Project funding for dust diseases research and support 

The Dust Diseases Board is comprised of 10 independent members across a range of scientific, medical, advocacy and peak bodies in the dust diseases industry. In December 2018 the Dust Diseases Board agreed to refresh its strategic direction of the dust diseases research grants program to unify its purpose, create a shared vision and update funding streams.

Through funding research, we aim to reduce the risk of people developing dust diseases and to optimise health and care outcomes for people with a dust disease and their families. We also support building research capacity in dust diseases research to ensure ongoing pursuit of excellence in research in relevant fields through funding for scholarships and fellowships. The Dust Diseases Board convene quarterly to discuss and assess its grants programs.

icare Dust Diseases Care provides financial and health care support to over 4,000 people affected by work-related dust diseases annually, and we are committed to continual improvement of these services.

The Dust Diseases Board has developed the following grant funding streams to help deliver a range of positive outcomes to workers affected by dust diseases:

• Ideas to Action Grants: Discovery grants and translational Research grants
• Focus grants
• Scholarships and Fellowships grant program
• Support Organisations grants.

Funding for ideas to action and Focus grants

We offer grant program funding for the following areas:

Discovery grants 

For research projects undertaken by individual researchers or research teams undertaking basic and translational research, exploratory and novel studies, and high risk and high reward studies.

Translational research grants

Translational Research grants are available to facilitate the rapid transformation of research discoveries into clinical trials. 

Funding for Focus grants

Focus grants are available for projects that are aligned to specified target areas, that may change annually.

For 2020 the Focus grants are available for projects focusing on occupational exposure to silica.

Application forms and guidelines

Please see the download links below for the grant programs application guidelines and the application forms for the discovery grants, translational Research grants and the Focus grants.

For more information, please contact our Research and Education unit via email ddcgrants@icare.nsw.gov.au.

Key dates

28 October 2019: Applications open

31 January 2020: Applications close

19 March 2020: Applications shortlisted by the Dust Diseases Board

17 April 2020: Applications sent for independent assessment

29 May 2020: Independent assessment recommendations received

25 June 2020: Final decisions made by the Dust Diseases Board

31 January 2021: Funding agreements finalised

Scholarships and fellowships grant program

The Dust Disease Boards Grants Strategy supports building research capacity in dust diseases in dust diseases research to ensure ongoing pursuit of excellence research in relevant fields through funding for scholarships and fellowships.

We are currently inviting eligible students, clinicians and researchers to make an application for funding of up to three years for:

• PhD Scholarships
• Postdoctoral 
• Clinical Fellowships.

Funding for support organisations

We grant funding to groups or organisations that provide support to people with a dust disease and their families. Through funding organisations that support people with a dust disease and their families, we aim to: 

• inform and educate people about dust diseases and the scheme
• support people through the scheme’s compensation process
• optimise the wellbeing of people with a dust disease.

Eligible groups and organisations are encouraged to apply for assistance. 

Closing date: Friday 14 February 2020

Application forms and guidelines

Please see the download links below for the grant programs application guidelines and the application forms for the Support Organisation grants program.

To find out if your organisation is eligible to receive funding please contact our Research and Education unit via email ddcgrants@icare.nsw.gov.au.

Key dates

13 January 2020: Applications open

14 February 2020: Applications close

19 February 2020: Applications assessed by internal panel of icare experts

19 March 2020: Final decisions made by the Dust Disease Board

1 June 2020: Funding agreements finalised

If you'd like to be notified about upcoming funding programs, join our contact list.