Lowitja Institute
Lowitja Institute is Australia's only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute, delivering community-led health research, research grants (up to $200K), three tiers of nursing scholarships, and policy consulting for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Indigenous health researchers, and government policymakers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersCarlton, Australia
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Lowitja Institute does
Lowitja Institute is Australia's only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute, headquartered in Collingwood, Melbourne, on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. Established in 2010 (with predecessor CRCs dating to 1997) and named in honour of the late Dr Lowitja O'Donoghue AC CBE DSG, the Institute delivers community-led health research, knowledge translation, and capacity-building programs aimed at improving health and wellbeing outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Its core methodology centres on Aboriginal Participatory Action Research (APAR) and Indigenist methodologies, with 100% of projects funded over the past five years featuring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researchers and 68% being led by them.
The Institute operates an interconnected suite of programs and sub-brands: a Major Research Grants program (up to $200,000 per project over two years plus a $20,000 Knowledge Translation grant) and Seeding Grants (up to $35,000) exclusively for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations; the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation, launched in 2022, which delivers three tiers of nursing scholarships (Enrolled up to $22,500, Registered up to $45,000, Postgraduate up to $40,000); Lowitja Learning for capability-building; Lowitja Library as a publications repository; the First Nations Health and Wellbeing journal; Lowitja Consulting (fee-for-service policy and research advice); and the biennial International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference (next: 8–10 June 2027 in Garramilla, Northern Territory).
The business model is that of a Public Benevolent Institution endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient. Revenue is drawn from Australian Government funding (primarily via the National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Department of Health and Aged Care), tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporates (e.g., Aspen Medical Foundation), and Lowitja Consulting fees. The Institute is governed by a Board chaired by Selwyn Button with Paul Stewart as CEO, is staffed by 11–50 employees, and has disbursed $30m+ across 200+ research projects since inception. Customer/beneficiary segments are Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (primary), Indigenous health researchers and nursing students (primary), government health policymakers (secondary), and mainstream healthcare providers (secondary).
Lowitja Institute firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Lowitja Institute
- Legal name
- Lowitja Institute
- Website
- https://lowitja.org.au
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Lowitja Institute is Australia's only national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute, delivering community-led health research, research grants (up to $200K), three tiers of nursing scholarships, and policy consulting for Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, Indigenous health researchers, and government policymakers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Lowitja Institute industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Indigenous Health Research and Grants
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH), Workforce Development & Training Grants (Public Health) (HLAJALAM)
Keywords
Where Lowitja Institute is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carlton
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Lowitja Institute business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Government Funding: Lowitja Institute receives Australian Government funding through agencies such as the National Indigenous Australians Agency to support its research, scholarships, and grant programs.
- Donations and Philanthropy: Individual and organizational donations support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led research. Donations are tax deductible as the Institute is a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI).
- Lowitja Consulting: Fee-for-service consulting delivers tailored advice and assistance that contributes to Lowitja Institute’s vision, providing additional revenue for the organization.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Postgraduate/Higher Degree Nursing Scholarship: Up to $40,000 over 2 years |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Registered Nursing Scholarship: Up to $45,000 over 3 years |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Enrolled Nursing Scholarship: Up to $22,500 over 18 months |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Major Research Grant: Up to $200,000 over 2 years |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Seeding Grant: Up to $35,000 |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels7 records
Lowitja Institute product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Lowitja Institute is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health research institute that commissions community-led research via Major Research Grants (up to $200,000 over two years) and Seeding Grants (up to $35,000), and administers nursing scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation across Enrolled, Registered, and Postgraduate tiers. It also delivers fee-for-service consulting, capability-building programs, the Lowitja Library of resources, a peer-reviewed First Nations Health and Wellbeing journal, and hosts the biennial International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference.
Product overview
Lowitja Institute operates as a national Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health research institute offering multiple interconnected programs and services. Core offerings include research funding programs (Major Research Grants up to $200,000 and Seeding Grants up to $35,000), the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation with nursing scholarships (Enrolled, Registered, and Postgraduate levels), Lowitja Learning for capability building, Lowitja Library for research resources, Lowitja Consulting for fee-for-service advice, and the biennial International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference. The institute serves Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through community-led research that improves health and wellbeing outcomes.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation: A program within Lowitja Institute established to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through scholarships, educational resources and annual events. Named in honour of Dr Lowitja O\'Donoghue AC CBE DSG.
Products and services
- Major Research Grants Program Direct funding of up to $200,000 over two years, plus a $20,000 Knowledge Translation grant, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations to lead community-driven health research projects.
- Seeding Grants Program Direct funding of up to $35,000 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled organisations to develop research proposals and build research capacity.
- Enrolled Nursing Scholarship Scholarship of up to $22,500 over 18 months for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in a Diploma of Nursing course, covering course fees and some study costs.
- Registered Nursing Scholarship Scholarship of up to $45,000 over 3 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in a Bachelor of Nursing course, covering course fees and some study costs.
- Postgraduate/Higher Degree Nursing Scholarship Scholarship of up to $40,000 over 2 years for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in higher-degree nursing courses (Master's, PhD), covering course fees and some study costs.
