CRIPS and Prof John Beltrame AM/CEO Innovation Award

This initial application step will include a project summary, budget information, and information about the research team. The single 2-page PDF will be evaluated by an External Assessment Panel.

Please see the below section for more information. 

Top ranked Expressions of Interest project teams (finalists) will be invited to complete an in-person project pitch to a review panel in late September.

Finalists will be notified in mid- to late-August, and supplied with information and assessment criteria required for the pitch.  

Finalists will be invited to attend a pitch training session in early August to help prepare their presentation.

Up to three (3) grants will be awarded, a Prof John Beltrame AM/CEO Innovation Award may also be awarded.

Scores/rankings will not be disclosed to applicants. The review panel’s decision is final and no further correspondence will be considered. 

The following table summarises the two-part application process.

Please submit a 2-page PDF (Arial font, minimum size 11) describing the proposed project.

• 1 page - Project proposal
• ½ page - Project budget
• ½ page - Research team capability

The 2-page PDF will be evaluated by an external assessment panel.  

No other information will be provided to the assessors, so please ensure that important details are contained within the PDF. 

After Expressions of Interest are screened for eligibility, the following scoring matrix will be used by external assessors to score each application.

• Study relevance - why the study is important   
• Feasibility - how it will be achieved   
• Impact on patient care - the ‘so what’, expected outcomes/impact 

Assessors will not assess an application if there is a direct conflict of interest.

Expression of interest will be assessed using the following matrix: 

Using the online form, you will be asked to: 

• Provide basic information for administration purposes which includes:
  • Chief investigator (CI) first and last name, email address – must be a CALHN employee
  • Project details
    • Title
    • Whether the project contains a Digital, Artificial Intelligence (Large Language Models or other related models) or data recording component (up to 50-word description)
• Check your eligibility and agree to the terms and conditions.
• Upload your 2-page PDF document

Submit your Expression of Interest (Microsoft form)

Note: you will need to sign in to your SA Government account in order to use the online form.  

The following conditions aim to ensure funding is directed to the right projects and administered efficiently to provide the maximum chance of success and improvements to patient care.

Important: Please ensure all criteria are fulfilled as failure to do so may result in termination of project funding:

Eligibility

Chief Investigator (CI) requirements:

• The CI must be a CALHN clinical staff member (medical, nursing, or allied/scientific health) based at one of the following CALHN sites:
  • Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH)
  • The Queen Elizabeth Hospital (TQEH)
  • Hampstead Rehabilitation Hospital (HRC)
  • Glenside Health Service (mental health services)
  • Repat Health Precinct (statewide rehabilitation services).
     
• A CI can only lead one CRIPS project at a time (either ongoing or a new application)
• If the CI leaves CALHN, a new CALHN-based CI must be appointed in consultation with the relevant CALHN Clinical Program. The original CI may remain on the team as a Team Member.
   
• Research Team requirements
  • The team must include 3 to 5 CALHN-employed members, including the CI, with representatives from each of the following:
    • Allied and Scientific Health or Pharmacy discipline
    • Nursing discipline
    • Medical discipline
    • Early-career researcher (defined as <5 years post-PhD, relative to opportunity)
  • The team may include 1 non-CALHN investigator to encourage/facilitate collaboration with other institutions/networks. The project, however, must be primarily based within CALHN.
  • Consumers being involved as team members is encouraged, with no limitation on the number of consumers on the investigator team.
  • Gender equity/diversity among the research team is strongly encouraged.

Location

• The project must be primarily based within a CALHN hospital site (RAH, TQEH, or HRC). Collaboration other CALHN sites or other institutions/networks is encouraged.

Funding  

Funding available: Up to $200,000 over a maximum of two years

• The project must start by 1 July 2026 and be completed by 30 June 2028.
• Funding is available from 1 July 2026. Up to $15,000 can be released earlier to support ethics/governance submissions.  

Funding set-up & use

• Funding is provided by the HSCGB in arrears, meaning costs are reimbursed after they’re incurred.
  • All project expenses must be processed through an approved CALHN Research Special Purpose Fund (SPF).
  • The CALHN Research Finance team will help set this up and work with you on your project budget.
• Funds must be used only for direct research costs listed in the application. The CALHN Research Finance team will assist in the claim process, which is usually undertaken monthly.
• Funds will be released in line with SPF policy and SA Health procedures, requiring valid invoices or reimbursement claims.  
• Funding will be acquitted at the end of each financial year (post 30 June). Unused funds will not be carried over to the next financial year. Consistent with the HSCGB’s policy, to carry over any unspent “approved funds” into the next financial year, you will need to reapply to HSCGB for approval. This also applies if an extension beyond the grant end date is required.  

Email the CALHN HSCGB representative as soon as it is clear that an extension will be needed.

Compliance approvals

• Ethics and Governance approval must be received before 1 July 2026. No funds will be released until all approvals are in place.  

Note: To apply for Ethics and Governance approval, instructions can be accessed from the submissions webpage.

• The CI must submit the following to the CALHN Research Grants Team:
  • Ethics and Governance approvals
  • Completed and signed Grant Acceptance and Budget Form.
  • Signed Terms and Conditions (this form)

Intellectual property

• Absent to any agreements to the contrary, we expect all IP to be held by CALHN.  
• If any of this funding will be to fund a PhD student, our expectation is IP will be assigned to CALHN.

Partner organisations

• A Service Agreement is required if project expenses are incurred by a non-CALHN organisation, before any payment can be made.

Reporting and evaluation

• Regular reporting will allow CALHN to help keep the research on track and to recognise achievements of the research.

Please send all reports to the CALHN HSCGB representative and CALHN Research Grants Team.

• Progress Reports will document continued compliance with eligibility criteria.  
  • Due 6 monthly: 31 Jan 2027, 31 July 2027, and 31 Jan 2028.
  • The report template will be provided to the CI-A at the grant acceptance stage.
• Annual financial statement of expenditure
  • Due 31 July 2027 and 31 July 2028.
  • Please request the necessary form from the CALHN Research Finance team.
• Written final report will detail the achievements of the research, resulting publications, and whether any subsequent funding was achieved as a result of this award.  
  • Due 30 September 2028.
  • The report template is provided to the CI-A at the grant acceptance stage.
• An evaluation of the project and its implementation is required 12 months following the written final report.
  • Due 30 September 2029.
  • The report template is provided to the CI-A at the grant acceptance stage.

Communication and dissemination

• If your research reaches key milestones (e.g. publication, awards, media interest), please contact CALHN Communication and Public Relations who will assist to promote the work.
• In all publications or presentations, please acknowledge funding using the following wording:

Funding for the study was provided by a competitive research grant from the Clinical Rapid Implementation Project Scheme of the Central Adelaide Local Health Network, funded by the RAH Research Fund and administered by the Health Services Charitable Gifts Board.