EMF is a leading Australian funder of research in emergency, prehospital, and retrieval medicine, supporting clinician-led research across Queensland. EMF invests in clinician-led projects, fostering innovations that enhance patient care, strengthen the emergency workforce, and support system-wide improvements. Through initiatives such as the Queensland Research Program, Trauma Care Program, and Special Funding Rounds, EMF supports Queensland clinicians at all stages of their careers, from novice to experienced. These programs provide opportunities to refine skills, pursue research questions relevant to their practice, and implement findings in real-world settings.
How EMF works
Emergency medicine research is uniquely frontline-focused and multidisciplinary. Clinicians across medicine, nursing, paramedicine, retrieval, and allied health see opportunities to improve care every day, and EMF provides the funding and support to turn these observations into practical, evidence-based solutions. By backing research led by those at the forefront of emergency care across Queensland, EMF ensures studies are relevant, feasible, and designed to improve outcomes for patients in medical emergencies.
Through its flagship Queensland Research Program, EMF offers six grant schemes catering for clinician researchers at different career stages and with different funding needs. The Trauma Care in Regional, Rural and Remote Queensland special research grants program aims to empower frontline clinicians in regional, rural and remote Queensland in the management of trauma patients. Through the Research Capacity Building grant scheme and initiatives such as the Queensland Emergency Research Network, EMF fosters collaboration, provides training, and equips clinicians with the skills to undertake impactful research across diverse locations.
To ensure a rigorous peer review process, EMF selects expert reviewers from its Research Evaluation Panel (REP) with the most relevant skills and experience to assess grant applications. Incorporating both clinical and academic perspectives, the REP ensures that only the most scientifically robust projects are recommended for funding. The REP works alongside the EMF Research Committee, which comprises eight highly experienced experts in their field who guide strategic decision-making for research grants. The committee also includes a consumer representative, bringing the patient perspective into the decision-making process. This structure ensures that projects with a strong focus on patient outcomes and health system efficiency are prioritised.
The EMF Board holds fiduciary, legal and strategic responsibilities for the foundation. It comprises four renowned emergency medicine clinician-researchers, a Queensland Health’s representative, and three skills-based directors with expertise in finance, risk, audit, and governance. The Finance, Risk and Audit Committee supports the EMF Board by assuring the integrity of EMF’s financial reporting, ensuring that effective risk management frameworks are in place, and monitoring compliance with regulatory, legal, prudential and ethical standards.
Our History
EMF grew out of the Queensland Emergency Medicine Research Foundation (QEMRF), which was established in 2007 with the support of the Queensland Government, the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (Queensland Faculty), the Australian Medical Association of Queensland, and two unions, Salaried Doctors Queensland and Together Queensland. QEMRF was formed in response to increasing pressures on Queensland emergency departments and the growing demands of treating critically ill patients. At the time, Queensland emergency medicine doctors forwent further salary negotiations in exchange for dedicated funding for emergency medicine research. QEMRF’s mission was to support and facilitate research that improves emergency medicine practice in Queensland, while also building research capability and creating a more intellectually stimulating environment to help attract and retain emergency medicine specialists within Queensland’s public hospital system.
In 2014, QEMRF established EMF to expand fundraising nationally for emergency medicine research and education initiatives, and in 2016 the two organisations merged under the EMF brand. Bringing operations together created a stronger and more cohesive national identity, while reducing administrative duplication and improving efficiency.
The following individuals and organisations were instrumental in negotiating and establishing our Foundation:
- Mr Rupert Tidmarsh, Senior Industrial Officer – Salaried Doctors Queensland
- Ms Jenny Cannon, QPSU Advocate – Together Queensland (formerly Queensland Public Sector Union)
- Mr Kerry Gallagher, in his capacity as the former Chief Executive Officer – Australian Medical Association of Queensland
- Dr Sylvia Andrew-Starkey, in her capacity as the former Chair – The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine (Queensland faculty)
- Dr Michael Sinnott, Senior Staff Specialist Emergency Medicine – Princess Alexandra Hospital
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“EMF’s funding and expertise are vital for driving outcome-focused, translatable research that improves our health system. Without EMF, emergency research in Queensland would be minimal. By supporting emerging researchers, promoting collaboration, and enabling research that can be translated into practice, EMF provides the structure, resources, and vision to make meaningful improvements in patient care possible.”
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"EMF supports projects that improve patient care, that save lives, that enable patients to get back to work faster, that enable patients to be discharged rather than stay in hospital, that allow them to stay in their rural or regional hospitals rather than being transported to tertiary hospitals. It's no doubt that without EMF funding, our Queensland EDs and the patients who present to them, would be worse off."
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“Each year at the EMF Grants Award Ceremony, I’m reminded why this organisation is so important. For me, a personal highlight is hearing firsthand how EMF-funded research generates insights that improve emergency care and enhance emergency department performance. EMF’s disciplined approach to research funding and governance ensures ongoing, sustainable impact for patients, clinicians, and the health system.”
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"Working with EMF has been a privilege, they have been reformist in recognising and supporting patient participation in emergency research for several years. Patients are the end users of all medical research and have a vital role to play by bringing their personal knowledge and lived experience to the process."
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"I feel connected to EMF’s purpose, and a desire to contribute to the great work that it does. The ability for research to deliver improved patient outcomes, advancements in medical practice, and more effective and efficient delivery of health services is highly motivating for me. While I’m not a medical practitioner, the variety of research topics is fascinating, and seeing the research results makes me proud to be part of EMF."
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“EMF is such a unique organisation in the medical research space. By providing funding to develop research capacity and facilitate research translation it is able to make a real difference to emergency medicine practice in Queensland and Australia. It is such a privilege to bring my governance skills, my interest in research and previous experience in the emergency medicine sector to support EMF.”
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“I joined the EMF Board as I see it play a pivotal role in advancing medical knowledge, improving patient care, and enhancing healthcare systems. It contributes to the well-being of individuals and communities by ensuring that the best practices and evidence-based approaches are used in emergency situations. The passion and culture of research that EMF has cultivated is unmatched and seeing how we can further this reach is a priority for me.”