2026 Health Services Research in General Practice Grant

Submissions are now being accepted. Submissions close at 9:00AM 21 April 2026 (AEST).

IMPORTANT: Please read information below to assist you in completing your application online.

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

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

Thank you for your interest in our Health Services Research in General Practice Grant, supported by the HCF Research Foundation and the Australian General Practice Research Foundation.

The HCF Research Foundation is a charitable trust committed to advancing health services research for the benefit of all Australians. Since 2012, the HCF Research Foundation has partnered with the Australian General Practice Research Foundation to fund research that addresses critical health services challenges in general practice. 

Together, we have invested over $1.4 million in health services research in general practice, driving innovation and evidence-based improvements in Australian primary healthcare.

Grant details

Grant amount: One grant of $120,000 (excluding GST)

Funding period: 24 months

Focus area: Health services issues of relevance to general practice, focusing on one or more of the following themes:

  • Impact of different models of care
  • Access to care
  • Effectiveness of care
  • Quality of care
  • Efficiency of care
  • Cost of care

Objective: This grant aims to support an innovative health services research project with strong potential for translation and broad-scale implementation.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Health Services Research in General Practice 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.

Selection criteria

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, whether through skill development, training, fostering collaborations, or expanding networks.

Application process

Expression of interest (EOIs) open Monday 23 March 2026 at 9:00am (AEST) and close 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). 
 

Need more information?

For more information, please refer to our Information for Applicants website. For any inquiries, feel free to contact us at foundation@racgp.org.au. 

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

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land and sea in which we live and work, we recognise their continuing connection to land, sea and culture and pay our respects to Elders past, present and future.