Professor Saravana Kumar APAM knows his way around grants.

As Professor in Allied Health and Health Services Research at the University of South Australia, Saravana has submitted his fair share of grant applications and reviewed plenty of them as well.

Six years ago, when he was offered a place on the Physiotherapy Research Foundation’s Grants Review Committee (GRC), he jumped at the opportunity.

‘I gained a lot from people who mentored and chaperoned my research when I was a junior researcher and I really wanted to help the research careers of other junior researchers,’ Saravana says.

‘It’s a nice way to contribute and to shape research in physiotherapy.’

Saravana says that committee members play a very active role in the GRC, not just in reviewing grant applications for the various funding opportunities provided by the PRF, but also in setting the research agenda.

‘As committee members we shape the grant review process and we look at how we as a committee can help to promote and support emerging innovative physiotherapy research,’ he says.

However, the main task for the committee members revolves around awarding grants to applicants.

Each year the PRF provides funding for a number of Seeding Grants as well as several other funding programs.

Saravana says that the time commitment is not too intense, with a couple of reviewing periods each year.

In addition, GRC members are regularly updated by grant recipients on their research progress and outcomes.

‘We really want to see that our research is doing well—it’s about seeing the value in their work and where it has taken them and giving feedback,’ Saravana says.

Saravana says that in addition to the personal satisfaction he gets from contributing to the growth of physiotherapy research, he also benefits professionally.

‘From a personal point of view it’s really good to give something back to the community, to physio research now and in the future, and to promote new researchers coming forward.

'Professionally, it helps me to keep up to date with the literature and to look at innovative ways that people are tackling issues that I did not think of.

'It keeps me at the cutting edge of what people are doing in terms of physiotherapy research and tackling real-world problems,’ he says.

Saravana also notes that being able to network with his colleagues on the GRC has been a valuable opportunity in itself.

His advice to potential candidates for the GRC positions is to just do it.

‘You will have an opportunity to shape the future of research in physiotherapy in Australia, to be at the front line of what physios are doing around the country, which you wouldn’t get elsewhere.

'And you are going to be working with some very interesting researchers through the committee,’ he says.

‘If you want to contribute to research in physio in Australia, being part of the PRF and the Grants Review Committee is a really good option.’

Call for applications for Grants Review Committee

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation is calling for nominations for four vacancies on the Grants Review Committee (GRC).

Nominations close Wednesday 31 August 2022.

Members of the GRC are appointed by the PRF Committee.

Responsibilities include:

• participating in GRC meetings
• evaluating PRF grant applications
• nominating and inviting independent assessors to review grant applications relevant to their area of expertise as required
• making recommendations on grant allocations for the consideration of the PRF Committee
• providing feedback on progress reports submitted by recipients.

The normal term of office for members of the GRC is three years, beginning on 1 January of the year immediately following their appointment and ending on 31 December of the third year.

To be eligible to join the GRC you must be a current financial member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association and hold a postgraduate qualification as well as having experience in conducting, supervising and/or reviewing research relating to physiotherapy.

Applications must be received by 31 August 2022.

Click here for more information and contact Jenine Fleming, PRF Administration Officer, at Jenine.Fleming@australian.physio for further details.