MRFF – Emerging Priorities and Consumer-Driven Research Initiative 2025 Childhood Mental Health Research Grant Opportunity 

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) – Childhood Mental Health Research Grant Opportunity will support medical research and medical innovation projects that conduct large-scale implementation research projects to bring evidence-based preventions and treatments, including those that are technologically enabled, into practice that:  

  • are in partnership with local health and community service providers  
  • are co-produced and/or co-designed with children and their families, carers, and the community  
  • support the integration of mental health services for children and their families and carers  
  • build clinical research workforce capacity  
  • address mental health issues that are a priority for the community  
  • measure the impact of the interventions  
  • address barriers and build upon enablers to support and scale implementation.  

Three topics of funding are available based on the primary focus of the research or the geographic location of the organisation undertaking the majority of the research.

  • Topic A (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): improving the mental health of First Nations children through research led by First Nations researchers that includes meaningful involvement of First Nations communities.  
  • Topic B (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): the organisation undertaking the majority of the research is based in any area according to the Modified Monash Model locator (MM1–7).  
  • Topic C (Aim 2 of Research Plan; Targeted Call for Research): the organisation undertaking the majority of the research, the Chief Investigator A and 50% or more of all Chief Investigators, and all research participants are primarily based in a regional, rural or remote area according to the Modified Monash Model locator (MM2–7).

The anticipated outcome/s of the research is to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by implementation of ‘evidence-based’ models that improve children’s mental health and wellbeing or prevent mental illness.

This grant opportunity is being administered by NHMRC on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

Further information on the MRFF is available from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's MRFF website.

Link to GrantConnect