Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women
The Melbourne Medical School’s Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women is an initiative supporting early and mid-career women in academia.
About the Scheme
Launched in 2019, the Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women (SGOW) support high-performing early and mid-career women in academia to advance towards senior academic and leadership roles.
Offered biennially, the scheme provides support over a two-year period for activities that enhance academic capability, productivity, and profile, with the intention of progressing recipients’ careers.
The SGOW scheme is administered by the Melbourne Medical School and generously supported by our health service partners.
Questions can be directed to the MMS Research Support Team:
mms-research@unimelb.edu.au.
2025 Round
The 2025 round of the Strategic Grants for Outstanding Women offers funding of up to $30,000 per annum for up to two years (maximum award value: $60,000). A minimum of eight grants will be awarded.
The funding period will commence on 1 January 2026.
Ready to Apply?
Applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants.
Key dates
- Wednesday 4 June
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Applications open
- Friday 4 July
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Applications close 5:00pm
- October
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Expected notification of funding outcomes
- Thursday 1 January 2026
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Funding period commences
Further Information
- Read the 2025 SGOW Guidelines.
- Watch the 2023 Information Session: While recorded for the previous round, this session provides helpful context about the purpose of the scheme, eligibility, and tips for preparing a strong application. Watch the recording.
- Contact the MMS Research Support Team at mms-research@unimelb.edu.au
Grant Recipients
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For more detailed profiles of our recipients please see the 2023 SGOW recipients page.
Dr Yasmine Ali Abdelhamid
Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School
Melbourne HealthDr Charlotte Indermaur Denniston
Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School
Associate Professor Kimberley Haines
Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School
Western HealthAssociate Professor Jessica Howell
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
St Vincent's Health AustraliaAssociate Professor Belinda McClaren
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Associate Professor Rosalind McDougall
Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Elizabeth Paratz
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
St Vincent's Health AustraliaDr Sheila Patel
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
Associate Professor Michelle Peate
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Laura Ross
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
St Vincent's Health AustraliaAssociate Professor Joanne Said
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Newborn Health, Melbourne Medical School
Western HealthDr Emily See
Department of Critical Care, Melbourne Medical School
Melbourne HealthDr Nicole Van Bergen
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research InstituteDr Jessica Vanslambrouck
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute -
For more detailed profiles of our recipients please see the 2021 SGOW recipients page.
Associate Professor Lauren Ayton
Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Ada Cheung
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Maria Di Biase
Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Leonie Griffiths
Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School
Northern HealthDr Gabrielle Haeusler
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)Dr Sarah Hanieh
Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Jess Heerde
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)Associate Professor Lisa Hui
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School
Northern HealthDr Rachel McQuade
Department of Medicine, Melbourne Medical School
Western HealthDr Jing Wang
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded) -
For more detailed profiles of our recipients please see the 2019 SGOW recipients page.
Dr Katie Ayers
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)Associate Professor Penelope Bryant
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Murdoch Children's Research Institute (co-funded)Dr Lisa Cheshire
Department of Medical Education, Melbourne Medical School
Associate Professor Kate Drummond
Department of Surgery, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Amy Gray
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Amanda Gwee
Department of Paediatrics, Melbourne Medical School
Associate Professor Natalie Hannan
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School
Dr Yasmin Jayasinghe
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Melbourne Medical School