1. Does there need to be a GP involved in the project?
This will depend on the category you apply. This year there are four categories for immunisation providers, two specific categories for General Practitioners in which GPs will need to be involved, along with two separate categories for councils/hospitals or community organisations and indigenous health in which GPs may not necessarily be involved.
2. Can I re-enter a program submission I sent in a previous year for the 2011 GSK Adult Immunisation Grants?
Yes. However the judging panel and GSK encourage previous entrants to review and enhance their submission. Some previous projects are outlined on www.gsk.com.au/adultimmunisationgrantvideos.
3. How much detail do I need to provide on the project?
All questions within the entry form should be answered. There is guidance on the entry form as to the amount of detail required in your responses. You will not be judged on your writing skills, only on the quality of the program you wish to implement.
4. What if my program is already running in my practice/ organisation or elsewhere?
Programs already in place can be entered into the GSK Immunisation Grants program. You will need to provide the same details of the project including the results to date and information on how the grant will be used to enhance the program.
5. Can I apply for more than one category?
No. Applicants should submit their application in the category they feel is most appropriate. However, the judges reserve the right to change the category of your entry if they feel it meets the criteria of another category.
6. How can I make my program more innovative?
The judging panel suggests entrants research potential adult immunisation issues in their local community. Try and think of new ways to address immunisation issues in a way that is practical, sustainable and can be used by others. The GSK Adult Immunisation Grants program has been designed to share best practice and innovation so you may find some helpful insights by looking at some of the previous winners. These are displayed on the website www.gsk.com.au/adultimmunisationgrantvideos.
7. Do I need to include supporting evidence?
It is not usually necessary to submit supporting materials but where you feel it is appropriate to submit supporting materials a maximum of two pages is allowed. Supporting materials should be referenced where possible.
8. When will winners be announced?
Entries will close on 19 September and the winners will be notified in October 2011. All other entrants will receive notification in November after the AGPN Forum.
9. Who is on the GSK Adult Immunisation Grants Committee/Judging Panel?
The Grants judging panel is an independent group of medical professionals from multiple medical disciplines who have experience with immunisation.
GSK employees may be invited to provide administrative support to the Grants committee, however, will not possess any voting rights in relations to any aspect of the Grants.
10. Can I use the Grant to support research projects?
The Grants are intended to support innovative programs demonstrating best practice in adult immunisation in Australia. They are not intended for the funding of human subject research. For more information, please see the Grant application form which includes the opportunity to discuss your application with a GSK medical advisor prior to submission.
Helpful hints from the judging panel:
• Ensure the information you include within your application is accurate.
• Don’t use the budget to fund items that can be funded by the MBS (Medical Benefits Scheme) and please provide justification for remuneration rates for health care professionals.
• You may want to consider ways you can work with other organisations to develop an immunisation program.
• Think about adult immunisation in your practice and the issues surrounding it and look at ways of improving rates, accessibility etc.
• The evaluation aspect of the program is particularly important. Ensure that you clearly state how you plan to determine the success of the program as part of your application.
• We value programs that can be easily adopted by other practices and organisations to address adult immunisation in Australia
• We value programs that go beyond the standard immunisation approaches to improve adult immunisation uptake.
• Take the opportunity to review program ideas submitted by previous winners on the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) Adult immunisation grants website www.gsk.com.au/adultimmunisationgrantvideos. These ideas can be used as a guide to the type of activity that is of value.
