Spotlight 2025-26 Rheumatic Heart Disease

The Spotlight program brings WA’s health and medical research and innovation sector together around one bold, uniquely Western Australian challenge each year, to drive lasting solutions with multi-year investment, cross-sector collaboration, and strong community engagement.

Each round will centre on a focus area identified as a strategic priority for WA. The Spotlight 2025-26 focus area is Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Up to $25 million will be provided on a competitive basis to one applicant supported by a Spotlight Coordinating Team, in 2-stages.

Part A will provide up to $1 million over a period of up to 9 months, to enable the Spotlight Coordinating Team to form partnerships and consult with community/consumers and stakeholders to develop a sector-wide Action Plan consisting of multiple research and innovation work streams, which aim to deliver transformative solutions for Rheumatic Heart Disease.

Part B will provide up to $24 million over a period of up to 48 months, to coordinate and implement with Spotlight partners, the defined activities set out in the approved Action Plan. The Responsible Entity will be responsible for forming appropriate agreements with the Spotlight partner organisations for their research and innovation activities.

The Spotlight 2025-26 Rheumatic Heart Disease program is open to all WA entities.

Program Status: Open for Applications

Applications Close: 1.00pm (AWST), Wednesday 11 March 2026

Please note that the Grant Management System Application Form is not yet published. The application questions are provided in the Application Form in word document format so that you can commence preparing your application.

The Grant Management System Application Form will be available online closer to the Application due date and this website will be updated with submission instructions when this is available.

The Guidelines and Conditions and Application Form can be accessed below:

Additional information:

• Funding partners can co-invest in future Spotlight programs or with potential applications. Further information on how to co-invest can be accessed here.
• A Spotlight 2025-26 Rheumatic Heart Disease communique is available here.

Queries related to the Guidelines and Conditions can be directed via email to DOH.OMRI@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘Query – SpotlightRHD2025-26’.

Queries regarding the application process can be directed via email to DOH.GMS@health.wa.gov.au with the subject line beginning with ‘GMS Application Assistance – Spotlight RHD2025-26’.

Information on other FHRI Fund programs can be accessed by subscribing to updates or checking the FHRI Fund current opportunities.