Policy Challenge Grants
The Policy Challenge Grant program supports applied public policy research to tackle key challenges and foster collaboration between academics and policymakers.
About the program
The Policy Challenge Grant program is a prestigious annual award to support applied public policy research for the public good.
With the aim of tackling the greatest public policy challenges facing New South Wales and wider Australia, grants will be awarded to outstanding academics undertaking applied policy research, or translating existing research for a policy audience.
Successful projects will generate new insights, foster engagement between academics, policymakers and other stakeholders, including local communities, and support improved policy outcomes.
The Policy Challenge Grant program is unique: the Institute offers 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.
The 2025 grant round is open from 12 March – 2 May 2025. Click here to learn more about eligibility, the application process, grant recipient requirements and selection criteria.
The program in numbers
Projects we support
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Alfredo Paloyo (University of Wollongong) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr Angela Smith and Dr Jenna Condie (Western Sydney University) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Fiona Allison (University of Technology Sydney) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr Simon Wright (Charles Sturt University) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Amanda Tattersall (University of Sydney) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr Ehsan Noroozinejad (Western Sydney University) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Professor Louise Crabtree-Hayes (Western Sydney University) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Professor Scott Eacott (University of New South Wales) | 2024 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Caitlin McGee and Gordon Noble (University of Technology Sydney) | 2024- Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr James Deehan (Charles Sturt University) | 2023 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Professor Srinath Perera (Western Sydney University) | 2023 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Professor Amelia Thorpe (University of New South Wales) | 2023 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Professor Kalervo Gulson (University of Sydney) | 2023 - present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr Mitchell Gibbs (University of Sydney) | 2023 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Professor Heidi Norman (University of New South Wales) | 2023 - Present
Policy Challenge Grants
Lead researcher: Associate Professor Ghena Krayem (University of Sydney) | 2022 - Present
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Prof Amy Conley Wright (University of Sydney) | 2022 - Present
Completed projects
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Associate Prof Margot Rawsthorne (University of Sydney) | 2022-2025
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Associate Prof Ann Dadich (Western Sydney University) | 2022 - 2025
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Dr Thomas Longden (Western Sydney University) | 2023 - 2024
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Prof Rae Cooper AO (University of Sydney) | 2022 - 2024
Policy Challenge Grant
Lead researcher: Professor Edward Santow (University of Technology Sydney) | 2022-2024
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