2026 Disability Research Funding — Research Program

The National Disability Research Partnership offered three 2026 funding opportunities across two themes: safety of people with disability, including a targeted stream on eliminating restrictive practices, and accessible and inclusive communities. The program supports collaborative research led by and with people with disability that creates new knowledge for policy and practice.

An Australian-based administering organisation applies on behalf of a partnered research team, while international partner organisations and team members may participate. Applications for this cycle are closed.

Benefits & funding

Up to $300,000 per project, excluding GST.
A total funding pool of $5 million across three opportunities.
Funding for 12-month research projects.
Eligible costs can include project staff and co-researchers, necessary research travel, and accessible research outputs.

Eligibility

The administering organisation must have an ABN, be based in Australia, not be a government agency, and hold the required organisational policies, insurance and business plan.
The team must include at least one partner organisation and people with disability in co-researcher or co-leader roles. International partners and team members are permitted, but the administering organisation remains Australia-based.
Each formally named research team member may appear on only one application in this round.
The proposal must be a research project, align with one of the three funding opportunities and request no more than $300,000. Projects consisting only of service delivery or advocacy are not eligible.
No individual nationality, gender, age, degree or work-experience threshold is stated.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

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Application process

1
Read the grant guidelines and choose the opportunity that best matches the project’s primary focus.
2
Form a partnership of at least two organisations and agree how people with disability will lead, govern and shape the research.
3
Prepare the project plan, budget, team details and partner confirmation material requested in the application form.
4
Complete the online SmartyGrants form during the application period, review all compulsory responses and submit before the deadline.
5
Check for the confirmation email and retain the submission copy.

Program timeline

Applications opened.
23 February 2026
Applications closed.
20 April 2026, 5:00 pm AEST
Project start specified in the funding guidelines; NDRP later said practical start dates would be confirmed during contracting because decisions were delayed.
1 July 2026
Funding outcomes expected.
Late July or early August 2026
Project completion date specified in the funding guidelines.
30 June 2027