2026 Disability Research Funding

The National Disability Research Partnership (NDRP) is inviting organisations to apply for grant funding to support research activities led by and with people with disability.

There are two research themes. One theme includes both an open and a targeted opportunity. The other theme includes a single open opportunity.

Applicants may apply for only one of the following three opportunities:

Theme 1: Safety of people with disability

• Opportunity 1A (Open): Research projects focused on the topic of safety of people with disability. Teams can define their own research focus within this theme. Up to $300,000 per project, total funding available $2,400,000
• Opportunity 1B (Targeted): Research projects focused on pathways to elimination of restrictive practices for people with disability. Up to $300,000 per project, total funding available $600,000

Theme 2: Accessible and inclusive communities

• Opportunity 2A (Open): Research projects focused on the topic of accessible and inclusive communities. Teams can define their own research focus within this theme. Up to $300,000 per project, total funding available $2,000,000

Duration of funding: 12 months

Total funding available: Up to $5 million (ex GST).

The NDRP will determine the final number of projects and grant amounts within the total available funding.

More details can be found in the 2026 Disability Research Funding Grant Guidelines, Assessment Matrix and FAQs on the NDRP website.

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 pm AEST (Melbourne/Sydney/Canberra Timezone) on Monday 20 April 2026.

Incomplete applications and/or applications received after the closing date will not be considered. Applicants are responsible for making sure their applications are submitted before the deadline. Please allow extra time in case of technical issues or platform disruptions.

We fund and support people and organisations to work in partnerships. 

This form helps us to understand how the people and organisations on your research team are related.

You will be asked questions about people and organisations, and about the project, in this order:

• The Contact Person
  
  
• Organisation details for the Administrating Organisation 
  
  
• Organisation details for the Partner Organisation(s)
  
  
• The names and details of the Research Team members
  
  
• The title, dates and brief overview of your project
  
  
• Your responses to assessment criteria
  
  
• Your project plan and budget

IMPORTANT: This form does not automatically save, so please save frequently. A preview of this form is available on the NDRP website.

If you need more help using this form, download the SmartyGrants Help Guide for Applicants or check out SmartyGrants Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

We know that language is important. Our aim is to always be respectful of the preferences of people with disability. NDRP promotes language that focuses on rights, leadership, and capability. We avoid deficit-based or medicalised descriptions and instead highlight people’s expertise, agency, and contribution to research and society.

NDRP respects and uses the language preferred by the individual or community being represented. Sometimes, there are different perspectives on language. For example, some people prefer person-first language, while others prefer identity first language. Some people prefer 'identify as’, and some may not feel 'disability' is a good representation of them at all.

Where there are differences in language preferences, we try to choose the language that will be most inclusive. It is never our intention to upset or exclude anyone with our language choices, and we are always open to receiving feedback on how we can improve.

You will need to have the details for:

• Your Research Team members.
• The Administering Organisation. This organisation will receive and administer the funding if your application is successful. 
• Partner Organisation(s), which must have a formal role in the project.

Documents that need to be uploaded before you can submit this form include:

• Annual Report for the Administering Organisation
• Partnership letters of support
• Reference list (optional)

It is important that you have read the NDRP 2026 Research Funding Grant Guidelines. You will need to refer to the Guidelines throughout the application process.

As per the funding guidelines, the Research Team members can only submit an application for one of the three opportunities.

The Contact Person should submit this application form. The Contact Person should be a Research Team member who is from the Administering Organisation. They will act as the key contact person for this application and project. 

Information about who should, or can be, the Contact Person and the Administering Organisation is detailed in the Grant Guidelines.

Before contacting us, please make sure you have carefully read the Grant Guidelines, and that you have checked the Frequently Asked Questions on our website.

If cannot find the answer you need, email research@ndrp.org.au

Remember to quote the application number below for all enquiries related to this application.