The AAG Research Trust is committed to funding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led initiatives. Thanks to the generosity of donors, the AAG Research Trust has three funding programs offering 10 grants worth a total of $165,000 each year. Key to this success has been the establishment of a separate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Review Panel to lead and support the selection of Indigenous-led applications.
In its inaugural year of focus, five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led applications across the two funding rounds were received, which represents 10% of all applications across the two programs. Examples include:
- In 2020, the AAG Research Trust’s Hal Kendig Research Development Program funded $20,000 for a project on ‘Supporting psychosocial wellbeing with older Aboriginal Australians: Listening to community members' knowledge about Culture and connection’ by Dr Louise Lavrencic, who is a non-Aboriginal researcher at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA).
- Biripi woman Lauren Poulos from Neuroscience Research Australia was awarded a 2021 Strategic Innovation Program grant of $30K, which represented 24% of all funding available over the two rounds. Lauren’s project was entitled, ‘Evaluating the culturally responsive elements, effectiveness and transferability of online dementia education and training with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities’.