Latest Disability Grants

Looking for disability grants? You're in the right place.

People with disability across Australia — and the organisations, researchers, and communities that support them — deserve access to funding that removes barriers, builds inclusion, and champions full participation in every area of life. Whether you're an individual seeking support for education or employment, a young person recovering from serious illness or injury, an employer looking to make your workplace more accessible, or a researcher working to improve outcomes for people with disability, there are grants available to help you move forward.

Below are current grant opportunities specifically designed for disability-focused initiatives and eligible applicants. These represent just a small selection of the many disability grants currently available through The Grants Hub's Grants Directory.

Current Disability Grant Opportunities

Frank Hall-Bentick Education Fund

Provider: Frank Hall-Bentick Education Fund
Amount: Up to $2,500
Applications close: 30 June 2026 | 31 December 2026
Location: National

Assists Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with disability to participate in both formal and informal education programs through small financial grants distributed every six months.

What the fund supports:

• Formal education (courses, qualifications, higher education)
• Informal learning and skills development
• Education that has been disrupted or delayed due to disability, poverty, or isolation
• People with disability of any age living in Australia

Eligibility highlights:

• Must have a disability
• Must be living in Australia
• Open to individuals of any age
• Supports both commencing and continuing learners

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

MRFF – Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative 2026 Consumer-Led Research Grant

Provider: National Health & Medical Research Council
Amount: Up to $2,500,000
Applications close: 5 August 2026
Location: National

Funds consumer-partnered medical research projects that pilot, develop or scale innovative approaches to improve self-care, quality of life and survivorship outcomes for people with cancer, chronic physical conditions or mental health challenges.

Two funding streams:

• Stream 1 – Incubator: Identify health priorities, develop new approaches and conduct pilot studies that are co-led and co-designed with consumers, in partnership with health services.
• Stream 2 – Targeted Call for Research: Develop and test scalable approaches, in partnership with consumers, that enable self-care or improve quality of life. Focus topics include cancer (Topic A), long-term physical conditions (Topic B), and mental health (Topic C).

Eligibility highlights:

• Applications only accepted from approved MRFF Eligible Organisations
• Research must be co-designed with consumers from the outset
• Must address objectives of the Preventive and Public Health Research Initiative

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

Gifted Children's Grants – Gifted Students Grants

Provider: Mensa Australia
Amount: Unspecified
Applications close: 30 September 2026
Location: National

Funds gifted students living in Australia to support advanced study, with no age or family residence restrictions. Gifted students who are Mensa members or have managed to overcome a disability and still succeed in their studies are especially encouraged to apply.

Grants may be used for:

• Special tuition fees
• Travel and accommodation expenses
• Equipment, books, study materials, musical instruments, computers, and software
• Any specific purpose directly facilitating advanced studies

Who can apply:

• Any gifted student living in Australia
• Applications may be made by the child personally, or by a parent, teacher, guardian, mentor, or any interested person on the child's behalf

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Charlie Bell Scholarship

Provider: Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia
Amount: Up to $5,000
Applications close: 30 November 2026
Location: National

Provides one-off grants to young people aged 15–20 who have experienced a serious illness or injury, helping them get their education or career back on track.

Funds can be used for:

• University fees
• Apprenticeship tools
• Books and study supplies
• Any education or career-related expenses

Eligibility highlights:

• Aged 15–20 years (parental/guardian permission required if under 18)
• Must have been treated at a hospital for a serious illness or injury
• Must be eligible to attend a tertiary or vocational institution (university, college, or TAFE)

Application requirements:

• Educational history and relevant medical history
• Outline of study aims, career goals, personal achievements, and community involvement
• Personal reference and education/employer reference

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Supporting Living Organ Donors Program

Provider: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
Amount: Unspecified
Applications close: 30 April 2030
Location: National

Aims to ensure that time off work and out-of-pocket travel and accommodation expenses are not a barrier for individuals considering living organ donation. The program provides reimbursement of paid leave and out-of-pocket expenses associated with donating a kidney or partial liver.

