2026 Health Services Research in General Practice 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 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 amount: One grant valued at $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.

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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 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.

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.