2026 Ageing Well Research Grant

Welcome to the Australian General Practice Research Foundation's online grants application service, powered by SmartyGrants. 

Thank you for your interest in our 2026 Ageing Well Research Grant, supported by The Wicking Trust and the Australian General Practice Research Foundation. 

The J.O. and J.R. Wicking Trust is one of Australia’s most significant philanthropic trusts dedicated to improving the quality of life and death for older people. Established in 2002 by John and Janet Wicking and managed by Equity Trustees, the Trust funds programs, research and community initiatives that support ageing well, build death literacy, strengthen aged and end-of-life care, and empower communities to support people through dying and grief.

Grant amount: One grant valued at $150,000 (excluding GST), comprising funding for:

• an initial research grant, followed by
• a research translation grant to support the translation of the research findings into practical knowledge, tools, or interventions that can be readily applied in Australian general practice.  

An indicative allocation of $100,000 for the initial research grant and $50,000 for the research translation grant is anticipated. However, applicants may propose a different allocation where this is better suited to their research and translation approach and should outline and justify their proposed split. 

The research translation grant will be awarded to the successful research grant recipient, subject to satisfactory progress and completion of the initial research phase. 

Funding period: 

The research grant will support an 18-month research phase. 
The research translation grant will support a separate 12-month translation/implementation phase. 

Focus areas:

• Option 1: Use & implementation of RACGP’s Silver Book guidelines in general practice (behavioural use, outcomes/impact, evidence–practice gaps).  

• Option 2: Aged & end-of-life care in general practice (technology, multidisciplinary care models, advance care planning, nonpharmacological interventions).

Objective:
This grant supports high-quality, GP-led research on ageing, aged care and end-of-life care delivered through general practice across both community and residential aged care settings. Research is expected to be designed with a vision to translate findings into practical outputs that can be shared with, and implemented in Australian general practice. In alignment with The Wicking Trust’s Ageing Well priorities, the grant focuses on promoting dignity, autonomy and quality of life for older Australians, strengthening GP-led end-of-life care, and improving the experience of ageing and dying in the place people call home. 

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Expressions of interest (EOIs) open on Monday, 23 March 2026 at 9:00am (AEST) and close on Tuesday 21 April 2026 at 9:00am (AEST).

EOIs will be assessed against the published selection criteria. Only applicants whose EOIs are assessed as competitive and aligned with the objectives of the grant will be invited to submit a full application. 

Full applications will open by invitation on Monday 09 June at 9:00am (AEST) and close Monday 06 July 2026 at 9:00am (AEST).

The RACGP reserves the right to amend or withdraw this grant program at any stage prior to inviting full applications. In such circumstances, the RACGP will not be liable for any costs, expenses, or commitments incurred by applicants in relation to this EOI.  

To be eligible for the Ageing Well Research Grant, the principal investigator must:

• Be a general practitioner or general practice registrar, AND
• Have an active leadership role in the project and sufficient experience in leading and conducting research to ensure its successful completion.

We encourage applicants to consider including early career researchers, within a more experienced team, to continue to build general practice research capacity.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed against the following criteria:

• Likelihood that the project will meet the full selection criteria (outlined below) (60%)
• Alignment with the objectives and focus areas of the grant (40%)

Selection criteria against which full applications (by invitation only) will be assessed:

• Scientific quality of the proposed research project (30%)
  The project should demonstrate strong scientific foundations, including a clear research question, robust methodology, and sound approach to data collection and analysis, with appropriate consideration of the populations and contexts relevant to general practice.
  
  
• Likelihood for translation and impact in general practice services (30%)
  The project should showcase potential for practical, meaningful, and scalable outcomes that improve patient care and/or healthcare systems, including consideration of patient, carer, or community needs and experiences where relevant. 
  
  
• Innovation and originality of the project (15%)
  The project should demonstrate originality in its approach, incorporating innovative ideas to address identified unmet needs or gaps in general practice research.
  
  
• Feasibility of the project (15%)
  The project must be realistic and achievable within the given timeline, budget, and resources, supported by a clear research plan and the necessary expertise and support to ensure successful completion.
  
  
• Contribution to building research capacity in general practice services (10%)
  The project should enhance research capacity within general practice services, whether through skill development, training, fostering collaborations, or expanding networks.

You may begin anywhere in this application form. Please ensure you save as you go. If you need more help using this form, download the Help Guide for Applicants or check out Applicant Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's).

On every screen (page of the form) you will find a Form Navigation contents box, this links directly to every page of the application. Click the link to jump directly to the page you want. You can also click 'next page' or 'previous page' on the top or bottom of each page to move forward or backward through the application.

If you wish to leave a partially completed application, press 'save' and log out. When you log back in and click on the 'My Submissions' link at the top of the screen, you will find a list of any applications you have started or submitted. You can reopen your draft application and start where you left off. You can also download any application, whether draft or completed, as a PDF. Click on the 'Download' button located at the bottom of the last page of the application form.

You will find a Review and Submit button at the bottom of the Navigation Panel. You need to review your application before you can submit it, by clicking on 'Submit' at the top of the screen or on the navigation panel. You will not be able to submit your application until all the compulsory questions are completed.

Once you have submitted your application, no further editing or uploading of support materials is possible. You will receive an automated confirmation email with a copy of your submitted application attached. This will be sent to the email you used to register.

If you do not receive a confirmation of submission email then you should presume that your submission has NOT been submitted.

For queries about the guidelines, deadlines, or questions in the form, please contact us on 03 8699 0335 during business hours or email foundation@racgp.org.au and quote your application number.