- Lowitja Consulting Fee-for-service advisory offering that delivers tailored advice and assistance to organisations seeking to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research and policy, generating additional revenue for the Institute.
- Lowitja International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference Biennial conference (5th edition scheduled 8-10 June 2027, Larrakia Country/Darwin) that convenes Indigenous health researchers and practitioners globally to share knowledge on Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and international Indigenous health and wellbeing.
Quantifiable outcome
- 200+ health research projects funded with $30m+ invested
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Lowitja Institute
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Lowitja Institute technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Lowitja Institute partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Lowitja O’Donoghue FoundationcoreThe Lowitja O’Donoghue Foundation was established on 1 August 2022 in honour of Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue’s 90th birthday. It is a program within Lowitja Institute that creates opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through nursing scholarships, educational resources, and annual events. The Foundation supports the empowerment of the next generation of Indigenous peoples to lead with and work for their communities.
- MTPConnectminorMTPConnect collaborated with Lowitja Institute and Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI) to host a First Nations forum exploring sustainable models for Aboriginal health research, resulting in guidance for funding and shaping First Nations health research.
- Australian Centre for Health Services Innovation (AusHSI)minorAusHSI collaborated with Lowitja Institute and MTPConnect on the First Nations forum addressing diabetes and cardiovascular research pathways.
- Don Dunstan FoundationminorEstablished the annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration in 2007, held at University of Adelaide, with Dr O’Donoghue delivering the inaugural oration.
- Healthdirect AustraliaminorListed as a partner/affiliate on the Lowitja Institute website.
- Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC)minorListed as a partner/affiliate on the Lowitja Institute website.
- Supply NationminorListed as a partner/affiliate on the Lowitja Institute website, supporting Indigenous business procurement.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Lowitja Institute competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW: Peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in NSW, coordinating Indigenous health research, advocacy, and workforce pathways; comparable in serving ACCOs and Indigenous researchers in a defined geography.
- Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet: Knowledge translation platform curating Indigenous health evidence and resources for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers; comparable for its knowledge exchange and resource library function similar to Lowitja Library.
- Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS): Australia's national Indigenous research and cultural institution, with overlapping mandate on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research, knowledge translation, and policy advocacy; comparable as a federally backed Indigenous research body.
- Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO): Peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations in Victoria, coordinating research, advocacy, and workforce development; comparable as an ACCO-led body shaping Indigenous health research and policy.
Broad incumbents
- Murdoch Children's Research Institute: Large paediatric research institute with Indigenous child health research themes and community-led studies; comparable as a research body running Indigenous health grants and capacity building programs.
- Menzies School of Health Research: Major Australian medical research institute with a long-standing Indigenous health research stream; comparable as a research-led organisation working on Indigenous health outcomes and workforce development, though broader in scope.
- National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC): Principal Australian Government funder of health and medical research, including targeted Indigenous health capacity building grants; comparable as a grantmaking body shaping the Indigenous health research ecosystem.
- Telethon Kids Institute: Major paediatric research institute with a dedicated Aboriginal Health research program and community-led studies; comparable for community-partnered research and translational funding mechanisms.
Regional players
- The Fred Hollows Foundation: International health NGO focused on Indigenous eye health in Australia and avoidable blindness globally; comparable for Aboriginal health program delivery, donor-driven revenue model, and Aboriginal-led research grants (e.g., via First Nations Eye Health Alliance, a Lowitja grant recipient).
Emerging players
- George Institute for Global Health: Global health and medical research institute with an Indigenous health research stream and impact-oriented grant programs; comparable for translational research and policy advocacy in health equity.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Lowitja Institute social profiles
Digital presenceLowitja Institute financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Lowitja Institute leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Lowitja Institute subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Lowitja Institute funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Lowitja Institute M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Lowitja Institute
What does Lowitja Institute do?
Lowitja Institute is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health research institute that commissions community-led research via Major Research Grants (up to $200,000 over two years) and Seeding Grants (up to $35,000), and administers nursing scholarships for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through the Lowitja O'Donoghue Foundation across Enrolled, Registered, and Postgraduate tiers. It also delivers fee-for-service consulting, capability-building programs, the Lowitja Library of resources, a peer-reviewed First Nations Health and Wellbeing journal, and hosts the biennial International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference.
Is Lowitja Institute a public or private company?
Lowitja Institute is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Lowitja Institute founded?
Lowitja Institute was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Lowitja Institute based?
Lowitja Institute is headquartered in Carlton, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Lowitja Institute make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are donations and Philanthropy and lowitja Consulting.
Who are Lowitja Institute's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW, Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) and Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). Broad incumbents are Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Menzies School of Health Research, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and Telethon Kids Institute. The Fred Hollows Foundation is listed as a regional player. George Institute for Global Health is listed as an emerging player.
Does Lowitja Institute have an API?
No public API is recorded for Lowitja Institute.
What industry is Lowitja Institute in?
Lowitja Institute's product category is Indigenous Health Research and Grants. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGACAG, Disability Services & Independent Living Support, with a secondary code of HLAJALAF, Community Health & Prevention Program Funding. Its NAICS code is 813211 and its SIC code is 8300.