outcomes are a priority for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with relevant community engagement by individuals, communities and/or organisations in conceptualisation, development and approval, data collection and management, analysis, report writing and dissemination of results.
  • Benefit
    The potential health benefit of the project is demonstrated by addressing an important public health issue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This benefit can have a single focus or affect several areas, such as knowledge, finance and policy or quality of life. The benefit may be direct and immediate, or it can be indirect, gradual and considered.
  • Sustainability and transferability
    The proposal demonstrates how the results of the project have the potential to lead to achievable and effective contributions to health gain for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, beyond the life of the project. This may be through sustainability in the project setting and/or transferability to other settings such as evidence-based practice and/or policy. In considering this issue the proposal should address the relationship between costs and benefits.
  • Building capability
    The proposal demonstrates how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, communities and researchers will develop relevant capabilities through partnerships and participation in the project.

Panels will consider these in their overall assessment of the application, together with the scheme-specific assessment criteria (refer to the scheme-specific funding rules).

IREC review

In 2023, NHMRC, guided by its Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus (PCIC), conducted a national consultation on the IREC to consider how the criteria are working in practice and whether improvements are needed.

A detailed report on the Consultation is available.

A key finding from the consultation is that there is strong support for adoption of an approach where all NHMRC applications answer a question about how the proposed research will benefit Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health. PCIC has supported a pilot of the new question in the Centres of Research Excellence 2025 grant opportunity. For more information, see the fact sheet on the pilot.

A discussion paper was produced to inform the review. It provides information on the IREC and lists the consultation questions.

Targeted Calls for Research

A Targeted Call for Research (TCR) is a one-time request for grant applications to address a specific health issue where there is a significant research knowledge gap or unmet need.

Submissions are always welcome via the Community Research Priorities Portal. This portal enables community and professional groups to submit research topics to NHMRC that may be underfunded or have a significant research knowledge gap. If prioritised, submissions may be developed into a TCR.

For more information, visit the Community Research Priorities Portal.

Previous Targeted Calls for Research have included:

  • Commercial determinants of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health (2023)
  • Improving Indigenous maternal and child health in the early years (2022)
  • National Network for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Researchers (2020)
  • Nutrition in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (2018)
  • Healthy Ageing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (2018)
  • Social and Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health (2018)
  • Dementia in Indigenous Australians (2017)
  • Suicide prevention in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Youth (2013)
  • Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (2012).

Research priority areas

In 2020, NHMRC sought community input into research priorities in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to inform the basis of TCR grant opportunities.

The public consultation opened in November 2020 and closed in February 2021 and received 32 submissions covering a broad range of topics.

TCR proposals were assessed and prioritised by an NHMRC working committee, which included members of NHMRC’s Principal Committee Indigenous Caucus (NHMRC’s advisory committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and health researchers).

For any further questions please contact indigenous.advice@nhmrc.gov.au 

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