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Research support toolkit (RSTK): 1: Getting started

Where do I begin?

I'm new


I'm a new researcher - what exactly do I need to know before I can begin?

Scholar role activities facilitate the development of trainees as teachers and learners.


Navigate your research journey with Researcher Academy. Free e-learning modules developed by global experts. Career guidance and advice. Research news.
The Research engagement toolkit, produced by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) with support from the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR), has been created to provide the information to physicians that will help you get engaged in research in lots of different ways.
The Consumer Involvement and Engagement Toolkit provides practical advice for researchers and research organisations wishing to conduct patient-centred clinical trials. Using an interactive map, the Toolkit provides guidance and tools to help plan, deliver, evaluate and report consumer and community involvement and engagement activities.
The college strongly endorses gender equity because of its ethical, social, and economic benefits to our fellows, trainees, specialist international medical graduates (SIMGs), and the broader community.

Research & grant proposals


Tips for researchers on preparing an effective research or grant proposal.

Pilot and feasibility studies are recommended to test the feasibility and protocol of larger clinical trials including recruitment potential, feasibility for coordination across sites for multicentre trials. A pilot study may also be used to test possible effects and associations (signal) that may be worth following up in a subsequent larger study.
Protocol templates have been developed to allow for a streamlined approach to protocol development.

Applicants are strongly advised to read the ANZCA research grant policy before completing the application form.


Endorsement of a clinical trial by the ANZCA Clinical Trials Network(CTN) is a powerful badge of quality, adding to the competitiveness of studies in peer-reviewed grant processes, the acceptability of protocols to ethics committees, investigators and study participants, and the attractiveness of completed projects to editors and scientific meeting convenors. A rigorous process is vital to maintaining the prestige of ANZCA CTN endorsement.

Budgeting & funding


Tips for researchers for constructing a budget and sources for obtaining funding.

The ANZCA Foundationworks to raise more than $A1.5 million dollars each year to support research to improve patient safety and care. There are a number of grant opportunities available to emerging and experienced researchers.

These include academic enhancement grants, project grants and novice investigator grants. The College also has a Scholarship Scheme available as part of the ANZCA project grant available for Fellows and trainees wishing to apply for salary support while they undertake a higher research degree.



Novice investigator grants

A major goal of the college to encourage and foster novice researchers in the field of anaesthesia, pain and perioperative medicine. Early career researchers with no previous grant support are eligible to apply for a novice investigator grant. Applicants are able to submit a draft application by the 14th Jan each year if they wish to have a mentor from the Research Committee, or an experience investigator appointed by the committee assigned to review the application and provide feedback before the final submission deadline.



Clinical Trials Network Pilot Grant Scheme

The ANZCA Clinical Trials Network (CTN) Pilot Grant Scheme is a fast-track program open to fellows of the college. The program was created to assist fellows in the development of high quality projects with the potential to acquire competitive grant funding and to develop into a larger multicentre research studies. Applicants are encouraged to present their research proposal at the annual ANZCA Clinical Trials Network strategic research workshops held in August each year.


The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the key driver of health and medical research in Australia. Aside from funding, they advise the Australian Government and facilitate networking in the research community by bringing academics and industry together.

The Australian Research Council (ARC) funds research across all disciplines except health and medical research.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) supports inspiring researchers to "discover the next penicillin, pacemaker, cervical cancer vaccine, or cochlear ear".

TheAustralian Society of Anaesthetists(ASA) provides research grant program to its members.

TheAustralian Anaesthesia Allied Health Practitioners (AAAHP) provides research grant program to its members.

Universities: Most major Australian universities undertake and support medical research.

Hospitals:

The Health Research Fund (HRC) supports research that has the potential to improve health outcomes and delivery of healthcare, and to produce economic gains for New Zealand.

Universities:

Hospitals:

Overseas funding


Funding possibilities outside Australia/New Zealand.

Mendeley Funding makes it easy to search over 20,000 funding opportunities from over 2,000 organizations across the globe including Australia,New Zealand, US government agencies, the European Union, and UK Research councils.


INASP is an international development charity working with a global network of partners to improve access, production and use of research information and knowledge, so that countries are equipped to solve their development challenges.


The college acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises their unique cultural and spiritual relationships to the land, waters and seas and their rich contribution to society. We pay our respects to ancestors and Elders, past, present and emerging.

The college acknowledges and respects Māori as the Tangata Whenua of Aotearoa and is committed to upholding the principles of the Te Tiriti o Waitangi, fostering the college’s relationship with Māori, supporting Māori fellows and trainees, and striving to improve the health of Māori.

The college recognises the special relationship between the Pacific peoples of New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific, and is committed to supporting those fellows and trainees of ANZCA, and improving the health of Pacific peoples.