The Mental Illness Research Fund (MIRF)

This page provides information about the Mental Illness Research Fund (MIRF), a $10 million Victorian Government initiative aimed at supporting collaborative research that may lead to better outcomes for Victorians with mental illness and their families/carers.

The Department would like to thank all stakeholders and organisations who have completed the electronic consultation survey for the MIRF. The consultation process is now completed and all survey responses have been considered by the Expert Advisory Committee when finalising the MIRF research priority themes and criteria. The themes and criteria are detailed in the MIRF Funding Application Guidelines and Proforma below.

Call for Funding Application

The Department is pleased to announce that the application round for the MIRF is now open.

Applicants are advised to note the important dates listed in the timetable below.

Applicants must submit their research proposals by downloading and completing the MIRF Funding Application Guidelines and Proforma below. Completed forms, in both Microsoft Word and PDF versions, must be emailed to Neurosciences Victoria by 5:00 pm, 13 April 2012.

 Funding Application Guidelines and Proforma for MIRF

Email to lodge submission: info@neurosciencesvic.com.au

Anwers to some of the most commonly asked questions about the application round are available in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) below. Applicants with other general questions are advised to email their questions to info@neurosciencesvic.com.au.

 The Mental Illness Research Fund (MIRF): Frequently Asked Questions - application round

Background and Objectives of the MIRF

The 2007 National Mental Health and Wellbeing Survey found that one in five Victorians aged between 16 and 85 years suffer from a mental illness at some stage in their lives. An estimated 4.6% of the Victorian population – just over 250,000 people - experienced a severe mental illness or substance use disorder each year. A further 16% experienced a moderate or mild mental health problem.

Given the prevalence of mental illness and its often devastating impact on people’s lives, it is critical that treatment and support services provided to Victorians affected by mental illness are continually improved. To achieve this, treatment and care must be underpinned by a strong and robust evidence base.

The Victorian Liberal Nationals Coalition Plan for Mental Health recognises that mental illness requires a much greater research focus to address key knowledge gaps.

In the 2011-12 State Budget, the Government invested $10 million over four years to create a Mental Illness Research Fund, aimed at supporting collaborative research across a spectrum of mental health conditions, age groups and service settings. It was launched by the Hon Mary Wooldridge MP, the Minister for Mental Health, at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Academic Centre Research Symposium on 14 October 2011.

 Media Release: Launch of MIRF, (PDF File, 78kb)

The Fund will promote the development of new knowledge that will improve the evidence-based treatment and care of people with mental illness in Victoria. It will leverage the knowledge of Victoria’s research and treatment delivery sectors, and translate this knowledge into practice to improve treatment and recovery outcomes for people with mental illness.

The Fund will support a small number of significant research projects, each running for up to four years. Grant applications and assessment are being conducted as a single round process between late 2011 and mid 2012.

Establishment and Implementation of the MIRF

Oversight and Advice

An independent Expert Advisory Committee (EAC) will oversee the implementation of the MIRF. Chaired by Professor Bruce Tonge, the EAC will review and provide expert advice to the Government on the research agenda and application assessment criteria, and will oversee the assessment process. The final decision on the funded research projects will be made by the Minister for Mental Health and will be published on this website in mid 2012.

The committee members include six respected experts with broad understanding of research activities and perspectives across a range of areas, including clinical, psychosocial rehabilitation, community health, general practice, regional health, consumer and carer experience. 

Members are not expected to formally represent organisations but to bring to the Committee their experience and expertise across broad sectors and research interests.

 MIRF Expert Advisory Committee Members, (PDF File, 59kb)

Coordination

The Victorian Government has commissioned Neurosciences Victoria (NSV) to assist the Department of Health to coordinate the implementation of the MIRF. NSV will provide ongoing secretariat support to the EAC. It will also work with the Department of Health and the EAC to promote the MIRF in Victoria, and coordinate the grant application and selection processes.