2026 Policy Challenge Grants
Applications for the 2026 grant round are not yet open.
About the program
Through the Policy Challenge Grant, the Australian Public Policy Institute works actively with researchers to maximise impact of research on critical societal challenges facing Australia.
The 2026 round is open for applications from 16 March – 8 May 2026.
With the aim of tackling the greatest public policy challenges facing Australia, grants will be awarded to outstanding academics conducting applied policy research, translating existing research for policy audiences, or engaging with policymakers through outreach activities.
Successful projects will generate new insights, foster engagement between academics, policymakers and other stakeholders, including local communities, and support improved policy outcomes.
The APPI Policy Challenge Grant program is unique: APPI partners with grant winners for impact. We offer dedicated support to grant recipients to communicate their research outputs to a policy audience and maximise the impact of their research through targeted engagement with policymakers.
Applications open on 16 March 2026.
Key benefits
Impact and public good
Provides seed funding to impactful, societally beneficial policy research and translation.
Policy engagement
Encourages new and additional connections between researchers and policymakers.
Recognition of evidence-based policy
Platforms research that identifies solutions to current and future challenges facing Australians.
Who can apply?
We welcome applications from academics employed by the following APPI partners:
Program details
Career stage: Academics at all career stages
Type of research: Applied public policy research; translation of research for a policy audience.
Disciplines: All
Eligibility: Lead researcher must be employed at an APPI partner university: University of Sydney, Western Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, Charles Sturt University, University of Wollongong, or University of Melbourne.
Funding pool: up to $600,000
Funding amount: Applicants can apply for $25,000-$100,000
Type of funding: Direct research costs only
Duration: Projects must be delivered within 12-18 months of the award date. We particularly welcome proposals that can be delivered within shorter timeframes (3–6 months).
For more information, download the Application Guidelines.
Themes for the 2026 Grant round will be announced on 16 March 2026
Grants will be awarded for projects focusing on major policy challenges facing Australia under the following themes, where the proposed research has strong potential to generate public value for the benefit of Australians.
Projects bringing a First Nations focus on any of these themes will be of particular interest.
Projects bringing a focus on underrepresented minorities in relation to any of these themes will be of particular interest.
We welcome applications from academics at APPI’s partner universities:
- University of Sydney
- Western Sydney University
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of New South Wales
- Charles Sturt University
- University of Wollongong
- University of Melbourne
Who can apply:
- Individual academics or project teams (in the case of a team, the lead researcher must be substantively employed by a APPI partner university).
- Academics who are appointed in adjunct or honorary roles are not eligible to apply as lead researchers but can be named as project team members.
- Students (including Higher Degree Research candidates) are not eligible to apply as lead researcher but can be named as project team members.
Across all policy domains, the Institute highly values First Nations perspectives and is keenly interested in the impact of public policies on First Nations Australians. The Institute therefore particularly welcomes applications from First Nations researchers.
The Institute is interested in supporting early career researchers seeking to make an impact on public policy, including in key leadership roles on project teams. The Institute will seek to award at least one grant to a team led by an early career researcher.
Successful recipients must agree to the following requirements:
- Publication of an APPI Policy Insights Paper: This is an APPI-branded report, of approximately 10-15 pages, which captures the key insights from your research for a policy-focused audience. It must be accessible to a non-academic audience. The report will be signed off by APPI, published on the APPI website and shared with relevant policymakers and other stakeholders. It will be published under a Creative Commons licence. APPI will provide support to grant recipients to develop, edit and proofread their paper, and ensure it reaches relevant policy audiences.
- Participation in research communications: As an applied policy grant aimed at delivering tangible public value, clear and accessible communication of research insights is essential. All grant recipients are required to engage in research communication activities to ensure their findings reach relevant policy audiences. APPI will provide dedicated support for these activities and will host a public event to announce and showcase the selected grant recipients. For further information on possible research communications please see the Applicant Guidelines.
- Maximum project timeframe: The project must be delivered within 12-18 months from the date the grant is awarded (contract signed).
In 2026, the overall funding pool is up to $600,000.
Each grant application must be between $25,000-$100,000.
