Additional advice - DHHS call for submissions - C3108 Simulation Patient Safety Research funding

Further to the earlier advice from the Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) in relation to the Simulation Patient Safety Research scheme:

Should references be internal, belong to partner organisations, or external references?

There is no set requirement for who provides references. The department encourages applicants to provide at least one reference who is not part of a lead or partner organisation to provide a objective view.

What level of sign off is required from each partner organisation? Will submissions be considered if all signatures are not able to be obtained within the timeframe? 
The level of delegation required to sign off on the submission will depend on the governance structure of the project lead and partner organisations. Due to time constraints, the department would encourage applicants to obtain sign off prior to submission where possible. The department will consider submissions with outstanding signatures in good faith on the understanding that partner organisations have in principle agreed to the submission; any outstanding signatures must be provided to the department during the evaluation period.


There are a variety of ways that different professions consider patient safety; is there a particular definition or approach the department is looking for?
The department appreciates that patient safety is viewed through different lenses throughout the health sector, and has intentionally provided a wide scope to provide the panel with a diverse variety of submissions. 

Does the department have a preference for awarding a single funding amount or multiple smaller amounts?
The department does not have an in principle preference for how many projects will be funded. During evaluation, the panel will consider what mix of funding allocation will provide the greatest benefit for the investment made. 

Can the health service be project lead?
A health service may be the project lead for this research if that is more suitable for the project partners, providing that a university is part of the project partnership.