Medical research institute sector welcomes changes to JobKeeper Program criteria

The medical research institute sector received the good news that the government will include the fall in donations when assessing eligibility to access the JobKeeper Program.

The Association of Australian Medical Research Institutes (AAMRI) thanks the government for taking on board the sector’s concerns. AAMRI also extends its thanks to the opposition for raising the issue of medical research institute eligibility.

The move to allow charities to include donations as part of the calculation on whether revenue has fallen, or is likely to fall, by 15% is a sensible change. Due to the (understandable) ban on face-to-face fundraising some institutes are currently losing 70% of their fundraising income. Across the board we are seeing a drop of about 30% on vital fundraising coming into institutes. Previously the formula didn’t allow institutes to include fundraising as part of their revenue that had decreased, and the overall fall had to be 30%.

For some institutes the new rules mean the difference between being able to continue critical medical research, some of which has been going on for years, or having to stop due to a lack of research support funds.

Medical research institutes need the capability to fight both the current pandemic and the future health challenges facing the nation, with their inclusion in the JobKeeper Program our scientists have a better chance to do this.