To be eligible the applicant must be:

• enrolled in or employed by an Australian University as a PhD or Masters’ (100% research) student or level A-D academic within 10 years of their PhD being awarded
• an Australian citizen, an Australian Permanent Resident or a New Zealand citizen, based in Australia. International students/ researchers based in Australia are also eligible to apply
• presenting an oral or a poster presentation at a conference OR conducting research/fieldwork which aligns with the New Knowledge activities of the CRE WHiRL in any of the following topic areas:

• • Infertility
  • Early menopause (medical or spontaneous)
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Improving translation
• Primary supervisor must be a Chief Investigator or Associate Investigator of the CRE

You are ineligible if you are:

• on intermission from candidature for the period of the proposed travel
• a recipient of an alternative travel grant
• a previous recipient of a travel or secondment grant awarded by the CRE WHiRL (i.e. applicants can only be awarded one travel grant and one secondment grant over the life of the CRE).
• a chief investigator with the CRE

Other considerations

• The travel or secondment must be completed by (date to be advised).
• If the travel grant is to present at a conference, the CRE must be acknowledged on the slides or poster. If the travel grant supports a secondment to conduct research, the CRE must be acknowledged on any conference presentation or journal article that arises from that research.
• For conference presentations, the applicant must be the principal author of the work, which must be largely the applicants own work, report recent findings and cover research which is aligned with the research priorities of the CRE WHiRL:
  • Infertility
  • Early menopause (medical or spontaneous)
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
  • Improving translation

Selection criteria

All applications will be assessed for alignment with CRE activities, the quality of the abstract and/or the benefit to the CRE of the proposed visits or secondments.

General information

• The CRE travel and secondment grants provide support for students and academic staff to present papers at national and international research conferences and associated visits to prestigious institutions, or to facilitate high quality national or international research interactions.
• The CRE Training and Mentoring Committee will endeavour to ensure the equitable distribution of funds across the eligible applicants. Applications will be considered on merit, with consideration given to the career stage of the applicants and any career interruptions.
• Travel and secondment grants will be awarded for high quality, well-documented proposals without any alternative funding source. Proposals should describe the significance of the conference, visit or research interaction and how these will enhance the national or international research profile of the CRE.
• Applications will be accepted from researchers who have submitted papers for conferences where acceptance has not yet been confirmed. Such applications will be considered on the same basis as those where papers have been accepted. Any grants awarded will be conditional on the paper(s) being accepted for presentation and evidence of abstract acceptance must be submitted to cre-whirl@monash.edu before leaving for the conference.
• Funds must be returned to the CRE if unforeseen circumstances prevent attending the approved conference or visiting the approved research sites.

Reporting requirements

Within one month of completion of the travel/ secondment, successful applicants must submit a report to cre-whirl@monash.edu. The report should be approximately 200 – 400 words outlining the ways in which the conference attendance, overseas visit or secondment has enhanced research activities and include at least one photograph.  This may be published in the CRE newsletter and/ or on the CRE website.

International travel bookings/ insurance

It is the responsibility of grant recipients to comply with their University’s protocol for travel (including overseas travel), which may include submitting a travel plan, providing evidence of insurances, etc.  Applications to travel to countries or regions where the DFAT warnings are “Reconsider your need to travel” or ‘Do not travel’ will not be considered.  Please check travel warnings before applying.

Complete the application form and submit with supporting documentation to cre-whirl@monash.edu by (date to be advised).

Travel grants

• Copy of applicant’s accepted abstract (or abstract to be submitted). Evidence of abstract acceptance will be required before funds are released
• If relevant, an itinerary of the applicant’s visits/ meetings being undertaken, including invitations or email confirmations exchanged between the applicant and a third party
• A summary CV (maximum 2 pages)
• A brief letter of support (maximum of 300 words) signed by a CRE Chief or Associate Investigator
• Budget summary (e.g. conference attendance, airfares, accommodation costs)