At NARF, we believe that collective voices can create real change. So, we’re celebrating a major win for equity in the health and medical research workforce: the NHMRC has announced improved flexibility for Investigator Grant holders, following strong community advocacy led by NARF President, Gina Ravenscroft.
How it started
In early 2025, Gina took to LinkedIn to raise concerns about the lack of flexibility in NHMRC Investigator Fellowships. She highlighted that researchers working part-time due to caring responsibilities, disability, or illness were disadvantaged because the scheme did not allow their grants to be extended pro-rata.
Her post struck a chord with the research community, attracting over 340 likes, 20+ reposts, 30+ comments, and 17,000 impressions. Researchers across the country shared stories of how the policy had impacted them, amplifying the message that change was urgently needed.
Taking it further
Building on this momentum, Gina wrote directly to NHMRC CEO Steve Wesselingh and Prof Frances Kay-Lambkin, former Chair of the NHMRC Women in Health Science (WiHS) Committee, urging the Council to reinstate the flexibility available in the previous fellowship scheme.
In her letter, Gina shared her own experience of balancing parenting and research, where the ability to extend her earlier fellowships allowed her to continue contributing to science while working part-time. She argued that without similar flexibility, current Investigator Grant holders were forced to choose between their careers and their caring or health responsibilities—a choice that disproportionately affects women and undermines NHMRC’s vision of an inclusive research workforce.
She also included community feedback and referenced an earlier submission by Prof Miles Davenport (WiHS committee member) supporting this change, underscoring the strength of evidence and advocacy behind the request.
The outcome: New guidelines released
We are thrilled that NHMRC has now released new Investigator Grant guidelines with greater flexibility for researchers. Key changes include:
- Extension of Grant Term: Chief Investigators (CIAs) who experience career disruptions can now extend their Investigator Grant pro-rata (salary + RSP) for up to 2 additional years—meaning a grant can now run up to 7 years in total.
- Part-Time Flexibility: CIAs may reduce their FTE during their grant through a variation request, ensuring their career progression is not unfairly compromised.
These changes mark an important step forward in supporting an inclusive, equitable research environment.
Why this matters
This success story shows the power of researchers raising their voices and advocacy translating into action. By combining personal experience, community backing, and constructive policy engagement, Gina and NARF were able to help drive meaningful reform that will benefit researchers across Australia for years to come.
At NARF, we’ll continue to push for policies that ensure Australia’s health and medical research system is truly equitable, flexible, and supportive of all its talented researchers.