Grant funding can be used for direct research costs.
For a detailed overview of the eligible project costs that the grant funding can cover, please see the Applicant Guidelines.
Typical grant awards have fallen in the range of $50,000 – $80,000 with only a small number exceeding this range in circumstances where it was clearly justified.
Essential criteria
Relevance to public policy | Applicants must demonstrate the proposed project has clear relevance to a current or emerging public policy challenge facing government(s). |
Positive impact on a policy challenge | Applicants must show the proposed project has strong potential to generate socially beneficial policy research and translation. |
Approach to policymaker engagement | Applicants must demonstrate a clear understanding of how they plan to engage with policymakers and practitioners throughout the project. |
Project feasibility | Applicants must demonstrate the team’s expertise and the project’s robustness (the extent to which the project’s activities and budget support the timely and successful completion of the project). |
Desirable criteria
To view a list of desirable (but non-essential) criteria, please see the Applicant Guidelines.
Applications open: 16 March 2026, 9:00 AM
Applications close: 8 May 2025, 05:00 PM
Applications must be submitted via APPI Apply, our dedicated applicant portal.
The Policy Challenge Grant has a three-stage application process.
- Stage 1 | Expressions of Interest (EOIs): 16 March – 8 May 2026
- Stage 2 | Interviews for longlisted applications: 3 June – 19 June 2026
- Stage 3 | Full application: 29 June – 10 July 2026
You can view and download the EOI questions.
For more details about each application stage, please see the Applicant Guidelines.
The independent APPI Research Advisory Group will review all applications that have progressed through to Stage 3 and will advise APPI’s Executive.
The APPI Board will approve the final allocation of Grant Awards.
Grants will be awarded in late August 2026.
The following documents will be available to download from 16 March 2026:
Applicant Guidelines
EOI Questions
Top tips for submitting a strong application
How to present strong evidence of policymaker interest
Applicant Guidelines 2026
Read our Applicant guidelines for more detailed information about the application process, potential themes and the selection criteria.
Contact the APPI Grants Team
Frequently Asked Questions
Generic questions about the APPI Grants
What is the APPI Policy Challenge Grant program?
The Australian Public Policy Institute (previously the James Martin Institute for Public Policy) established its Policy Challenge Grant in 2022. It is an annual program providing grants to outstanding academics interested in undertaking applied policy research or translating their existing research for a policy context and audience.
The Policy Challenge Grant aims to:
- Tackle the biggest societal challenges in Australia through evidence-informed policy development.
- Foster engagement between academics and policymakers.
- Support improved policy outcomes informed by applied public policy research.
The Grant is unique: the Institute will offer dedicated support to grant recipients to translate their research outputs for a policy audience, and to maximise the impact of their research through targeted communications and engagement.
What topic(s) can my grant application address?
The APPI Policy Challenge Grant focuses on current and emerging policy challenges in Australia. Each year we identify key themes that are a particular priority for governments at the time, and projects must address one of these themes. The 2026 themes are will be be announced in March 2026.
Proposed projects may address more than one of these themes. The Institute highly values First Nations perspectives and is keenly interested in the impact of public policies on First Nations Australians. In that light, the Institute particularly welcomes applications from First Nations researchers. Projects bringing a focus on under-represented minorities in relation to any of these themes will also be of strong interest.
What is the maximum project timeframe under a APPI Grant?
The research conducted under a APPI grant and the required research outputs must be completed within 12-18 months of the grant being awarded (from the date the delivery contract is signed).
What are the requirements or conditions of receiving a grant?
There are three core requirements or conditions for receiving an APPI Grant:
- publication of an APPI Policy Insights Paper,
- a commitment to communicating your insights to policy audiences, and
- completion of the research project within 12-18 months.
Who makes the final decision on grant recipients?
APPI’s Research Advisory Group will review all applications that have progressed through to Stage 3 of the application process and will advise APPI on which applications should be prioritised for funding. The APPI Board approves the final allocation of grant awards.
Questions about funding
What is the total amount of grant funding available?
In 2026, the total amount of grant funding available is AUD 500,000 (excluding GST).
