The Australian Public Policy Institute (APPI) has announced the winners of its 2026 Policy Challenge Grants, supporting nine impactful projects that will inform practical solutions for critical and emerging public policy challenges.
The Policy Challenge Grant program supports research translation and policy engagement in response to government priorities. Alongside funding, APPI supports university teams in engaging with government and maximising the impact of their research. Now in its fifth year, the program has awarded nearly $2.5 million in grants to 37 projects comprising over 180 researchers, along with nearly 5000 hours of wraparound professional support.
The 2026 grant round focused on three government-informed themes:
- Breaking cycles of disadvantage and supporting economic dignity,
- Securing Australia’s domestic supply chains; and
- Strengthening policy responses to the triple planetary crisis.
APPI and its university partners are committed to delivering world-class research that helps governments respond to immediate policy priorities and identify and prepare for emerging challenges.
Danielle Woolley, APPI CEO
“APPI and its university partners are committed to delivering world-class research that helps governments respond to immediate policy priorities and identify and prepare for emerging challenges. We’ll work closely with all nine of these outstanding university teams to translate their research into practical policy options aligned with government priorities,” said Danielle Woolley, CEO of APPI.
Breaking cycles of disadvantage supports social mobility and equity of opportunity, strengthening social cohesion and preventative approaches to social services delivery. The funded projects will explore the ‘bank of mum and dad’ and policy levers to address intergenerational inequality (University of Melbourne), improve equitable access to childhood ADHD treatment (Monash University), identify policy reforms to better support children bereaved by domestic homicide (University of Melbourne), and map holistic interventions to prevent and respond to peer-to-peer sexual violence in schools (University of Sydney).
Secure domestic supply chains help Australia withstand disruptions to essential goods and capture more of the economic value of its resources. The funded projects will examine the weaponisation of food systems and approaches to building food resilience (University of Wollongong) and develop a framework for capturing the value of Australia’s critical minerals sector (UNSW Sydney).
Addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution is essential to protecting the ecosystems that underpin community wellbeing and economic resilience. Three funded projects respond to these challenges by addressing policy gaps in the circular economy for clothing (University of Technology Sydney), developing a policy framework for post-mining liability (Charles Sturt University), and embedding First Nations governance in statutory planning for climate adaptation (Western Sydney University-UNSW Sydney).
This highly selective grant has become a leading benchmark of policy-focused research. Previous grant projects have had significant policy impact, informing ongoing and emerging reforms and contributing to parliamentary inquiries. Opportunities identified through their research have also been reflected in recent government announcements, including on housing, digital technologies in construction and gender equity in the workplace.
