A small grant can sometimes make all the difference. Designed to remove barriers and create opportunities, the REACH Grant is helping UTS researchers progress their work, build connections and pursue experiences that might otherwise be out of reach.
Removing research barriers through REACH
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A/Prof Emma Camp conducting fieldwork
The grants are open to UTS staff and late-stage Higher Degree Researchers (HDRs) whose career progression or work opportunities have been affected by a range of personal, family, health, cultural or other significant circumstances.
The REACH Grant helps researchers overcome challenges that could prevent them from completing a project, conducting fieldwork or taking up valuable professional opportunities. Whether it's bridging a funding gap, supporting caring responsibilities or helping researchers return after unexpected leave, the grant provides practical support when it's needed most.
For PhD candidate Iñigo De Juan Razquin, the grant helped him complete a crucial part of his research after a period of illness combined with a funding shortfall threatened to leave his study unfinished. The additional support enabled him to complete data collection, present his findings at a major conference and strengthen a paper he is now progressing towards publication.
Reflecting on the experience, Iñigo said receiving the grant made him realise how difficult it would have been to continue without it.
“When I got this grant, I realised I should ask myself what I would have done without this grant. I'm very grateful for it,” he said.
For Associate Professor Dr Emma Camp, who leads the Future Reefs research cluster, the grant made it possible for her to attend major international conferences while breastfeeding. By covering a carer's travel costs, the grant removed a significant barrier at a pivotal stage in her career.
“It can seem like just one flight, but with the cost of living and a mortgage, it was genuinely a question of whether I could afford to go,” Emma said. “The grant made that question easier to answer.”
More than the financial support, Emma said the grant demonstrated that UTS recognises the challenges staff can face while balancing work and family responsibilities.
“It's the recognition that there is some support from the university in these periods where you have a lot of adjustments,” she said.
It can seem like just one flight, but with the cost of living and a mortgage, it was genuinely a question of whether I could afford to go. The grant made that question easier to answer.
Senior Lecturer Dr Esther Mirjam Girsberger credits the grant with helping unlock opportunities that shaped the trajectory of her research. Support for childcare and travel arrangements enabled her to undertake overseas fieldwork, build international partnerships and develop research projects that ultimately contributed to a successful ARC DECRA fellowship application.
“Despite it being a small grant, REACH contributed so much to getting the ball rolling,” she said.
For Esther Mirjam, the value of the grant extended beyond the practical support.
“It signals that UTS understands you might be facing more constraints, and that's why they're giving you additional support.”
Their stories highlight the broad impact of the REACH Grant, helping researchers overcome practical challenges so they can focus on making the most of opportunities that advance their research, careers and collaborations.
Learn more about the REACH Grant and how to apply via the SharePoint.