What is the minimum and maximum amount for each grant?
The minimum amount awarded for a single grant is $25,000. The maximum amount awarded for a single grant is $100,000.
Typical grant awards have fallen in the range of $50,000 – $80,000 with only a small number exceeding this range in circumstances where it was clearly justified.
APPI may choose to fund your grant at the requested amount or at a proportional amount.
What costs can the grant cover?
Grant funding can only be used to cover the direct costs of the project. Eligible project costs that can be covered by the grant include: personnel, postdoctoral research associates and research assistants, technicians and laboratory attendants recruited to support the project; access to research and infrastructure facilities and technical workshop services; essential field research; expert third party services; equipment and consumables; dissemination of project research outputs and outreach activities; specialised computer equipment and software; travel costs essential to the project; web hosting and development workshops, survey costs, focus groups and conferences; data science and analysis costs; reasonable essential costs for academics who are carers or who themselves require care, where such costs are directly linked to the execution of grant project activities and these direct costs would not be covered by the home institution.
APPI does not provide grant funding for teaching buy-out, professional copyediting and graphic design costs (APPI uses in-house copyediting and design), and overheads and infrastructure costs are not covered by the grant.
Can I use the grant for teaching buy-out?
Can I seek other funding sources for research conducted under a APPI grant?
Yes. APPI encourages and welcomes applications from researchers who have already secured other funding (or who intend to do so) to conduct their research. Any conditions or requirements attached to other funding sources must not conflict with the requirements and conditions of an APPI grant. You will be asked to provide details of any other existing or proposed funding sources as part of your application.
Are project team salaries an eligible project cost?
The grant does not cover regular, existing salary costs of project team members.
The grant could, however, cover personnel costs for individuals who are hired to work specifically on the project e.g., the cost of a research associate hired to support the project or where a part-time employee increases their working hours to work on the project. Personnel costs should be well justified.
Does GST apply to this grant, and if so, is that included or on top of the $100k limit?
Project budgets should not include GST. (We are aware that in some exceptional cases, arms-length research units or similar may not be exempt from GST; in such cases, GST should be added on top of the project budget amount.)
Could you advise if the funding would cover the cost of external consultancy, hired specifically to support the project with their expertise?
Our applicant guidelines state that grant funding can be used for the direct costs of research, including in relation to personnel (though not existing academic salary costs/teaching buyouts), research associates and expert third-party services. If the funding falls within this scope, it would be permitted. The use of a third-party service should be well justified.
Questions about eligibility
Who can apply for a Policy Challenge Grant?
Individuals or project teams can apply for a Policy Challenge grant. If applying as an individual, you must be substantively employed at one of APPI’s partner universities:
- University of Sydney
- Western Sydney University
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of New South Wales
- Charles Sturt University
- University of Wollongong
- University of Melbourne
If applying as a team, the lead researcher must be substantively employed at one of the partner universities listed above. Beyond the lead researcher, the project team can include members based at other universities as well as other entities such as relevant community organisations or research institutes.
Individuals appointed in adjunct or honorary appointments are not eligible to apply as lead researchers but can be named on a project team.
Students (including Higher Degree Research Students) are not eligible to apply as lead researcher but can be named on a project team.
I am not from an APPI partner university, but my lead researcher is. Can I submit a grant application?
We strongly encourage the lead researcher to submit the EOI as they will be the primary point of contact for the APPI team during the application process.
In the EOI form, you will be asked to provide details of your lead researcher along with team members.
I am an early career researcher. Can I apply?
Yes. APPI encourages applications from projects led by early career researchers as well as project teams where early career researchers play a leadership role. APPI has funded several grant projects led by ECRs in previous rounds.
ECRs are defined as those who have been awarded their last postgraduate degree within the past five years (as at 16 March 2026) or have been awarded their last postgraduate degree together with an allowable period of career interruptions (covering caring responsibilities; disability; disaster management and recovery; limited or no access to facilities and resources; medical conditions; non-research positions, not concurrent with research employment; parental leave; unemployment; primary carer of a dependent child (up to two years per child, inclusive of parental leave) and disruption due to international relocation (up to three months)) that would be commensurate with an award of their last postgraduate degree within the past five years.
