In its continuing work to resolve the issue of young people with disability being forced to live in aged care, the Summer Foundation has launched a $1 million research grants program.
We are assessing prospective partners for the high quality research that is needed to find ways to improve the lives of young people in aged care or at risk of entering aged care.
It is a problem that involves multiple complex systems, each with different drivers, rules and stakeholders. The Summer Foundation aims to inform and foster systems change, which must be underpinned by a sound evidence base.
“We need high quality research across the aged care, disability, housing, hospitals and primary and community health systems,” said Dr Di Winkler, Chief of Research and Innovation. “Our research will identify the factors that shape these systems, the pressure points, costs and potential opportunities for early intervention and catalytic change.”
While we have a strong research record, we do not have the resources, expertise or capacity to deliver this research alone.
“The implementation of the necessary research agenda will require $15 million of investment in research over the next five years,” Dr Winkler said.
“Our $1 million Competitive Research Grants program is designed to establish partnerships with universities and other institutions, which make use of additional resources from partners and seed fund high quality and strategic research that is positioned to secure substantial grant funding.”
We have sought Expressions of Interest from institutes, universities and governments interested in partnering with us to deliver this research in 2019 and from early career researchers who want to work with us.
For more information, go to: summerfoundation.org.au/research-grants