Research Grants Program

Speech Pathology Australia (the Association), the national peak body for speech pathologists working in Australia, is committed to promoting and funding high quality research into all aspects of speech pathology practice.

The Research Grants Program aims to support the growth of research within the speech pathology profession, build the evidence base, enhance speech pathologists’ practice, and benefit people with communication and swallowing needs.

Grants are offered in four categories. Details of all research grants are provided below. Further information about the Association's research grants can be found in the associated policy document 13.01 Research Grants.

Submission of research grant applications occurs via an online process. Identifying information should be entered online, and details of the research project (the de-identified Research Plan) must be attached as a Word document.

Relevant documentation, including guidelines and templates are available below, under the corresponding grant category headings. Please ensure you use the provided research plan templates for your submission otherwise your application will not be considered for award. Please read the guidelines carefully and ensure you adhere to page limits and include only eligible budget items.

Applicants may apply for a grant in more than one category per grant round but may only apply once in each category per calendar year. An individual may be engaged in multiple grants/projects at one time but can only hold the position of lead researcher (‘Applicant’ or ‘Partner’) on one Association Research Grant at any one time.

Applications for Research Grants 2025

Below are the specific opening and closing dates

  • Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant: Close 04/04/25
  • Practitioner- Researcher Partnership Grant: Close 04/04/25
  • New Researcher Grant: Close 25/07/2025
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Grant: Close 25/07/2025

Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant

The Nadia Verrall Memorial Research Grant offers $10,000 biannually to support research focused on children’s communication needs.

The Grant is coordinated by Speech Pathology Australia in memory of Nadia Verrall, a paediatric speech pathologist who practised in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Grant Purpose

The grant aims to enhance the evidence base surrounding child communication support needs and improve the practice of speech pathologists working with children and their families/carers.

Eligibility Criteria
  • The applicant must be a current Certified Practising member of Speech Pathology Australia.
  • The research project must be in areas relating to communication needs in children and must be relevant to the Strategic Plan of the Association.
  • The outcomes of the research must enhance the practice of speech pathologists working with children with communication needs and their families.
  • The applicant must demonstrate their capability to undertake the project, including a statement of how they will obtain research support and expertise needed to conduct and complete the project.
Research Focus

Proposals should address communication support needs in children and align to the Speech Pathology Australia Strategic Plan.

Project Capability

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to undertake the project by including a statement detailing how they will secure the necessary research support and expertise to successfully conduct and complete the project.

Application Process

For detailed information on eligibility and requirements, please refer to the documents below.

To apply, complete the online form via the submission portal (when available) and upload your completed research plan and CV.

Online Application Information Fields

Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant

Each year, one Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant is available, valued up to $36,000.

Speech Pathology Australia recognises the importance of enhancing research capacity within the workplace by offering funding opportunities for practitioner-researcher teams. The grant supports collaborative projects that involves a team consisting of practitioner(s) and researcher(s) working in partnership to address areas contributing to the evidence base, benefiting speech pathologists who work with individuals and communities facing communication and/or swallowing needs, as well as the service users themselves. Research questions may stem from professional practice or extend existing studies into practical contexts to enhance external validity.

Eligibility Criteria

The research team must include, at least one practitioner and one experienced researcher.

  • Practitioner Partner:
    • May be employed in public or private practice
    • Must not hold a higher degree by research qualifications (e.g., Masters, PhD), and must not be enrolled in a higher degree by research (e.g., Masters or PhD) for the duration of the project.
  • Researcher Partner:
    • Must hold a PhD awarded at least four years prior to the date of application and demonstrate expertise in the relevant area of research.
    • Can be employed in an academic position or within public or private practice and must have access to a Human Research Ethics Committee.

Both the practitioner and the researcher partner must be Certified Practising members of Speech Pathology Australia. Additional team members are not required to be members.

Research Focus

Proposals must address topics related to communication and/or swallowing and align with the Speech Pathology Australia Strategic Plan.

Collaboration and Project Management

Applicants must demonstrate their ability to collaborate effectively on the project, including a statement detailing how responsibilities will be shared among team members.

The application should outline the team’s capability to execute the project, including how researchers will obtain necessary research support and cultural expertise, if applicable.

Practitioner Experience

The practitioner partner is not required to have previous publications or conference presentations to be eligible for this grant. However, they may include their relevant experience, such training or providing feedback on quality assurance projects, to demonstrate their capacity to share and disseminate research findings.

