All exploratory and intervention requests are reviewed in two stages:  

• Expression of Interest (EoI) 

• Full application 

Once we have assessed your EoI, we will advise your Research Grants Office of the outcome. If you have been successful, you will be invited to submit a full application. 

Research proposals submitted to us must address one of our priority health areas or Aboriginal health. All applicants are strongly advised to read out Strategic Plan 2024-2029.

If you’re unsure, email research@healthway.wa.gov.au to arrange a time to discuss your idea and competitiveness. We encourage conversations early in the process. 

EoIs will be assessed in consultation with relevant research expert(s) and external agencies at the discretion of Healthway.  

Assessment criteria: 

1. Alignment of the research to health promotion, Healthway’s strategic priorities and essential criteria for funding. 
2. Appropriateness of the proposed Intervention and its relevance to health promotion policy and practice. (Intervention EOIs only) 
3. Rationale and demand for the proposed research. Ability of the research to contribute new evidence. 
4. Overall aim and objectives of the proposed research. 
5. Knowledge translation plan that demonstrates strategies beyond communication and dissemination. 
6. Research team skills and capabilities relevant to the research. 
7. Budget items and proposed timeline for the research is appropriate and within the grant category guidelines. 

Full applications are scored by our Research Assessment Committee and external reviewer(s). 

Assessment criteria for exploratory requests: 

1. Development and/or contribution of the research to best practice strategies in health promotion. 
2. The quality of the translation plan to demonstrate intent and capacity for the research to inform current policy and/or practice.
3. The relevance of end-user partnerships, and appropriateness of the collaboration and engagement strategies. 
4. Strength and rigour of the rationale and methodology (including literature review, research design, sample selection, methodology and cultural appropriateness, if appropriate). 
5. Track record, multi-disciplinary composition (where appropriate) and capability of the research team. Performance and outputs from previously held Healthway research grants will be taken into consideration, where appropriate. This will include the quality of reports provided to us from previously held research grants. 
6. Appropriateness of the budget, and overall value for money in regard to the contribution of this research to health promotion in WA. 

Assessment criteria for intervention requests:  

1. Ability to directly improve community health outcomes. 
2. Development and/or contribution of the research to best practice strategies in health promotion. 
3. The quality of the translation plan to demonstrate how the findings will be integrated into current practice and achieve sustainable, community health outcomes. 
4. The relevance of end-user partnerships, and appropriateness of the collaboration and engagement strategies.  
5. Strength and rigour of the rationale and methodology (including literature review, research design, sample selection, methodology and cultural appropriateness, if appropriate). 
6. Track record, multi-disciplinary composition (where appropriate) and capability of the research team. Performance and outputs from previously held Healthway research grants will be taken into consideration, where appropriate. This will include the quality of reports provided to us from previously held research grants. 
7. Appropriateness of the budget, and overall value for money in regard to the contribution of this research to health promotion in WA. 

• Similar research that is being funding elsewhere. 

• Clinical or laboratory studies, or trials of treatments or therapies for existing conditions or diseases. 

• Research proposals that aim to evaluate existing services or policies, unless it is clearly demonstrated that the health promotion outcomes can be applied more broadly and influence the practices of organisations beyond the scope of the project.  

• Research proposals limited to adapting or extending existing programs in a simplistic way will not be prioritised.  

• We will not prioritise projects that build on existing Healthway-funded initiatives where preliminary findings do not clearly demonstrate a need for further research. 

We recommend speaking with us before submitting your request. 

• Your research grants office submits requests through our Grants Portal.
• We cannot accept requests directly from individual researchers.
• Your organisation must be registered in the Grants Portal before applying.
• For help with the Grants Portal, your research grants office can contact us on 133 777 or healthway@healthway.wa.gov.au.

The guideline and request form will become available when the grant round opens. If you need an idea of what to expect, email research@healthway.wa.gov.au and we may be able to share guidelines from a previous year.