Funding Win To Improve Support And Survivorship
Two Flinders projects supporting culturally diverse dementia carers and cancer survivorship resources for people with intellectual disability will receive a funding boost, thanks to the latest round of grants from the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan says the successfully funded projects represented the community-driven research Flinders was excelling at.
“At Flinders University, we want to find the solutions to real-world problems, and that is best done working directly with those most impacted,” says Professor Chan.
“These projects address under-represented areas of research, designed in collaboration with those it sets out to serve.”
Sharing in over $3.5 million the two successful grants are:
Cross-sector collaboration to scale up a Culturally Tailored iSupport model to address unmet needs of dementia carers: the CT-iSupport trial – $2,968,692.94
Chief Investigator: Professor Lily Xiao, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Despite people with dementia from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds groups being more likely to be cared for at home by family carers, CALD carers receive less support due to inequalities in the care system.
This project aims to build collaboration among aged care providers, Carer Gateway providers and government health services to scale up a culturally tailored iSupport model.
Developed by the World Health Organization, with Professor Xiao as a key contributor, iSupport is a skill training program for carers of people with dementia. The culturally tailored iSupport model incorporates trained facilitator-enabled carer peer support, coaching and access to care services.
This project will address inequalities in accessing support services for CALD dementia carers, with the aim to improve the health and quality of life for CALD carers and their care recipients, as well as improve the cost-benefits of the culturally tailored iSupport model.
The grant has been awarded under the 2024 MRFF Dementia Ageing and Aged Care Mission grant opportunity.
Co-producing cancer survivorship resources with and for people with intellectual disability – $742,504.74
Chief investigator: Associate Professor Michelle Bellon, College of Nursing and Health Sciences
Led by a collaborative team of academic, clinician, and community researchers, this project aims to improve cancer care with and for people with intellectual disability.
Despite advances in healthcare, people with intellectual disability face persistent disparities in accessing and receiving appropriate cancer care, leading to poorer health outcomes compared to the general population.
The project will use inclusive research practices to understand the cancer survivorship experiences, needs and preferences of people with intellectual disability, their supporters and healthcare professionals, and then co-produce accessible resources and support tools.
The team will also look to address broader systemic barriers, informing and influencing policy and training, ultimately transforming cancer survivorship practices and improving patient experiences and outcomes. This work aligns with the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability, and builds visibility of human rights and best practices in meeting the healthcare needs with and for people with intellectual disability.
The grant has been awarded under the 2024 MRFF Survivorship Care and Collaborative Research Prioritisation grant opportunity.
Administered by the Australian Government, the Medical Research Future Fund aims to transform health and medical research and innovation to improve lives, build the economy and contribute to health system sustainability.
https://news.flinders.edu.au/blog/2025/03/27/funding-win-to-improve-support-and-survivorship/