The Physiotherapy Research Foundation
The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) supports the physiotherapy profession by promoting, encouraging and supporting research that advances physiotherapy knowledge and practice.
High quality research contributes to the scientific evidence base that can inform physiotherapy practice.
Research into the efficacy of physiotherapy has also played an increasingly major role when advocating and lobbying for physiotherapists to governments, industry and the general public.
The PRF offers grants to both experienced and inexperienced or new researchers engaging research in specific interest areas of physiotherapy, physiotherapy education and professional practice. All grants applications undergo a rigorous assessment process managed by the Grants Review Committee.
To date, over $900,000 has been provided to physiotherapy researchers with 92 per cent of grant recipients having subsequently presented their research findings at a conference; 74 per cent receiving further research funding and 67 per cent have had their results published.
History
The PRF was established in 1988 as a charitable trust. The corporate trustee of the Foundation is Physiotherapy Research Foundation Pty Ltd; the Directors of which are the National President and National Vice President of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.
The trust deed enables the Foundation to support a range of physiotherapy research initiatives and physiotherapy research-related initiatives. These initiatives include seeding grants for clinical research projects, tagged grants for research in a defined area of physiotherapy practice, grants that support the integration of research evidence into clinical practice, grants for non-clinical research, and grants to promote physiotherapy research.
The financial statements of the PRF are reported separately in the annual report of the APA and are not included in the APA's consolidated financial statements. The APA subsidises the administrative costs of the Foundation to maximise the funds that can be directly allocated to research-related projects.
Make a donation
Donations to the Physiotherapy Research Foundation benefit the individual researchers and the physiotherapy profession as a whole.
How to make a donation:
• Complete and return the donation form
• With your annual APA membership renewal
• With payments for professional development courses
• Contact the PRF Manager personally to discuss bequests or one-off donations.
The PRF welcomes enquiries from corporate donors.
Physiotherapy Research Foundation
Level 1, 1175 Toorak Road, Camberwell VIC 3124
Postal Address: PO Box 437, Hawthorn BC VIC 3122
Tel: (03) 9092 0888
Fax: (03) 9092 0877
Email: prf@physiotherapy.asn.au
Donations over $2 are tax deductible.
Applying for a grant
The PRF offers two types of grants:
Seeding grants are for new researchers working on new or established research projects. Applications for these grants open early in the year.
Tagged grants are for researchers working on new or established research projects in a specific area of physiotherapy using ‘tagged’ funds. Applications for these grants open mid-year.
The call for applications, information for applicants and application forms for each round will be available on this page. An announcement for the opening of each round will also be made in the APA’s InMotion publication.
For more information please contact the PRF via email at prf@physiotherapy.asn.au
2013 Seeding Grants - NOW OPEN
Seeding grants are for new researchers working on new or established research projects. Applications for the 2013 round are now open.
Guidelines for applicants
Application form
Applications close 5pm AEST Monday 29 April 2013. Late applications will not be accepted.
For further information, please email prf@physiotherapy.asn.au
2012 Seeding Grants
Click though for a list of successful applicants.
2012 Tagged Grants
Applications for this round have now closed.
The list of successful tagged grant applicants for 2012 will be available soon.