Category: News

The Western Australian Government Pandemic Plan has been updated to respond directly to the potential impacts of COVID-19.

The Pandemic Plan, which was last updated in 2014, sets out arrangements for protecting the community and minimising potential impacts of the coronavirus, and recovery afterwards.

Sustained community transmission of the virus will signal an imminent pandemic and the State Government will continue to take the best advice from health authorities in assessing the situation here in WA.

The Plan ensures the Government will continue to deliver essential services and outlines roles, responsibilities and actions to prevent, prepare, respond and recover from a pandemic, providing practical guidance and advice for government agencies, private businesses, the community, households and individuals.

This Plan also considers potential health, community, social and economic impacts, ranging from demands on the health care system to pressures on workplaces, businesses and law and order, disruption to community events and gatherings and demands on goods, services and supplies.

The Plan supports a suite of specific health and emergency management plans including the State Hazard Plan – Human Biosecurity, which is managed by the Department of Health and includes detailed arrangements for managing and responding to a pandemic.

These are further supported by legal and emergency powers the State Government is able to exercise if needed to further protect the community.

Currently WA’s emergency management is at the ‘response’ stage, in line with the National Communicable Disease Plan.

Members of the public can telephone the COVID-19 Health Information Line on 1800 020 080 for advice and find more information, including specific clinic locations, by visiting http://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au

The Western Australian Government Pandemic Plan is available at http://www.wa.gov.au/covid19

The full media release can be found on the Government of Western Australia’s website.

Nominations are now open for the Western Australian Science Hall of Fame.

The Western Australian Science Hall of Fame was established in 2007 to recognise exceptional lifelong contributions from Western Australians to science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM). Inductees are announced at the annual Premier’s Science Awards presentations.

Each year, members of the community are invited to nominate outstanding Western Australians who are pre-eminent in their field to be considered for induction into the WA Science Hall of Fame.

To be admitted to the WA Science Hall of Fame, an individual must:

• have undertaken a substantial portion of their work in Western Australia
• have a substantial track record as a scientist
• be internationally renowned in their field
• have been instrumental in developing a school of thought and/or policy in WA
• be engaged in outreach
• have been influential in the mentorship of others through developing the careers of STEM practitioners
• be a member of a learned academy or be of similar stature.

Nominators are encouraged to resubmit nominations for any nominees not inducted into the WA Science Hall of Fame, including any new information or achievements. Suitable Hall of Fame nominations from previous years may be considered in subsequent years at the discretion of the judging panel.

For more information and to nominate a candidate for The WA Science Hall of Fame please visit the WA Government Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation website.

Nominations close 10am (AWST), Wednesday 29 April 2020.

Applications for the 2020 Premier’s Science Awards are now open.

The Premier’s Science Awards recognise and celebrate the outstanding scientific research and engagement taking place in Western Australia. The Awards cover all fields of science, including natural, medical, applied and technological science, engineering and mathematics. The Awards are an initiative of the Western Australian Government and administered by the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation.

In 2020 the five categories are:

• Scientist of the Year ($50,000 prize)
• Woodside Early Career Scientist of the Year ($10,000 prize)
• ExxonMobil Student Scientist of the Year ($10,000 prize)
• Shell Aboriginal STEM Student of the Year ($10,000 prize)
• Chevron Science Engagement Initiative of the Year ($10,000 prize)

For more information and to apply please visit the WA Government Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation website.

Applications close 10am (AWST), Wednesday 27 May 2020.

In 2020 the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute (WEHI) is launching new Indigenous Visiting Research Fellowships, providing funding support for up to two Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers to advance their research and scientific training at the Institute’s campus in Melbourne. Confirmed PhD students through to mid-career researchers, including clinicians, are eligible to apply.

The fellowships, lasting 3-24 months, will provide flexible funding for researchers to utilise the expertise of an Institute laboratory and associated research infrastructure, to analyse samples or data from their own project or undertake new experiments to complement their research, and to develop their own skills and experience. Researchers can either attend our Melbourne campus themselves or, where this is not possible, use the fellowship to fund a research assistant to progress the research under the fellowship holder’s direction. The funding can cover salary where this is not provided by the fellowship holder’s organisation.

The program’s goal is to support the career development and progression of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers around Australia, and it is anticipated that fellowship recipients would return to their current employers/place of education at the conclusion of the fellowship to continue their research.

Deadline for expression of interest: Friday 13 March 2020.

Full application information is available from the WEHI website.

Enquiries can be made to Dr Sant-Rayn Pasricha and Dr Tracy Putoczki, Co-chairs, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute Reconciliation Committee: indigenousfellowships@wehi.edu.au

The Clinician Research Fellowship program is an initiative of the Department of Health in partnership with the Raine Medical Foundation.

The program is designed to encourage clinicians employed by Health Service Providers to develop their research capability while continuing some clinical duties. The program also facilitates high quality research which will ultimately provide better health care outcomes. The research must be undertaken in WA and be of direct relevance to the WA health system.

The program is open to eligible clinicians:

• Working in healthcare disciplines including allied health and health sciences, dental, medical, nursing and midwifery professions
• Who are either early or mid-career researchers
• Who have minimal or no paid research time

Fellowship funding will provide salary support for research duties up to 0.5 FTE, as well as contribute to minor research costs. The duration of each Fellowship can be up to three years, depending on the extent of the research proposal. During the term of the Fellowship, clinical duties in a Health Service Provider institution(s)  must be maintained at a minimum of 0.3 FTE

The Fellowships will be announced in December 2020. Read the guidelines and apply now

Applications close 1pm (AWST), Thursday 26 March 2020.

