Community-Based Research Program
Please note - the current funding round has now closed. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Campbell Message at campbell.message@unimelb.edu.au.
Overview
Do you run a great program or service that is making a difference in the lives of people with disability and/or their families? Are you looking to show just how effective it is or what great outcomes you are achieving?
At Melbourne Disability Institute we run a program that might just be able to help.
We know that getting evidence of good outcomes and demonstrating impact is something community based organisations want - but sometimes the budget just doesn’t stretch that far.
The Melbourne Disability Institute’s Community-Based Research Program meets the research needs of community organisations by providing research support and evaluation for strength-based and innovative programs that are making a difference in the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.
Research support provided through the Program may include a scoping report, literature review, data analysis or a small research project. Research can lead to outcomes such as improved service delivery, the development of new services, improved ability to advocate effectively or improved capacity to undertake future research projects.
Please note the purpose of Community-based research program is to support research and evaluation of innovative ideas that build social capital; to share practices; and to replicate or scale up ideas, not to evaluate a core business or service.
How the program works
MDI and the University of Melbourne researcher will work hand-in-hand with the community organisation to help design a feasible project that fits available resources and timeframes. This may include such activities as:
- An initial workshop or kick off meeting to understand the program and its context
- A review of relevant academic literature to help frame the research and provide an overview of the state of current knowledge
- A customised research plan - including Ethics applications where necessary
- Collection of data through such activities as surveys or interviews
- A meeting to discuss findings and what they mean for the organisation
- A plain language report and a visual summary (infographic) where applicable
- Participation in an end of year presentation held at MDI
MDI will pay University of Melbourne researchers up to $15,000 per project. The size of the research project will depend upon:
- The needs of the community organisation
- How easily and quickly community organisations can organise participants in the research
- How many students and/or research assistants are involved
- How intensive data collection is likely to be – for example transcribing interviews takes additional time
Payments for people with a disability
MDI expects every aspect of the project will include people with disability, from conception through to the final report.
We expect co-researchers and participants to be paid appropriately. Additional funds (up to $2,000) are available to pay participants for their time. This funding can be requested by the community organisation or by the researcher.
Publication grants
Publication in academic journals can not only add to the body of evidence in a particular area but can also help build an evidence base for innovative programs and services.
Additional funding (up to $2,000) is available for researchers to assist with the costs of publication. Researchers must submit an additional application for this funding once the project is complete.
Eligibility criteria
MDI invites applications from organisations who provide support or services for people with disability, their family or carers, to live engaged, self-directed and fulfilling lives.
It is essential that people with disability (and families where appropriate) are involved in the research process, including the project proposal.
To be eligible for the MDI Community-based Research Program your organisation must:
- Provide support or services to people with a disability, their family or carers.
- Be of small to medium size (less than 200 employees)
- Have limited capacity to conduct research
- Can be based anywhere in Australia. Please note however the work needs to be able to be completed from Melbourne. Interstate travel is not funded.
- Include a statement how people with a disability, their family or carers are involved in your organisation, and how they will be involved in the research project.
Innovative programs that fall outside these criteria may be considered. Applications should however tell us why this research will help people with disability and why it cannot be funded through other means. Applicants should also contact the Program Manager to discuss prior to submission.
Applying and Key Dates
Please note - the current funding round has now closed. If you are interested in learning more about the program, please contact Campbell Message at campbell.message@unimelb.edu.au.
Applications open: Tuesday 8th March
Applications close: Wednesday 20th April
Notification of outcomes: Wednesday 4th May
Community-based organisations with a project idea can apply to be considered for a research project by completing the Community-Based Research application form. We do our best to make sure the application form is clear and accessible; if you have any issues please let us know.
Please Contact Campbell Message to discuss your idea and see how a research project could be shaped for your idea. Campbell.Message@unimelb.edu.au or phone 03 9035 7775.
Please make sure you read the Information Pack before completing your applicaiton.
Community-Based Research Projects
-
Amaze - One-to-one Peer Support Program
This project will help determine the best models and frameworks for a new 1-to-1 peer support program targeted to the primary carers of autistic children with complex support needs.
-
Barwon Disability Resource Council
This project will evaluate the effectiveness of the pilot to both improve practice and to share key learnings with the broader community.
-
BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) Community - Meeting the Missing Middle with Relational Support
This project will evaluate the model of relational support with a view to further developing peer support for people with BPD.
-
Disability Resources Centre - The Buddy Network
This project will evaluate the strengths of this innovative approach and the ways it could fill an important gap for many advocacy services.
-
Fragile X Association of Australia (FXAA) - Supporting the Fragile X community virtually: what works?
This project will evaluate the effectiveness of their virtual support programs and activities and will help to inform the design, delivery and evaluation of future supports and activities.
-
Genetic Support Network of Victoria - Genetic Support Group Database
This project will evaluate the usefulness of a database of support groups for those with rare and genetic conditions and explore ways to expand and improve support.
-
Keys of Life - Enabling all students with disabilities and their families to access and benefit from instrumental music lessons
This project will examine the benefits of learning an instrument for children with disability and explore the key features of a successful learning program.
-
Evaluation of Bandmates Victoria Program
This project evaluates the Bandmates Victoria Program, which matches people with disability with volunteers to experience live music together.
-
Assistive technology for all
This project investigates the impacts of challenges to timely access to AT for individuals who are ineligible for NDIS support.
-
Amputees and Sport - measuring the impact of participation in sport for amputees requiring sports prosthesis or adaptive sports equipment
The project will inform policy and the scope to which the NDIS supports the funding of sports prosthesis for amputees.
-
Evaluation of a pilot project assessing whether HoloLens Mixed Reality headsets, improve the workplace skills and independence of people with cognitive disabilities
Ability Works is seeking to empower employees with cognitive disabilities in the workplace by improving their skills, independence and sense of achievement.
-
Pathway for Carers: No-one can do it alone
This project is an evaluation of the Pathways for Carers program which began in 2015 in response to a need for carers to learn more about news, services and supports available in their community.
-
The benefits of therapeutic horticulture for people with autism
The aim of this project is to evaluate Kevin Heinze Grow's 'Grow Model' and its impact on participants with autism.