Research Grant Information 2024

The Western Australian Institute for Educational Research [WAIER] was established in 1929 for the purpose of promoting and disseminating new educational research generated, for the most part, here in Western Australia. One way WAIER supports educational researchers is through research funding. 

Aim of the Research Grant

WAIER’s aim is to support educational researchers conducting research directly relevant to early childhood, primary, secondary, or tertiary education. This grant supports educational researchers who do not have ready access to funds or resources. The total grant money available is $3000. The research grant may be used for purposes including, but not limited to:

1. Resources; e.g., The costs of purchasing a textbook, digital recorder, software purchase (e.g., data analysis, reimbursement for participants);
2. Professional Services; e.g., Payment to an individual for services rendered to transcribe qualitative data, or to analyse quantitative data;
3. Travel; e.g., Costs involved with travelling to a forum, conference, or other activity linked to the proposed research project;
4. Employment of research assistant(s);
5. Larger equipment and software; and
6. Other purposes as requested and negotiated with WAIER

To be eligible applicants must:

1. Be WAIER members
2. Either reside in Australia or have a visa that will be valid for the duration of the grant 

The application process:

1. If you are applying for funding to conduct research, please provide:

• An outline of the proposed study. This must include the project title, aims, timelines, methods, benefits and purpose of the study, and detailed budget (Maximum 2 pages)
• If appropriate, provide ethics approval from your institution and/or the research site where the research will be/ has been conducted; i.e., a school. Evidence in writing will need to be obtained before funding is released.

2. If you are applying for conference funding or study assistance not associated with a specific research project, please provide details of the activity and a clear statement outlining the proposed research benefits 

In addition, all applicants are required to:

• Provide a detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) (max. 4 pages); 
• Register for the Annual WAIER Forum in the year that they apply for the WAIER Research Grant;
• Offer an indication of the planned outputs arising from this funding, that includes details of a related presentation at the next available WAIER Research Forum; and
• If successful, to present their findings at the Annual WAIER Research Forum, following receipt of the grant.

Criteria for assessment – Proposals will be assessed on the basis of (as relevant):

• Clear statement of the problem and research question/s
• Relevance to early childhood, primary, secondary or tertiary education
• Clear statement of relevance and value of proposed use of funds for professional educational or conference purposes
• For research proposal funding requests: rigour of methodological approach; practical and theoretical significance
• Feasibility of a one year time frame for completion
• Value for money – clear indication of how funds will be used
• Researcher(s) has/have demonstrated sufficient expertise/relevance
• Realistic plan for dissemination of results (to include required presentation at the annual WAIER Research Forum following receipt of the grant, and likelihood of publishing findings in educational journals)
• Clarity of the proposal

How the program works- To confirm that the money has been spent in accordance with the budget, grant recipient(s) will be required to:

• Submit the WAIER Research Grant Acquittal Form within 30 days of the completion of the project; and
• Provide receipts for all expenses that require funding. 

If successful, applicants will be required to:

1. Ensure the funding is used within a 12-month period from the notification of the success of the application. It is an expectation that any unexpended grant funds will be refunded to WAIER.
2. Complete and sign the financial acquittal (WAIER Research Grant Acquittal Form), verifying expenditure of grant monies received. Within this form provide a summary in layman’s terms, outlining key outcomes and/or findings achieved in relation to the research project
3. List any publications, clearly identifying whether (a) published, (b) in press, (c) submitted for publication, or (d) in preparation. Unpublished papers and conference presentations arising from this research project must acknowledge the support of WAIER.
4. Offer an oral presentation at the annual WAIER Research Forum in the year following receipt of the grant and also provide a synopsis of their research/findings for the WAIER website. 
5. Submit an article (strongly encouraged) to the journal Issues in Educational Research. In any publication, regardless of the journal, the contribution of the WAIER Research Grant must be acknowledged. 

Applications will close Friday 19 July, 2024. The successful recipient will be announced at the WAIER Research Forum at The University of Notre Dame Australia on the 17^th  August, 2024. 

Download application package here