Round 2 of the Barry Marshall Travel Award is opening on Wednesday 19 February 2020. Applicants can apply for research-related travel funding of up to $5000. The grants are open to health professionals and medical researchers based at a campus of the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS) or collaborating universities and research institutes within south metro Perth.

The new eligibility criteria:

• The grants are open to all health care professionals and medical researchers, including clinicians, allied health staff and scientists based at a campus of SMHS or collaborating universities and health research institutes with a formal collaboration with a research project or initiative at a campus of SMHS
• Applicants must demonstrate how attendance will assist research and/or the application of research, and/or the development of research pathways at SMHS or their own research objectives and aspirations
• Applicants must be able to demonstrate how their research benefits the community of south metropolitan Perth and demonstrably impacts, influences or informs treatment and patient care in the hospitals of SMHS
• Travel must be completed within 6 months of the date of award

Successful applicants will be invited to attend the annual Spinnaker Awards Ceremony (December) and the ASPIRE Awards Ceremony (June) to celebrate their success.

The awards are supported by Prof Barry Marshall AC and Mrs Adrienne Marshall, Perth Convention Bureau ASPIRE Awards and Spinnaker Health Research Foundation.

See the full application guidelines and download the application

Applications close Sunday 15 March

One of our key state goals is to continue to embed Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) in health and medical research through all parts of the research cycle. We’re happy to see that nationally there have been more CCI toolkits made available.

We’re happy to share with you the:

• National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) CCI Toolkit
• Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre’s CCI Toolkit

We also have our own WA based Consumer and Community Health Research Network (CCHRN) who can assist you to involve consumers and community in your health care or medical research project or program. Contact the CCHRN team to find out how they can assist you, and the services they offer.

The Stan Perron Charitable Foundation is launching a new funding opportunity in the area of child health research. This includes research initiatives covering antenatal health as well as projects to address the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults.

The Foundation prioritises research which has impact, translates to positive outcomes for children, involves community and consumers and builds research capacity within Western Australia.

The following three areas are being considered for funding by the Foundation:

• Platforms supporting outstanding research
  • Includes applications for clinical and scientific personnel from any health-related discipline to conduct research
  • Includes infrastructure needed to support research
  • Examples of which may qualify for consideration in this category include those requiring consumer or community involvement, data solutions, equipment, facilities, biobanks and research training
• Major research Programs which are collaborative and outcome driven for up to five years
  • Programs involving partnerships and funding contributions from out bodies
  • Involves significant innovation and/or build capacity within Western Australia are especially encouraged
• Partnerships encouraging collaborations between researchers and institutions to improve health outcomes for children in Western Australia
  • Maybe single research projects or a program
  • funding will be contingent on partnership support and co-funding with the lead organisation based in Western Australia

Applications will be accepted from applicants with their lead organisation / institution based in Western Australia. Applications must make clear the innovative and transformative ideas to improve children’s health in Western Australia. Applications may originate from basic, clinical, population health or health services research. Early and mid-career researchers, with the support of a senior researcher, are encouraged to apply.

If you have any questions or want more information contact Dr Barbara Sheil, Research Grants Manager at the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation.

See the full application guidelines, templates and to apply.

Applications close: 4pm (AWST), Monday 23 March, 2020

The WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025 is a blueprint for action over the next five years to provide the best possible cancer services for Western Australians.

The Plan includes:

• Establish a central system to capture, manage and share data across WA hospitals
• Planned improvements to the delivery of cancer care throughout the State
• Development of genomic testing for Western Australians

A recent study published in The Lancet Oncology found Western Australia’s cancer survival rates were among the best in the world. WA beat New South Wales and Victoria to record the highest five-year survival rates for ovarian, colon, pancreatic and stomach cancer. Australia was found to have outperformed all countries in survival rates for five of the seven tracked cancers – oesophageal, stomach, colon, rectal and pancreatic.

The number of Western Australian cancer patients who live five years after diagnosis is up from 52% (30 years ago) to 71% in 2017. Despite this progress, cancer remains a significant burden for Western Australians especially for Aboriginal people and those living in rural and remote locations. There are more than 158,000 cancer related hospital admissions throughout WA each year, making up 14.4% of the State’s total hospitalisations.

Read the WA Cancer Plan 2020-2025

Asahi Kasei Pharma works in research and development of new drugs and pharmaceutical technologies. Currently they’re promoting and strengthening open innovation activities worldwide. As such they are calling for new proposals related to drug development research as part of their efforts to open innovation, to promote pharmaceutical research and development through enhanced co-operation with universities, research institutes and enterprises around the world.

Research topics sought by Asahi Kasei Pharma include:

• New drug candidates or drug discovery technologies in:
  • Chronic pain, Neurodegenerative disease
  • Autoimmune disease
  • Critical care medicine
  • Bone and/or Cartilage disease
  • Muscle-related disease
• New technologies aimed at addressing challenges in drug discovery:
  • Core technologies for drug discovery
  • Pharmacokinetics technology
  • Formulation technologies

If you need further information please contact Asahi Kasei Pharma directly or read their Open Invitation

More information and to apply now

Applications close: 4pm (AWST), Wednesday 26 February, 2020.