IgnitED

We mean an idea that…

• is new! That is, your idea would be a new development in the field
• Isn’t currently being tested in eating disorder research
• has demonstrated success in another area of health, but hasn’t yet been applied to or tested with people who have eating disorders or their family
• is feasible and which will help to solve the problem of eating disorders.

Everyone has a different experience of eating disorder. By eating disorder, we mean:

• people who have been diagnosed with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, ARFID, Pica, OSFED (see below for further information and resources)
• people who experience disordered eating symptoms such as dietary restriction, binge eating and behaviours which are related to eating and dieting that impact on their health and social and emotional wellbeing
• for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people from multicultural and religious backgrounds, these symptoms can also relate to experiencing food security issues, different traditions and rituals around food.

Lived experience refers to people who have a personal experience of an eating disorder, or who are the family member, partner, carer or supporter of someone who has experienced an eating disorder.

Refer to the QuickStart Guide for Co-Production in Eating Disorders Research and Co-Production Checklist at the AEDRTC Hub for guidance.

‘Social and Emotional Wellbeing’ (SEWB) is the preferred term to describe the holistic wellbeing of individuals and family that encompasses cultural considerations and the whole community. This definition recognises the importance of connection to land, culture, spirituality, ancestry, family and community.

We strongly recommend that you engage with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consideration Guidelines and Self Check Tool to inform your application.

Co-design includes meaningful engagement of people with living and lived experience, their families, and carers in research or in health service design that goes beyond consultation to acknowledge their unique expertise. In co-design, researchers or funding bodies determine the initial research direction. Subsequently, key stakeholder groups like people with living and lived experience, their families, and carers are invited to contribute to some or all stages of the research process. The intensity of their engagement may vary throughout the project. It is important to acknowledge that involvement in co-design can be influenced and determined by various practical challenges, including common research knowledge, financial costs, and time commitment.

Co-design is important because it helps us create answers that solve real world problems and transform people’s lives and their experience.

Refer to the QuickStart Guide for Co-Production in Eating Disorders Research and Co-Production Checklist at the AEDRTC Hub for guidance.

One of the goals of the IgnitED Fund is to help create new co-design teams that include researchers, people with lived experience (either from their own experience of an eating disorder or from caring for and supporting a loved one), community groups or organisations, clinicians, teachers, sports coaches, journalists – whoever you need to work with who is relevant to your bright idea.

At a minimum, your team must include a researcher, including HDR/ECR/emerging researcher(s).

At a minimum, your team must include a team member with lived experience expertise in a defined and resourced role. This may be through leadership, a designated workforce role, or a formal partnership. The role must be integrated across planning, delivery, and dissemination, with appropriate recognition and payment. (If your idea is related to the lived experience perspective – whether that is from people who have experience of an eating disorder, their family or supports – the lead applicant must be someone with relevant lived experience expertise).

If your idea is related to the lived experience perspective – whether that is from people who have experience of an eating disorder, their family or supports – the lead applicant must be someone with relevant lived experience expertise.

If your idea is related to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, the lead applicant must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person.

This is acknowledgement that people who have personal experience of eating disorders have a particular expertise that is essential to the research process.

Your co-design team needs to include at least one team member lived experience expertise in a defined and resourced role. This may be demonstrated through leadership or co-leadership, a designated Lived Experience workforce role (e.g. peer worker, advocate, researcher, educator), or a formal partnership with lived experience professionals in similar contexts.

One of the goals of the IgnitED Fund is to help support the development of the eating disorder researcher workforce. This means your co-design team will need to include representation from one or more of the following:

• Higher Degree by Research students (HDR) who are enrolled in a postgraduate research course at university
• Early Career Researchers (ECR) who have completed a PhD and are in the early stages of working in an academic role
• Lived experience researchers
• Clinician researchers
• Emerging researchers from other relevant groups or organisations

This means the project is driven by lived experience expertise. The lead applicant may be a person with lived experience of an eating disorder, or a family member, partner, carer, or supporter. In some cases, this may also be expressed through co-leadership or partnership where lived experience has clear decision-making authority and is fully resourced.

People with lived experience expertise are strongly encouraged to submit an application. Applications led by people with Lived Experience are one of our two priority groups.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander new idea applications need to be First Peoples-led. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples are strongly encouraged to submit an application. Applications led by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples are one of our two priority groups.

If you have an idea but do not yet have a co-design team, please see the AEDRTC Hub for many useful tools to support your application:

• QuickStart Guide for Co-production in Eating Disorders Research - applicants are strongly encouraged to review the guidance prior to developing their response
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Consideration Guidelines and Self Check Tool
• Networking opportunities
• Research and Training Hub

A key principle of this funding is to foster new collaborations, so seeking out and developing new connections is central to the work.

Funding is meant to be used in a planned and structured way to test or develop your brilliant idea. You will need to submit a budget that identifies all the costs you expect to incur. It can be used on:

• Fees or salary for people who are involved in and essential to your proposal and who aren’t already funded through another grant
• Payment for people with lived/living experience or Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples who contribute through co-design, leadership, advisory roles, or participation in consultations/focus groups.
• Expenses for project related activities like room hire, catering, production costs, materials and consumables like stationery
• Accessibility and access-related expenses for people with lived/living experience or First Nations peoples eg. translation services, child-care or transport to a consultation
• Accessibility and access-related expenses for people with lived experience eg. translation services, child-care or transport to a consultation
• Travel (not overseas or interstate) that relates specifically to executing the plan.

You can access these InsideOut Institute fact sheets about eating disorders:

• Anorexia Nervosa
• Bulimia Nervosa
• Binge Eating Disorder
• What is Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorders (OSFED)
• Why do people get eating disorders?