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Scholarships and Fellowships available through new researcher development program

icare NSW has announced the opening of its 2025-26 Dust Diseases Board Researcher Development Stream Awards Program, offering $400,000 in its first year.

The icare Dust Diseases Board (DDB) provides funding for research and support services for people affected by dust diseases through grants, PhD scholarships and fellowships.

It has just announced the opening of its 2025-26 Dust Diseases Board Researcher Development Stream Awards Program, offering funding to support research scientists, occupational hygienist, those in occupational health, and clinicians at any career stage to enhance capacities in key fields related to dust diseases.

Find out more


Scholarships and Fellowships

The new researcher development stream awards program includes:

These awards support a wide range of research activities aimed at fostering emerging talent, building research and clinical capacity, and advancing dust disease management.

The awards are able to support:

  • research scientists
  • occupational hygienist
  • those in occupational health
  • clinicians at any career stage

They aim to enhance capacities in key fields related to dust diseases, including but not limited to:

  • thoracic oncology
  • respiratory health
  • public health
  • nursing
  • psychology
  • radiology

The program encourages innovation, promotes collaboration, and pushes forward advancements that lead to better patient outcomes and improved quality of life for workers with dust diseases.

This year’s awards program has been designed to align with the DDB’s vision, mission, and strategic priorities outlined in the 2025-2029 DDB strategy to ensure all initiatives support the DDB’s commitment to making a positive difference for those impacted by hazardous dust exposure and dust diseases.

Apply for an award


Support organisation funding

Applications for grants through the DDB's support organisations stream are also open.

Groups and organisations that support people with a dust disease and their families can find more information via the icare website

Find out more information


If you have any questions, please direct inquiries to your research office, which will reach out to DDB. Or if your organisation does not have a research office, you may contact DDB directly at ddcgrants@icare.nsw.gov.au.

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