I am a PhD student. Can I apply as lead researcher?
No. PhD students (or any other students) cannot apply for a grant as the lead researcher. However, students can be included as team members.
Can adjunct, conjoint or honorary appointments apply as lead researcher?
No. Lead researchers must be substantively employed at one of APPI’s partner universities. Adjunct, conjoint or honorary appointments could be included in a project team.
Can professional staff apply for a APPI Policy Challenge Grant?
Our main requirements are:
- The lead researcher must hold substantive employment at one of APP’s partner universities.
- A grant application could be made by a professional services staff member applying as an individual or as the team leader – however, this would need to be carefully considered given the aims of the grant and the essential criteria.
- Professional services staff can be listed as team members in a team led by an academic/ researcher.
Can we apply in partnership with a not-for-profit organisation?
Yes. APPI has had positive experiences previously where grant applicants have partnered with or closely collaborated with not-for-profits (NFPs). We encourage this sort of partnership or collaboration, if it is likely to increase the policy impact of the proposed research. You could name an individual from the NFP as a project team member or simply commit to working closely with that NFP during the project. The lead researcher must be from one of APPI’s partner universities.
Miscellaneous
What advice is available to help me submit a strong application?
APPI has developed several resources to support applicants. These include:
- Applicant Guidelines
- Top tips for submitting a strong application
- How to present strong evidence of policymaker interest
Find out more about our information webinar.
The assessment panel is comprised of experts from across universities, government, and independent organisations, but may not have expertise in your specific research area. As such ensure that your application is accessible to audiences (avoid jargon and technical language) and clearly explain how your research will have impact on a significant public policy challenge facing Australia.
What additional research outputs can I produce using the research conducted under a APPI grant?
Any academic outputs are at the discretion of the grant recipient(s) and are not a core requirement of the APPI grant. (Please refer to the question above for information on the grant’s core requirements or conditions). However, additional research outputs must be published after the APPI Policy Insights Paper.
How will any data and information I provide as part of my application be stored? What will happen to my data and information after the grant application process is completed?
As a condition of applying for a grant, you agree that APPI can retain the information you supply. APPI will not share any information you supply as part of the grant application with any third parties without your permission (except third parties that are part of the application assessment process).
On the EOI form, you will also be asked if you consent to APPI sharing high-level details of your application with other potential funders such as philanthropists and government agencies.
All information and data supplied is stored with SurveyMonkey. Please refer to the SurveyMonkey Privacy Notice for detailed information.
I don’t have any existing relationships with NSW government policymakers. Can I still apply for this grant?
Yes. We encourage researchers without existing relationships to apply. APPI will work with successful grant recipients to support them to establish relevant connections during their research and in communicating their insights. It is crucial, however, that applicants demonstrate a clear commitment and feasible approach to engaging actively with policymakers in their project.
APPI’s focus on this is reflected throughout the application process, including in the selection criteria. Applicants will be asked to provide evidence of policymaker interest in their proposed project. This could include a letter of support from government, recommendations from a recent parliamentary inquiry or other relevant evidence to demonstrate interest in the research theme. Applicants can choose to provide evidence in the way that best supports their application. For more advice see APPI’s guide on how to present strong evidence of policymaker interest.
I don’t have any previous experience communicating my research to a public policy audience. Can I still apply?
Yes. We encourage you to apply if your project tackles a policy challenge under one or more of the three identified themes for 2026.
APPI will support grant recipients to translate their insights to relevant policy audiences, through a variety of communications and engagement channels. Refer to the Applicant Guidelines for further details on the types of communications activities and the support that APPI will provide.
What is APPI?
The Institute is a unique joint-venture between government and a coalition of universities dedicated to public benefit research. The Institute provides timely, pragmatic and useful advice to policymakers by leveraging existing public investment in research and expertise.
APPI is an independent, non-partisan policy institute with charitable status.
- University of Sydney
- Western Sydney University
- University of Technology Sydney
- University of New South Wales
- Charles Sturt University
- University of Wollongong
- University of Melbourne.