Lowitja Institute Seeding Grant Scheme
Lowitja Institute’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Grant Scheme supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to grow small ideas, transform, and action research from community priorities into meaningful research projects.
In 2023, the Lowitja Institute Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Grants program was redesigned to offer three separate funding streams which aim to support all levels of research readiness; from community controlled organisations that have never led research through to early career researchers partnering with communities to undertake a small research program.
In 2024 we awarded seven seeding grants to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to drive their own research in health and build capability and capacity of local communities.
Seeding Grant funding streams
- Stream 1: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Symposium
This stream has been curated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities which have not led research before. Community members will have the opportunity to participate in a symposium, including a workshop to develop their ideas for research. Indigenous researcher leaders will support communities to develop a research proposal to submit to our Major Research Grants program.
- Stream 2: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Seeding Grant
This stream has been curated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities which may or may not have led research before but have the resources and relationships to bring together key stakeholders to develop their own research proposal to submit to our Major Grants program. Funding of up to $15,000 is available in this stream.
- Stream 3: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Career Researcher Partnership Grant
This is a partnership grant for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early career researchers who wish to conduct a research project in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations. The evidence drawn from this stream should result in a major grant application submitted external to Lowitja Institute. Funding of up to $50,000 is available in this stream.
2024 Seeding Grant recipients
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Symposium
- Deadly Inspiring Youth Doing Good (DIYDG) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation
- Weenthunga Health Network Inc
- Tribal Warrior Aboriginal Corporation
- Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation
Held in February 2024 on the lands of Awabakal and Worimi peoples, this two-day symposium was a first of its kind, and provided a chance to come together and share experiences and knowledge of undertaking research in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research sector. The event brought together the expertise of Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy, Associate Professor Raglan Maddox, Associate Professor Lisa Whop, Dr Alana Gall, and Dr Simone Sheriff. This symposium aimed to build on community priorities to develop a program of research for submission to the Lowitja Institute Major Research Grants in 2024.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Seeding Grant
The Central Land Council (CLC) is an Aboriginal community controlled organisation with 90 elected Aboriginal delegates that represent communities in Central Australia, including Lajamanu community which, since 2021, has worked with the CLC and La Trobe University to create an approach for assessing wellbeing. Having defined the seven domains of a good life in Lajamanu, the community is now tracking change across these domains each year and will use the emerging findings to give voice to their interests and advocate for the life they envision for future generations.
This stream awards up to $15,000 in funding over a maximum three-month term. It’s designed for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations intending to subsequently apply for the Lowitja Institute Major Research Grant scheme.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Early Career Researcher Partnership Grant
- Dr Simone Sheriff, Research Fellow, The University of Sydney
- Dr Shea Spierings, Research Fellow, Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of Queensland
Awarding up to $50,000 in funding over a maximum of 12 months, this stream aims to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early career researchers the opportunity to explore and strengthen a community research priority to generate the evidence needed to develop a research proposal for a major grant scheme external to Lowitja Institute.
If you have any further questions regarding the grants process, please email research@lowitja.org.au
