SEPA Research Grant
SEPA is your pathway to peak performance in sports and exercise podiatry
With SEPA support, you can take your career to the next level.
As the peak body for podiatrists with a special interest in sports and exercise, SEPA is committed to providing opportunities for career development across all professional avenues – from private practice to elite sports, research, and more.
SEPA Research Grant Overview
The SEPA Research Grant is designed to advance the field of sports and exercise podiatry. Its primary goal is to support research-active podiatrists in developing evidence-based methods for diagnosing and treating foot and ankle conditions.
- Focus Areas: The grant funds projects related to musculoskeletal pathology, biomechanics, and exercise interventions (such as, but not limited to, studies on gait, orthotics, injury prevention, etc).
- Grant Duration: It is intended to support research projects for up to two years.
All proposals are assessed on the significance of the research, its potential contribution to the field, and the value offered for the funding requested.
How much funding is available?
For 2026, SEPA has created a total funding pool of $15,000 to support research projects lasting up to two years.
We want this fund to make the biggest impact possible, so we are flexible in how it’s awarded. Depending on the applications we receive, we may choose to:
- Award the full $15,000 to one standout project.
- Divide the pool among multiple smaller projects (for example, two grants of $7,500 each).
Eligibility
The SEPA Research Grant is eligible to:
- All individuals researching the foot in sports and exercise.
- However, the Lead/Chief Investigator must be a qualified podiatrist and a current financial member of SEPA.
- Teams with multiple SEPA members/podiatrists are given preference.
How to apply?
Applications for the 2027 SEPA Research Grant will open early next year.Â
Stay tuned for details. Â
Applications for the 2026 SEPA Research Grant are now open.Â
For full eligibility, selection criteria, and scholarship rules, download a copy of the SEPA Research Scholarship Guidelines.
Please note, the application form is in PDF format. This can be filled out in Adobe Reader using the ‘Fill and Sign’ function.Â
Application deadline
Applications must be emailed to SEPA by 11.59pm on Friday 10th April 2026.
2026 SEPA Research Grant recipients
Congratulations to the recipients of this year’s Research Grant!
- Aaron Robertson (co-chief investigator), QUT: ‘The energetic foot function of children with and without hypermobility during sport related activities’
- Dr Aaron Wholohan (co-chief investigator), QUT: ‘The energetic foot function of children with and without hypermobility during sport related activities’
- Chris Phillips, La Trobe University: ‘Lower limb strength in runners with and without shin pain: A cross-sectional study’
Past recipients
Be inspired by our past recipients including:Â
- Laura Hutchinson, University of Sydney (2021 recipient) – Knee osteoarthritis
- Carlie Altmann, University of South Australia (2022 recipient) – Chronic ankle instability
Questions? Need assistance?
If you’ve read the Guidelines and have further questions, please contact the SEPA Research Chair: contact@sepa.org.au with the subject line ‘SEPA Research Scholarship’.
Applications are yet to open. Please stay tuned for details for when the next round of funding will open.Â