Deadline: 01-Jul-2026
The Future Leader Grants program supports emerging leaders in stroke research in Australia. It is designed to build leadership capability among researchers and people with lived experience by funding development activities that strengthen research impact, collaboration, and translation.
The program focuses on preparing the next generation of stroke research leaders through practical experience and professional development.
Key Objectives
- Develop leadership capacity in stroke research
- Support mentoring and professional guidance activities
- Strengthen research and collaboration skills
- Encourage co-design and lived experience engagement
- Promote knowledge translation into practice
- Build future research leadership pipelines in Australia
Focus Areas
- Leadership development in health and stroke research
- Mentoring and training opportunities
- Research skill development and capability building
- Co-design and community engagement approaches
- Research visits and collaborative learning
- Conference-related mentoring and professional exposure (excluding costs)
Funding Details
- Maximum funding: up to AUD 5,000 per grant
- Supports early-stage leadership development
- Covers project-related and capacity-building expenses
- Focus on skill development rather than full research projects
Eligible Applicants
- Early-career researchers
- Early-mid-career researchers
- Individuals with lived experience of stroke
- Applicants must be based in Australia
- Open to all disciplines related to stroke research
- Career disruptions or breaks considered in assessment
Ineligible Applicants
- Applicants based outside Australia
- Previous recipients of the Future Leader Grant
- Individuals applying again after prior award
Eligible Expenses
- Personnel support or staffing contributions
- Payments for lived experience contributors
- Travel for research visits or training
- Consumables and small equipment
- Dissemination and knowledge translation activities
Ineligible Expenses
- Institutional overheads
- Equipment-only proposals
- PhD stipend top-ups
- Laboratory or pre-clinical research
- Conference registration or presentation fees
- Projects already funded by the Stroke Foundation
How the Program Works: Step-by-Step
- Identify leadership development needs in stroke research
- Design a capacity-building or mentoring-focused activity plan
- Align proposal with career development goals
- Secure relevant collaborators or mentors if needed
- Submit application within eligibility guidelines
- Applications assessed on leadership potential and impact
- Selected applicants receive funding up to AUD 5,000
- Implement leadership and development activities
- Share outcomes with research or community impact
Evaluation Criteria
- Demonstrated leadership potential
- Relevance to stroke research development
- Strength of mentoring or training plan
- Inclusion of lived experience perspectives
- Feasibility of proposed activities
- Potential impact on future research leadership
Why This Program Matters
- Builds the next generation of stroke research leaders
- Strengthens collaboration between researchers and communities
- Supports inclusion of lived experience in research
- Enhances research translation into practice
- Encourages skill development beyond traditional funding
- Supports early-stage career progression in Australia
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Submitting lab-based or pre-clinical research proposals
- Including conference registration costs
- Overemphasis on equipment-only purchases
- Weak leadership development focus
- Ignoring eligibility restrictions (non-Australian applicants)
- Lack of clear capacity-building outcomes
Pro Tips
- Focus on leadership growth, not just research outputs
- Clearly link activities to stroke research impact
- Include mentoring or collaboration components
- Demonstrate lived experience integration where relevant
- Keep budget aligned with capacity-building purpose
- Highlight long-term career development goals
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Who can apply? Early-career researchers and people with lived experience in Australia
- What is the funding amount? Up to AUD 5,000
- Can applicants outside Australia apply? No
- Are conference fees covered? No
- What is the main focus? Leadership and capability development in stroke research
- Can previous recipients apply again? No
- Are lab-based projects eligible? No
Conclusion
The Future Leader Grants strengthen Australia’s stroke research workforce by supporting emerging leaders through targeted capacity-building and mentoring opportunities. By investing in leadership development, the program helps build skilled researchers and lived experience contributors who can improve stroke research and outcomes in the long term.
For more information, visit Stroke Foundation.
