Education Research Grants for Rural Medical Training Partnerships (Australia)

Deadline: 17-Jul-2026

The Education Research Grants program is designed to help organisations strengthen research partnerships with universities and other academic bodies. Its main goal is to improve medical education, training quality, and rural generalist workforce outcomes in Australia.

The grants are managed by the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM) on behalf of the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Projects must be organisation-led and directly connected to education research and rural generalist training priorities.

Key facts

• Program name: Education Research Grants (ERGs).

• Managed by: Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (ACRRM).

• On behalf of: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

• Funding: Up to AUD 150,000 excluding GST.

• Project period: Delivered over the academic year.

• Geography: Australia.

• Main purpose: Improve medical education and rural generalist training outcomes.

• Required partnership: Collaboration with academic institutions.

What the program supports

The ERGs program focuses on building research capability in medical education and training. It supports evidence-based projects that can improve training capacity and educational outcomes in rural and regional settings.

Projects should align with one or more of these priorities:

• Innovative education models that build sustainable training capacity.

• Education improvement initiatives for regionalised primary care settings.

• Research and publications that strengthen the knowledge base.

• Collaboration and engagement in education-focused research and development.

ACRRM research priorities

Eligible projects must support at least one of ACRRM’s research priorities. These include:

• Enhancement of Rural Generalist education and training.

• Rural Generalist Advanced Specialised Training (AST).

• Training and supervision in all contexts.

• Teaching in practice settings.

• Competency-based training.

• Multi-Source Feedback data and information.

• The patient or community member’s role in teaching within practice environments.

These priorities show that the program is not only about theory. It is about practical improvements to how rural doctors are trained, supervised, and assessed.

Who is eligible?

Eligible organisations include:

• Rural Clinical Schools.

• Universities.

• Rural Hubs.

• Rural Generalist Coordination Units.

• Rural Workforce Organisations.

Applications must show a clear collaboration with academic institutions, especially:

• General Practice Departments.

• Primary Health Care Departments.

• Equivalent academic units.

The application should also demonstrate how the project will build research capability inside the organisation itself.

What strong projects should include

A competitive proposal should clearly show:

• A focused research goal and question.

• Measurable objectives and performance indicators.

• A literature review.

• An environmental scan of current practice.

• A suitable methodology.

• Ethical awareness and mitigation strategies.

• A plan for dissemination through publications and other channels.

• Strong project governance and management.

How the program works

1. Identify a relevant problem.
   Choose a medical education or rural training challenge that matches ACRRM priorities.

2. Build an academic partnership.
   Work with a university or academic department to strengthen research design and credibility.

3. Define the research question.
   Make the project specific, measurable, and directly tied to training outcomes.

4. Review the evidence.
   Include a literature review and scan current practice to show where the gap exists.

5. Design the methodology.
   Use a method that fits the research question and produces useful evidence.

6. Plan governance and delivery.
   Describe the team, responsibilities, timeline, milestones, risks, and contingencies.

7. Show dissemination plans.
   Explain how findings will be published and shared with the training community.

What the funding can and cannot cover

The grant can support research activities aligned with the education research priorities. It is intended for project delivery over the academic year.

The funding does not cover:

• Ongoing maintenance costs after the project ends.

• Physical infrastructure.

• Capital projects.

• Subscriptions.

• Memberships.

Applicants should design budgets that focus on direct research activity and project delivery, not long-term operational expenses.

Why it matters

Rural generalist training is critical to workforce supply and healthcare access in regional and remote Australia. Research in this area helps identify what training models work best, what supervision structures are effective, and how to improve educational quality in practice settings.

This grant matters because it supports practical research with direct relevance to training systems. It also helps organisations build their own research capability, which can strengthen future innovation and policy influence.

Common mistakes and tips

Common mistakes

• Submitting a project with a vague or overly broad question.

• Failing to show a strong academic partner.

• Ignoring ACRRM’s specific research priorities.

• Proposing a project without measurable objectives.

• Leaving out governance, risk management, or ethics considerations.

• Including budget items that are not eligible.

Tips for a stronger application

• Focus on one clear education problem.

• Show how the project will improve rural generalist training.

• Use evidence and current practice review to justify the study.

• Include realistic milestones and a delivery plan.

• Explain how findings will be disseminated and used.

• Emphasize capability-building within the applicant organisation.

FAQ

What is the ERGs program?

• The Education Research Grants program supports Australian organisations undertaking research partnerships that improve medical education and rural generalist training outcomes.

• It is designed to build research capability and improve the evidence base for training.

Who can apply?

• Eligible organisations include:

  • Rural Clinical Schools.

  • Universities.

  • Rural Hubs.

  • Rural Generalist Coordination Units.

  • Rural Workforce Organisations.

How much funding is available?

• Up to AUD 150,000 excluding GST.

• Funding is for projects delivered over the academic year.

What kinds of projects are supported?

• Projects that:

  • Build research capability.

  • Improve training capacity.

  • Evaluate education innovations.

  • Strengthen the evidence base for rural generalist education.

Do applicants need an academic partner?

• Yes.

• Applications must include direct collaboration with academic institutions, such as:

  • General Practice Departments.

  • Primary Health Care Departments.

  • Equivalent academic bodies.

Are capital or infrastructure costs eligible?

• No.

• The funding does not cover:

  • Physical infrastructure.

  • Capital projects.

  • Subscriptions.

  • Memberships.

  • Ongoing maintenance costs after project completion.

What should a strong application include?

• A clear research question.

• Measurable objectives.

• A literature review.

• An environmental scan.

• A suitable methodology.

• Ethics awareness and mitigation strategies.

• Governance, reporting, timelines, milestones, and risk management.

• A dissemination plan for publications and training implications.

Conclusion

The Education Research Grants program is a focused opportunity for Australian organisations to strengthen medical education research and rural generalist training. The strongest projects will be practical, evidence-based, well-governed, and closely aligned to ACRRM’s research priorities.

For more information, visit ACRRM.