We’re excited to announce the recipients of the 2025 Innovation Seed Funding Grants and the five projects we’ll be funding.

We want to thank everyone who applied to our recent seed funding round. We were inspired by the range of ideas and the clear commitment to improving health outcomes for people with intellectual disability.

Below is a list of the recipients and the projects. These initiatives stood out for their innovation, impact, and potential to make a real difference in people's lives. We look forward to supporting these projects and sharing their progress over the coming months.
 

• Project 1: Boosting Health Literacy through Animated Microlearning by Aruma
  
  This project is about making preventive health care easier to understand for people with intellectual disability and their supporters.
  
  Aruma is creating short, animated videos that explain important health topics in a clear and engaging way.
  
  People with lived experience, families, and support workers are helping design these resources.
  
  The goal is to improve health knowledge and encourage more people to get regular health checks and screenings.
  
  This project is being delivered in partnerships with Microboards Australia and Access Easy English.  
  
   
• Project 2: Health Checklist for people with cerebral palsy and intellectual disability co-developed by consumers along with a team from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI)
  
  People with both cerebral palsy and intellectual disability often have complex health needs.
  
  A team from MCRI is working on a health checklist to help people, carers, GPs, specialists, and other health professionals understand and manage these needs better.
  
  The checklist is being co-designed with people who have lived experience. It will be available in both standard and Easy Read formats.
  
  It’s made to support clearer communication, help spot health issues early, and give health professionals more confidence in providing care.
  
  This project is being delivered in partnership with The Royal Children’s Hospital, Monash Medical Centre and Cerebral Palsy Australia.
  
   
• Project 3: Me and My Medicines by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia
  
  This project is about helping people with intellectual disability understand how to use medicines safely and how pharmacists can support them.
  
  The team is creating interactive workshops and Easy Read resources, with people with intellectual disability involved in every step.
  
  The aim is to improve health knowledge, make pharmacy services easier to use, and help people feel more in control of their health.
  
  This project is being delivered in partnership with the South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability and the University of Newcastle.
  
   
• Project 4: Building Connections in Western NSW by Western NSW Local Health District
  
  This project is focused on improving health care for Aboriginal people with intellectual disability in Western NSW.
  
  An Aboriginal Project Officer is helping build strong relationships with local communities. Together, they’re finding respectful and culturally appropriate ways to talk about disability and create a more inclusive model of care.
  
  Through deep listening, yarning circles, and community-led conversations, the project is laying the foundation for long-term partnerships and better health outcomes.
  
   
• Project 5: Evaluating Dental transition pathways from paediatric to adult disability services in South Australia by the Women’s and Children’s Health Network
  
  This project is focused on helping young people with intellectual disability move smoothly from children’s dental services to adult care.

  
  The team is reviewing South Australia’s Dental Transition Pathway to see what’s working well and what could be better.

  By combining data with feedback from people with lived experience, the project aims to improve the transition process, support more coordinated care, and provide stepping stones to reduce emergency dental visits.
  
  This project is being delivered in partnership with the South Adelaide Local Health Network(SALHN), the Australian Dental Association SA Inc., South Australian Council on Intellectual Disability (SACID), the Royal Australasian College of Dental Surgeons Inc, and SA Dental.  

Thank you to all the applicants for the time, thought and care you put into your proposals. We encourage you to stay connected with the Centre and keep an eye out for future seed funding opportunities.

Read more about the Innovation Seed Funding Grants project here.