Application Process

For further details on eligibility and requirements, please refer to the documents below.

To submit an application, complete the online form via the submission portal (when available) and upload your completed research plan and CV.

Online Application Information Fields

New Researcher Grant

Speech Pathology Australia offers two annual grants, each valued up to $18,000, designed to support members who are new to the research process. 

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible applicants are speech pathologists without formal research training, those enrolled in a Higher Degree by research program (e.g., Masters or PhD), and those who were awarded a postgraduate research degree (e.g., Masters or PhD) in the two years prior to applying for the grant.

All applicants must be current Certified Practising members of Speech Pathology Australia.

Research Focus

Proposals must address topics related to communication and/or swallowing and align with the Speech Pathology Australia Strategic Plan.

Project Capability

All applicants must demonstrate their ability to undertake the project, including a statement outlining how they will obtain any research support and expertise needed.

Application Process

For detailed information on eligibility criteria and requirements, please refer to the documents below.

To apply, complete the online form via the submission portal (when available) and upload your completed research plan and CV.


Online Application Information Fields

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Grant

One grant valued at up to $18,000 will be offered within this category each year.

This grant reflects Speech Pathology Australia’s commitment to Reconciliation and aims to generate evidence to support members in developing culturally responsive, evidence-based services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. It also provides an opportunity for collaborative research in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities, encompassing all stages from project design to dissemination of findings.

Grant Objectives

This grant is intended for projects where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities play a central role from the initial design through to dissemination of outcomes. All projects must be completed within a two-year time frame.

Eligibility Criteria

The grant is open for researchers, communities and practitioners undertaking projects in communication and/or swallowing that are relevant to and in partnership with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples within their local contexts.

Proposals must:

Community Involvement

A strong involvement of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the design and implementation of the research project is essential. At least one Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander researcher will undertake a lead research role; this individual does not need to be a member of Speech Pathology Australia, although Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander applicants are strongly encouraged to apply. More than one lead researcher may be included.

A clear statement outlining the roles and responsibilities of all team members is required, demonstrating how the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership will be prioritised throughout the research process.

Project Capability

Applications must showcase the team’s capability to undertake the project, including a statement of how researchers will obtain the necessary research support and cultural expertise to successfully conduct and complete the project.

Application Process

To submit an application, complete the online form via the submission portal (when available) and upload your completed research plan and CV.


Online Application Information Fields

The Review Process

Applications are reviewed by a panel/pool of suitably experienced members and/or staff of Speech Pathology Australia. The review panel for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Grant will include members/staff of Speech Pathology Australia with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, and/or experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

All applications are reviewed and rated using weighted review criteria. This results in numerical reviewer scores and a final score which is the average of the reviewer ratings. In cases where scores are close or markedly different, additional reviews and feedback may be sought. Reviewers also provide comments on the application.

The scoring criteria used to review applications within the different grant categories can be accessed via the following links:

The decision regarding award of grants involves consideration of scores and reviewer comments. The following factors may also be considered in decision-making and prioritisation of applications for award, including in instances where scores are close:

  1. Alignment to the current Speech Pathology Australia Strategic Plan
  2. Impact/significance of contribution to the evidence base, speech pathology practice, and service users or other stakeholders
  3. Consumer/service user or stakeholder involvement and/or consultation
  4. Potential for capacity building of practitioners (for Practitioner-Researcher Partnership Grant category)
  5. Originality of the research (known duplicates of research previously or currently being funded through the Speech Pathology Australia Research Grant Scheme will not be funded)
  6. Research projects with no or limited alternative funding opportunities
  7. Applicants are of good standing with Speech Pathology Australia (determined in consultation with the Manager Ethics and Professional Issues, or delegate).

Further information can be found in the relevant policy 13.01 Research Grants.

Research Grant Reports

Grant recipients are required to provide two reports to Speech Pathology Australia using the provided templates:

  1. An interim report is required within 12 months of Grant Agreement execution.

    Interim Report Template
     
  2. A final report detailing the outcomes of the project must be submitted to Speech Pathology Australia no later than 2 years from the date of Grant Agreement execution (unless a formal extension has previously been approved by Speech Pathology Australia). This report must include a summary that is suitable for publication in National eNews.

    Final Report Template

Completed templates should be submitted in Word doc format to the Senior Advisor, EBP and Research [email protected]