The Clinician Researcher Training (CRT) program (the Program) is a funding program of the Western Australian (WA) Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund. The FHRI Fund provides a secure source of funding to drive health and medical research, innovation and commercialisation and through these activities, improve the health and prosperity of all Western Australians. It also provides an opportunity to diversify the economy, create jobs, improve the sustainability of the health system and position WA as a leader in research and innovation. 

The Program contributes to the FHRI Fund Priority Goals: 

• Support the development of early- and mid-career researchers, helping them to achieve an independent and self-sustaining career
• Enhance clinical trial capacity and expertise to improve the quality of clinical trials in WA and make the State more attractive to funders of clinical trials (grant funding and commercial sponsors). The expected outcomes are in alignment with the following objectives of the Western Australian Future Health Research and Innovation Fund Act 2012: 
• Improving the financial sustainability of Western Australia’s health system
• Improving the health and wellbeing of Western Australians
• Advancing Western Australia to being, or maintaining Western Australia’s position as, a national or international leader in research and innovation activities. 

The Program is administered by the Office of Medical Research and Innovation (OMRI), WA Department of Health (Department of Health). Queries may be directed to DOH.OMRI@health.wa.gov.au.

For further details and to explore the full guidelines, please refer to the official CRT program link below:

Future Health Research and Innovation Fund - Clinician Researcher Training Program 2024-25

• Future Students

• Centre for Aboriginal Studies
• Faculty of Business and Law
• Faculty of Health Sciences
• Faculty of Humanities
• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses
  • Western Australian School of Mines (WASM)

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa

• Merit Based

FHRI Fund grants will be offered as a scholarship support package over a period of up to 3.5 years for full-time studies and 7 years for part-time studies. It is intended that the Activity Lead undertakes a PhD full-time. An exception to this may be considered where adequate justification is made to support equitable opportunities. 

Taxation advice should be sought from the Australian Taxation Office for scholarship payments which will differ based on part-time and full-time status. 
 

The scholarship support package provides support for study, living and travel expenses and will include a protected allocation of up to $70,000 for project costs (for part-time and full-time) which must be justified.

For detailed information, applicants are encouraged to refer to page 6 of the CRT guidelines and conditions 

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Participation in this program is open to health professionals to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in health and medical sciences.

The Activity Lead must:

• have secured an endorsed EOI (known as an Invitation to Apply), for the PhD program at Curtin by 13 March 2025 to be eligible for the CRT
• physically reside in WA for a minimum of 80 per cent of the period of the Activity
• be an Australian or New Zealand citizen, a permanent resident of Australia, or have an appropriate work visa in place for the duration of the Activity
• if on a work visa, have worked in a clinical role at an HSP, PPP provider or private hospital in WA for at least 2 years
• International students - It is recommended that candidates who are not Australian citizens or permanent residents contact the potential chosen university and HSP, PPP provider or private hospital to determine if their application can be supported within relevant university international scholarship caps, eligibility and visa limitations.
• have a minimum of 2 years full-time equivalent clinical experience in a medical (pre-consultant level), dental, allied health, registered nurse or midwifery profession
• be employed at a 0.2 FTE minimum as a registered clinician in a medical (pre-consultant level), dental, allied health, registered nurse or midwifery profession at a WA HSP, PPP provider or private hospital at the time of application
• if a medical clinician, must not exceed a doctor in training (Resident Medical officers or Registrars) level for the duration of the scholarship
• meet the eligibility requirements to enrol in a PhD at the Responsible Entity
• have not already commenced or completed a PhD
• be able to commence the PhD within one year of award
• not be in receipt of another scholarship or funding source to undertake the PhD
• provide evidence of $80,000 funding (cash) from other partner sources
• have no overdue reports for any grant funding program administered by OMRI (including FHRI Fund programs) from any year (excludes authorised extensions).
• Applications must be submitted in accordance with the ‘Application instructions’ section of this document.

An application may be deemed ineligible and excluded from further consideration if OMRI identifies that: 

• it does not meet all eligibility criteria as set out in these guidelines
• the proposed Activity duplicates activity previously or currently being undertaken
• it includes any incomplete, false or misleading information
• it was submitted after the advertised closing date and time.
• Grant offers may be withdrawn if it is determined that eligibility criteria are not met.
• OMRI reserves the right to request further information and make final decisions regarding eligibility.
• Decisions made in relation to previous grant programs will not be regarded as precedents and will not be considered when assessing eligibility for this grant program.

Activity Leads (PhD Students) should follow the below steps to make an application: 

1. Check eligibility criteria for a PhD at their chosen university is met.
2. Contact HSP, PPP provider or private hospital research office to express interest in the program and ascertain the priority areas for their health service.
3. Secure a clinical supervisor at their HSP, PPP provider or private hospital and develop a project idea that addresses a priority area.
4. Contact the chosen university to secure a university supervisor and continue to develop the project idea. The hospital supervisor should be involved in this process.
5. Apply for a PhD course at their chosen university by Thursday 13 March 2025 to allow for processing.
6. With support from the university, secure a commitment of other source funding contributions. Refer to the ‘Program Conditions’ section for further information.
7. Finalise and submit the certified Program application.

The instructions below must be followed when making a submission: 

• The Application Form must be submitted via the Department of Health Grant Management System by 1:00 pm (AWST) Thursday 8 May 2025. 
• Applications must be complete, include requested certifications and be submitted by the closing date/time. Consideration must be given to the time needed to comply with internal deadlines.

Instructions for the Grant Management System are located at https://fhrifund.health.wa.gov.au/Funding/GMS-link-page.

Acknowledgement of receipt of the Application Form will be provided via email to the Responsible Entity, Activity Lead and supervisors after submission in the Grant Management System. 

Recipients will be required to meet established university milestones in line with university policy and procedures. An annual progress report confirming that the student is making satisfactory progress against milestones must be provided to the Office of Medical Research and Innovation (OMRI) with any relevant reports or publications attached.

For detailed information, applicants are encouraged to refer to the CRT guidelines and conditions 

For further information about this opportunity, please contact:

1. Queries regarding to admission process can be directed to ROC.GRS@curtin.edu.au
2. Queries related to the Guidelines and Conditions can be directed to DOH.OMRI@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘Query – CRT2024-25’.
3. Queries regarding the application process can be directed to DOH.GMS@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘GMS Application Assistance – CRT2024-25