Expression of Interest Guidelines
Call for Expression of Interest – April 2025
Australian Chiropractors Education & Research Foundation (ACERF) is now calling for Expressions of Interest for research grants for projects that demonstrate strong relevance to chiropractic practice and will directly benefit the chiropractic profession.
The Australian Chiropractors Association (ACA) established the ACERF, a public ancillary fund, to oversee the commissioning and funding of research activities. The Foundation was established to support scientific research activity relating to chiropractic.
Objective of the Scheme
The objectives of the ACERF Grant Scheme are to:
- Develop academic capacity in researchers, chiropractors, and other healthcare professionals, and encourage collaboration across disciplines and sectors.
- Support and fund research relevant to chiropractic science and
- Support the implementation of health promotion programs in the Australian community.
- Strengthen partnerships between researchers, chiropractors, other healthcare professionals, governments, and the community.
Special Interest for this Grant Round
The 2026 ACERF grant round themes are paediatrics, workforce planning and headaches.
Available funds for the 2026 round:
The total pool of funds available for the 2026 round will be up to $100,000 for eligible applications.
Eligibility Criteria
As specified by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), to be eligible for a grant under this Scheme, the applicant must be registered as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) Item 1 organisation in Australia:
- DGR Item 1: Most organisations endorsed as DGRs fall into this category. The category includes public benevolent institutions, universities, health promotion charities, environmental organisations and cultural organisations holding DGR status in Australia.
Joint applications are acceptable, provided the lead organisation is clearly identified in the application. The lead organisation should hold DGR status and will be primarily responsible for the project.
An application will only be accepted where there is evidence that:
- There is support from the Board (or equivalent) of the lead organisation.
- In the case of a joint application, evidence of how project costs will be shared.
- At least one member of the team is a current ACA member.
Assessment Criteria
All proposals submitted to ACERF under this scheme will be assessed against the following criteria:
- Reach and Impact: the importance and/or anticipated benefit of the proposed research to clinical practice and/or health promotion.
- Project design and implementation: the scientific quality of the proposed project.
- Relevance to chiropractic practice: the likelihood of informing clinical practice.
- Feasibility: the feasibility of the proposed project.
- Innovation: the potential of the project to test a promising and/or novel idea.
- Sustainability: the potential of the project to lead to significant future research.
- Track record: the track record of the applicants (e.g. skills, capacity, capability and resources to deliver the project).
- Financial justifiability.
- Overall quality of the application.
EOI applications will be ranked and shortlisted by the ACERF Committee (who may use external reviewers as appropriate). Shortlisted applicants will then be invited to submit a full grant application.
Research Team
The relevant research skills and capacities of the research team will be considered in each application.
Duration of Grant
Grants awarded under this scheme are for up to a maximum of 2 years.
How is the Application Assessed?
EOI applications are assessed against both the eligibility and assessment criteria. Only applications that meet the eligibility criteria will proceed to the full application stage.
The amount of detail and supporting evidence provided in an application should be relative to the project size, complexity and grant amount requested.
The ACERF committee may consult with other research experts to assess each application.
The ACERF Committee’s decisions regarding EOIs are final. Once a final decision has been made, an EOI application will not be reviewed further.
If an EOI is successful, the applicant will be invited to submit a full application. Submission of a full application does not guarantee that the application will be funded.
If an EOI is unsuccessful, the applicant will be notified in writing and given an opportunity to receive feedback.
Successful applicants being awarded a grant under this scheme will then enter into a grant agreement with ACERF. The grant agreement will specify the reporting requirements, payment schedule and project milestones.
ACERF will make payments as specified in the grant agreement.
ACERF Committee members are eligible to submit an application, however any such member will be excluded from the assessment process, both at EOI and full application stages.
Confidentiality
This application, any information provided to the Applicant by ACERF or ACA, and any information submitted by the Applicant as part of this grant application process will be treated as confidential between ACERF and the Applicant and will remain so.
Budget
A detailed budget and justification for each item included in the proposed budget should be provided.
Eligible:
- Equipment
- Project materials and consumables
- Research assistant remuneration
- Participant incentives
- Travel for research activities
Ineligible:
- Institutional overhead costs directly and indirectly associated with this project will not be funded as part of the grant.
- Salaries of investigators named on the application
- Conference travel and attendance
- Journal publication fees
How to Apply
This call is for expressions of interest (EOI) only.
ACERF requires the completion of an online Expression of Interest application form.
Late applications will not be accepted. Receipt of your application will be acknowledged by return email.
Expressions of interest should be emailed to Kim Tompkin at acerf@chiropractors.org.au
by 5:00 pm (AEST) on the 20 June 2025.
If you have any questions about the grant application process, please contact Kim Tompkin at acerf@chiropractors.org.au
Key Dates
Expression of Interest (EOI) Key Dates:
Opening Date: 23 April 2025
Closing Date: 5:00pm 19 June 2025
Outcomes Expected: 25 July 2025
Full Application (by invitation only) Key Dates:
Opening Date: 1 August 2025
Closing Date: 5 September 2025
Outcomes Expected: 3 December 2025
*Funding available from 1 January 2026