Early career insights into grants review

How long have you been on the APA’s Grants Review Committee (GRC)? 

I joined in January 2023 as the inaugural Early Career Researcher Fellow and have continued to be involved with the committee since then. 

Why did you join the committee? 

I was a Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) grant recipient in 2004 for my master’s research. Joining the Grants Review Committee felt like a meaningful way to give back to the PRF as the grant genuinely shaped my own research career. 

As a member of the committee, what do you do?

I review expressions of interest and full applications for the Seeding Grants as well as the Beryl Haynes Memorial and Pat Cosh Trust Grants, help source independent assessors and bring the earlyand now mid-career perspective into committee discussions. 

What are the challenges of the role? 

Learning to balance the workload, which involves committee meetings and reviewing expressions of interest and applications, alongside clinical and academic commitments. 

Also, carefully navigating conflicts of interest, given how interconnected the Australian physiotherapy research community is. 

What do you get out of it, personally and professionally?

Exposure to the breadth of Australian physiotherapy research, insights into what makes a strong grant application and making valuable connections with established researchers. 

What would you like to tell people who are considering joining the committee? 

Do it. You will learn about the craft of writing a compelling grant and also about the wider physiotherapy research landscape. Just be realistic about the time commitment during review periods.

Dr Nia Luxton MACP is a senior lecturer in physiotherapy at Australian Catholic University and a cardiorespiratory clinician-researcher. Her research spans pulmonary rehabilitation and tobacco and e-cigarette prevention and cessation.

Applications now open for the 2027 GRC

Are you passionate about advancing your research career and networking with fellow professionals? 

Do you want to help shape the evidence base of the profession? Then apply to join the GRC. 

The GRC is an advisory committee of the APA Board of Directors and the Pat Cosh Trust (PCT). Its primary role is to review research grant applications submitted to the PRF and PCT and make recommendations. 

Responsibilities include: 

• evaluating research grants including PRF Seeding Grants, PRF Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Grants and PCT Annual and Strategic Grants. Members are not expected to review applications from all streams
• nominating and inviting independent assessors to review grant applications in their area of expertise • making recommendations on grant allocations
• providing feedback on progress reports submitted by recipients
• providing advice on APA research partnership proposals. 

To be eligible to join the GRC, you must be a current financial member of the APA, hold a postgraduate qualification and have experience in conducting, supervising and/or reviewing physiotherapy research. 

There is an additional opportunity to apply for an Early Career Research Fellow position on the GRC. 

Eligible candidates are within five years of PhD award (taking career disruption into account). Applications close 31 August 2026. Visit here for application forms and contact Jenine Fleming at Jenine.Fleming@australian.physio for more information.