AAG Research Trust 

 

The AAG Research Trust is the research grant arm of AAG. Between us, we have over 60 years' experience in connecting research, policy and practice. While AAG serves as our corporate trustee, the Research Trust is a wholly independent charitable organisation that relies entirely on individual and organisational gifts to fund innovative work that aims to improve and optimise the lived experience of ageing.

All current grant programs have been made possible by generous bequests and donations, and through strategic partnerships with organisations such as The Dementia Australia Research Foundation.

Our approach and priorities

The purpose of the AAG Research Trust is to improve the experience of ageing through innovation in research, policy and practice.

Uniquely placed within Australia's peak national body for researchers and professionals working across the multidisciplinary fields of ageing, our grants enable important work that often falls outside the criteria of other large government funding programs. In this way, the Research Trust promotes AAG's fundamental commitment to improving the experience of ageing by connecting research, policy and practice.

Through our grant programs, we give priority to:

  • Funding projects that cross traditional, professional and disciplinary boundaries and are explicitly aimed at innovative policy and practice.
  • An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community focus for whole-of-person, multidisciplinary research and practice.
  • Seed-funding for innovative projects and programs.
  • Facilitating community focus areas in unmet and emerging community needs.
  • Attracting leading and early career researchers to build capacity in ageing research and practice.
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    Our grants

    Each year, the AAG Research Trust offers AAG members a range of competitive grants to support research, policy and practice.

    Four annual grant programs are open to applications from AAG members:

     For more information, contact the Grants Team at [email protected].

     

    Opening dates for 2026 grant rounds:

    • RM Gibson Program - Monday, 6 April
    • All other grant programs - Monday, 11 May

    Please see the AAG Research Trust Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for more information.

    Refer to the individual program links above for specific program guidelines and further details.

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Focus

    The AAG Research Trust has a specific commitment to funding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led projects that relate to ageing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. In so doing, our aim is to:

    • Support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early career researchers and practitioners working across the multidisciplinary field of ageing to build their skills and capacity.
    • Develop evidence-based knowledge about ageing in Indigenous Australian communities that takes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective and standpoint to inform policy and program development.

    The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Review Panel of the AAG Research Trust leads the review and selection of this grant. Panel members are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and practitioners in the field. They are supported and informed by the AAG Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ageing Advisory Group (ATSIAAG), and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous researchers and practitioners.

    Examples of recent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-focused projects funded by the AAG Research Trust include:

    • In 2025, Caleb Rivers, a Gooniyandi, Kija, Wongi, and Yamatji Aboriginal man and PhD candidate at University of Western Australia, has been awarded $24,970 for his project: 'Exploring older Aboriginal People's quality of life through the application of the Good Spirit, Good Life framework'.  
    • In 2024, Ms Lindy Moffatt, a Wakka Wakka and Gumbaynggirr woman and Senior Research Assistant at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA), received a grant of $25,000 for the project: 'Older Aboriginal women’s business: Understanding lived experiences of menopause'.
    • In 2023, Dr Alana Gall, a Pakana woman from Southern Cross University, received a $25,000 grant for her project on 'Australian First Nations traditional medicine's role in improving utilisation of palliative care for First Nations Elders and our old people'.
    • In 2023, Kevin Taylor, a Yamatji-Noongar man from the University of Western Australia, received a $25,000 grant for his project: 'Co-designing the implementation of the Good Spirit Good Life training package with aged care services'.
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      Watch Professor Ray Mahoney, former Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Review Panel, provide a brief explanation of ‘How the Trust got here’ (1 min 49 sec).

    Awardee showcase

    Our selection of stories and acknowledgements demonstrates the types of projects funded through the different Research Trust grant programs and celebrate the success of previous awardees. They are intended to inform and inspire.

    And if you've completed a project that was funded by the AAG Research Trust, we'd love to add your story to the showcase. Contact us at [email protected].

    View the Awardee Showcase of completed projects here.

    Or check out all our award recipients via the links below:

    History and governance

     
    History

    In 2016, AAG received a bequest of over $1 million from the estate of William Peter Steele Nicolson. Mr Nicolson's wish was that the funds be used to further research in ageing. This is the largest bequest to date received by AAG.

    Following legal advice, the AAG Board approved the establishment of a separate entity called the Australian Association of Gerontology Research Trust (AAG Research Trust). The AAG Research Trust is structured as a public ancillary fund with deductible gift recipient (GDR) two status. This means that all donations of $2 and over are tax deductible. AAG is the Corporate Trustee of the AAG Research Trust, and, as such, the AAG board has separate responsibilities to meet the requirements set out in the Trust Deed of the AAG Research Trust. The first meeting of the directors of the corporate trustee was held on 5 November 2016. 

    The AAG Research Trust is registered with the Australian Taxation Office and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profit Commission. 

     

    Donations

    In June 2017, AAG approved the move of $454,000 funds of the RM Gibson Research Fund (previously held within a separate account within AAG) into the AAG Research Trust. Now known as The RM Gibson Program, this funding continues to support early researchers to further their careers in gerontological research through its annual grants program.

    In June 2018, a new program called Strategic Research Grants (now Strategic Innovation Program) was made possible through the Nicolson bequest. The first funding round for the Strategic Innovation Program was made available in August 2018.

    In April 2019, the AAG Research Trust received a donation of $730,000 for the establishment of the Hal Kendig Research Development Program, from the family of Emeritus Professor Kendig, who passed away in June 2018. Professor Kendig was a leader and a powerful influence in shaping a national and international discourse on ageing, as well as a great advocate for the needs of older people, and was an Honorary Life Member of AAG. This program reflects Hal's many outstanding contributions, as well as his wish to continue to support early career researchers in their pursuit of research excellence. The inaugural funding round of the Hal Kendig Research Development Program opened in June 2019.

    AAG and AAG Research Trust acknowledge with sincere gratitude the generosity of these bequests, and are proud to manage these funds in honour of the donors and their families. 

     

    Grants Committee

    The Grants Committee of the AAG Research Trust is responsible for the process, timing, assessment and recommendation of grant awardees. The Grants Committee reports to the AAG Research Trust via AAG's CEO.

    The current chair of the of Grants Committee is Professor Anne-Marie Hill from the University of Western Australia. Prof Hill is supported by four Program Leads/Panel Chairs:

    • RM Gibson Program Lead: A/Prof Tim Windsor, Flinders University (SA)
    • Strategic Innovation Program Lead: Prof Keith Hill, Monash University (VIC) ended his tenure in October 2025 - we are in the process of appointing his replacement
    • Hal Kendig Research Development Program Lead: A/Prof Kate O'Loughlin, University of Sydney (NSW)
    • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Review Panel co-Chairs: A/Prof Karla Canuto, Flinders University (SA) and Prof Linda Deravin, University of Southern Queensland (QLD)