Melbourne Disability Institute – 2023 Seed Funding Round Opening Soon

Applications open: Monday 12 June at 9am
Applications close:  Friday 21 July at 5pm

Please contact mgse-grants@unimelb.edu.au if you wish to apply

The Melbourne Disability Institute (MDI) is focused on building the evidence base to address the complex problems and systemic barriers facing people with disability in this country. MDI works to bring together people with disability, families, and representative organisations with researchers to co-produce research to improve social and economic outcomes, inclusion and well-being of people with disability. Our focus is on research that has real world impact, transforming disability policy, programs and practice.

Each year MDI run a seed funding round open to researchers from across the University of Melbourne. The funding is aimed at small to medium sized projects at the discovery or pilot end of research. MDI are looking for interdisciplinary projects that are driven by the priorities of people with disability, likely to have practical outcomes, involve strong partnerships and have a pathway to further research and funding.

MDI will provide up to $30,000 to projects that meet these criteria. Funding above this amount will be granted in exceptional circumstances. MDI’s focus again this year is on funding and facilitating projects that are driven by and with people with disability and their families. This means that projects must address a topic of importance to people with disability and their families, and demonstrate how people with disability and/or their families will be involved in every aspect of the research. This includes co-designing research questions and building research teams which include people with disability and/or their representative organisations.

Projects must commence before the end of the 2023 calendar year and must be complete by December 2024.

MDI are looking for Projects that are:

  • driven by the priorities of people with disability,
  • have practical outcomes,
  • involve strong partnerships,
  • have a pathway to further research and funding.

Priority will be given to projects with a focus on working with Indigenous or culturally and linguistically diverse people with disability, or people with an intellectual disability.

Application Process

You can apply for seed funding using the application form, which can be found at the following link https://go.unimelb.edu.au/3r8s.