What the program covers:

• Reimbursement of paid leave taken for work-up testing and recovery
• Out-of-pocket travel and accommodation expenses for medical appointments
• Support for both employed individuals and the self-employed

Eligibility highlights:

• Australian resident with a valid Medicare card, aged 18 or older
• Have donated a kidney or partial liver, or undergone work-up testing
• Donating in Australia
• For leave reimbursement: employed by a registered Australian business (employer must participate) or self-employed with an active ABN

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Employment Assistance Fund (EAF)

Provider: Australian Government
Amount: Unspecified
Applications close: Always Open
Location: National

Provides financial help to eligible people with disability and mental health conditions — and their employers — to purchase work-related modifications, equipment, Auslan services, and workplace support.

What the EAF can fund:

• Physical workplace adjustments
• Modifications to work vehicles
• Special equipment and information/communication devices
• Auslan interpreting services
• Specialist services for employees with specific learning disorders or mental health conditions
• Disability awareness and mental health first aid training for the workplace

Eligibility highlights:

• Australian resident currently working at least 8 hours per week in a job expected to last 13+ weeks
• Self-employed people working 8+ hours per week at minimum wage equivalent
• Ongoing disability lasting, or expected to last, at least two years that limits ability to work
• A free workplace assessment is available to identify the best modifications for your needs

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

Disability Awesome Foundation Chapter

Provider: The Awesome Foundation
Amount: $1,000
Applications close: Always Open (applications accepted 1st–10th of each month)
Location: National and International

Funds awesome ideas focused on disability through monthly micro-grants with no strings attached. The Disability Chapter was launched in 2017 and is run by trustees who are people with disability — supporting ideas and projects within the disability community.

How it works:

• Submit your application between the 1st and 10th of the month
• Trustees review applications and select one winner per month
• The $1,000 grant is awarded with no conditions attached
• Open to individuals, community groups, sporting clubs, education providers, and more

Note: Applications outside the 1st–10th window will not be considered. Requests to fund individual medical needs, rent, utilities, or home repairs are ineligible.

Save to Favourites/Calendar | Apply Now

Grant Writing Tips for Success

1. Centre Lived Experience in Your Application

Funders in the disability space consistently prioritise genuine co-design and the involvement of people with disability. Don't just mention lived experience as a tick-box — show how people with disability have shaped the project from the beginning, including in planning, decision-making, and leadership.

2. Be Specific About the Barriers You're Addressing

Clearly articulate the specific barriers your project removes or reduces. Whether it's physical access, economic participation, educational opportunity, or community inclusion, name the barrier and explain how your initiative directly responds to it.

3. Demonstrate Clear Outcomes and Impact

Use data, case studies, or evidence to show the scale of need and the difference your project will make. Be specific about who will benefit, how many people will be reached, and what will change as a result of funding.

4. Present a Realistic and Detailed Budget

Ensure your budget reflects the true cost of delivering accessible, high-quality programs. Include any additional costs associated with accessibility — such as Auslan interpreting, accessible venues, or transport support — as these are legitimate and fundable expenses, not extras.

5. Highlight Partnerships and Cross-Sector Collaboration

Many disability grants value projects that bring together disability organisations, researchers, health services, government, and community groups. Strong partnerships signal credibility and increase your project's reach and sustainability.

6. Plan for Long-Term Accessibility and Sustainability

Outline how your initiative will continue to create access and inclusion beyond the grant period. Funders want to see that their investment creates lasting structural change, not just short-term solutions.

Finding More Opportunities

Remember that many general community, health, sport, and research grants also welcome disability-focused applications, even when not explicitly stated. Our Grants Directory contains hundreds of opportunities that could help fund your work across a wide range of sectors and focus areas.

When searching for grants, consider looking beyond disability-specific funding to include:

• Community development grants
• Health and wellbeing funding
• Sports and recreation grants
• Education and training scholarships
• Workforce inclusion and employment programs
• Indigenous community grants (which often include disability components)
• Research and innovation funding
• Technology and digital inclusion grants

Ready to Get Started?

Visit The Grants Hub today to access our complete Grants Directory and take your disability inclusion initiatives to the next level. Our directory is updated daily with new opportunities, and you can filter by location, sector, funding amount, and application deadlines to find the perfect match for your project.

Whether you're an individual with disability seeking support for education, employment or recovery; an organisation delivering programs that champion inclusion; or a researcher working to improve outcomes for the disability community, there are funding options available to support your goals. The key is knowing where to look and how to present your case effectively.

Need help with your application? Consider working with a professional grant writer through our Find a Grant Writer service, or explore our Grant Resources for tips, templates, and guidance on creating compelling applications.