Distinguished Fellow for Prevention and Early Intervention in Child Health

The Distinguished Fellow for Prevention and Early Intervention in Child Health grant opportunity aims to establish national leadership in prevention and early intervention research across child health through an investment of $5 million over five years (from 2026-27). The investment will provide leadership to support medical research into prevalent childhood conditions including obesity, cardiovascular disease, mental health conditions and disability. The grant will support the Distinguished Fellow position, Postdoctoral Fellows, Research Assistants, PhD Scholarships and associated research costs, to strengthen Australia’s capacity to generate and translate evidence that improves the health and wellbeing of children and young people. This opportunity aligns with the Intergenerational Report 2023 and National Preventative Health Strategy (2021-30) and the Government's commitment to improve health outcomes through prevention, early intervention, and evidence-based research for Australian Children. The grant opportunity will establish national leadership to advance research and translation in prevention and early intervention across these priority areas. Aims to support innovative, evidence-based approaches that reduce disease burden, improve long-term outcomes, and contribute to a more sustainable health system. The grant opportunity will also support research that addresses the prevention and early intervention needs of priority child and youth population groups who experience inequities in health outcomes. This includes Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander children and young people, children and young people living in remote or rural communities, children with disability (including intellectual disability), children from culturally and linguistically diverse communities (including immigrants and refugees), and LGBTIQ+ children. To view the grant opportunity documents, please select the red "Grant Opportunity Documents" button on the left-hand side. Total amount available (AUD): $5,000,000.00 Close date & time: 18-Nov-2026 2:00 pm (ACT Local Time) Location: ACT, NSW, VIC, SA, WA, QLD, NT, TAS Selection process: Closed Non-Competitive GO ID: GO8650 Eligibility To be eligible, you must be the listed organisation and have received an invitation to apply from the department. Legal Name of Organisation: Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) ABN: 21 006 566 972 Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI) was determined as eligible due to its role as Australia’s largest child health research institute and as a global leader in child health research. The MCRI has been in existence for 40 years and is a strong and vibrant organisation with more than 1,800 researchers focussed on child health challenges . In 2025, MCRI published more than 2,000 journal articles and collaborated across 120 countries to deliver impact at an international scale. The MCRI has a proven track record of delivering similar high quality research program outcomes effectively, aligning with the grant’s objectives and outcomes, and offering value for money in the current market. The MCRI is supported by existing infrastructure, governance, and stakeholder relationships, including with the Royal Children’s Hospital, Melbourne and the University of Melbourne. A closed non-competitive selection process was chosen based on the nature of the research program to maximise the impact of public investment by leveraging the skills, knowledge, expertise, existing networks and infrastructure, and performance history of the most suitable organisation. How to apply Submit the completed application form and all necessary attachments by the closing date and time via the red Submit Application button on the left-hand side. You should keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents. Registered users will receive an automated email notification acknowledging the receipt of the submission. If you do not receive an automated email notification with