Research Grants
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The National Suicide Prevention Research Fund

The Suicide Prevention Research Fund was established by the Federal Government to support research into suicide prevention. The aim of the fund is to support world-class Australian research, and facilitate the rapid translation of knowledge into more effective services for individuals, families and communities.

Suicide Prevention Australia manages the fund on behalf of the Federal Government. The Research Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Graham Hall, guides the work of the fund with the support of expert researchers, service providers and people with lived experience of suicide.

The Suicide Prevention Research Fund also aims to address gaps in suicide prevention research.

Congratulations to our latest 2026 Suicide Prevention Research Fund grant recipients

PhD Scholarships

Nina Logan, University of Melbourne (PhD has commenced)

Topic: Examining the role of social connection in adolescent mental health trajectories through a whole-of-community youth suicide prevention model

  • Nina will examine how social connection shapes suicidal thoughts and mental health among young people in regional Victoria, and whether a whole-of-community prevention model can improve outcomes for regional youth.


Lan Shi, University of Melbourne – $155,000

Topic: Evaluating the Real-World Impact of Here to tell the tale: A Mixed-Methods Study of a Lived-Experience, Hope-Oriented Social Media Suicide Prevention Campaign

  • Lan will evaluate whether lived-experience stories focused on hope and managing suicidal thoughts can contribute to suicide prevention through social media and reach people who may not engage with traditional services.


Zamantha Munoz Rodriguez, University of Melbourne – $155,000

Topic: Understanding Suicidal Mental Imagery: Prevalence, Lived Experience, Longitudinal Risk Pathways, and Implications for Suicide Prevention

  • Zamantha will investigate suicidal mental imagery among young people, including how common these experiences are and whether they may help us better understand and respond to suicide risk.


Kelly Smith-Simpson, University of New England – $155,000

Topic: Centering young people in school-based suicide postvention: A co-designed qualitative study exploring student experiences, support needs, and pathways to inform responsive practice in Australian schools.

  • Kelly will work with young people to understand their needs following exposure to or bereavement by suicide and co-design a more responsive approach to postvention in Australian schools.

Post Doctoral Fellowships

Dr Simone Scotti Requena, University of Melbourne – $540,000

Topic: Behind the Bottle: alcohol industry practices and policy levers for preventing male suicide in Australia

  • Simone will examine how alcohol consumption, industry practices and alcohol policy settings may contribute to suicide risk among Australian men and identify potential policy levers to reduce harm.

Innovation Research Grant

Dr Patricia Cullen, University of NSW – $463,844 over 3 years

Topic: Understanding and Responding to Suicidal Distress in Women Experiencing Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence: Pathways, Intervention Points and Survivor-Led Solutions

  • Patricia’s research will examine the intersection of domestic, family and sexual violence and suicidal distress, with survivors and service partners helping to develop more coordinated and practical responses.

Suicide Prevention Research Fund grant types

PhD Scholarships

Provides funding for successful applicants to attain a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

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Post-Doctoral Fellowships

Provides funding for successful applicants, who have already attained a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), to further their research career.

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Innovation Research Grants

Supports partnerships between researchers in suicide prevention and programs and services to meet the objectives of the fund.

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Implementation Science Grants

Provides funding for innovative research to address the implementation gap and progress interventions towards practice.

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Applications for the latest round of the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund closed on 23 June 2026.

For more information on future rounds, register your interest below.

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Members of the Research Advisory Committee

Chair
Professor Graham Hall
Managing Director of Synergy Health Solutions, an Honorary Research Associate at The Kids Research Institute and is an adjunct Professor at Curtin University.
Deputy Chair
Professor Myf Maple
Director at Manna Institute, Lead Chief Investigator, University of New England
Associate Professor Zac Seidler
Global Director of Men's Health Research - Movember, Principal Research Fellow - Orygen, Unverisity of Melbourne
Professor Jane Pirkis
Director, Centre for Mental Health, University of Melbourne
Professor Fiona Shand
UNSW, Black Dog Institute
Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM
Director, Everymind
Julie Robotham
The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention
Nikki Jamieson
Founder of Moral Injury Australia (moral injury and suicide prevention)
Rosiel Elwyn
Post-doctoral research fellow and Lived Experience Researcher at the Thompson Institute, and casual Lived Experience Academic in suicide prevention at Monash University.

Review Panel

Dr Jaelea Skehan OAM Director Everymind, Conjoint Lecturer, Hunter Medical Research Institute
Professor Alison Calear Centre for Mental Health Research, The Australian National University
Dr Rosiel Elwyn National PTSD Research Centre, Thompson Institute, University of the Sunshine Coast
Dr Karolina Krysinska Centre for Mental Health and Community Wellbeing, The University of Melbourne
Dr Frank Iorfino Associate Professor Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney
Dr Nikki Jamieson Affiliated with Flinders University │Griffth University │University of New England
Jorgen Gullestrup Chief Executive Officer, MATES Australia
Associate Professor Michelle Tye Program Head, Youth Suicide Prevention, Black Dog Institute, University of New South Wales
Professor Jo Robinson AM Head of Suicide Research and Scientific Director, Orygen Policy Centre
Professor Nicholas G Procter Academic Lead and Chair in Mental Health Nursing, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Research and Education, Adelaide University
Professor Myf Maple Director, Manna Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New England
Professor Nicola Reavley Deputy Director, Centre for Mental Health, The University of Melbourne
Dr Kerri Jackson School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Sciences, Central Queensland University
Check out the latest research!
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Suicide Prevention Research Fund (SPRF) grant application process 

The SPRF uses a structured, independent review process to ensure applications are assessed fairly, consistently, and transparently against the published selection criteria.  

  1. Application Submission

Applications are submitted by the advertised closing date.  

  1. Eligibility and Compliance Check

Applications are reviewed by Suicide Prevention Australia to confirm they meet eligibility requirements and submission guidelines.  

  1. Independent Peer Review

Eligible applications are assessed by independent reviewers using a standardised assessment process to ensure fairness, consistency, and transparency. Reviewers assess and score each application against the published selection criteria.  

  1. Score Collation and Variance Review

Suicide Prevention Australia collate reviewer scores, rank applications based on merit, and identify any significant scoring variances between Reviewers.  

  1. Review Panel Meeting

The Review Panel convenes to consider reviewer comments, discuss score variances, and comparatively assess applications. Following discussion, the panel agrees on final rankings and makes funding recommendations.  

  1. Research Advisory Committee Consideration

The Panel makes recommendations on applications to be funded and submits these recommendations to the Research Advisory Committee.  

  1. Approval and Notification

The Research Advisory Committee makes the final funding recommendations, which are submitted to Suicide Prevention Australia’s Board for formal approval. 

Following Board approval, applicants are formally notified of the outcome, and successful projects are publicly announced. 

If you have any questions about the National Suicide Prevention Research Fund, please contact Suicide Prevention Australia on sprf@suicidepreventionaust.org or phone: 02 9262 1130.

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