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HCF Research Foundation Opens 2026 Health Services Research Grants

HCF

Key Facts:

• HCF Research Foundation opens 2026 Health Services Research Grants, focusing on mental health and equitable care improvements in Australian healthcare
• Priority areas include innovative mental health models for acute care and research addressing gender bias in healthcare services
• Two-stage application process begins with expressions of interest, closing 13 May 2026, with successful projects funded from January 2027
• The Foundation has invested $37.9 million in over 165 projects since 2000, focusing on practical, implementable healthcare improvements
• Previous 2025 grants round awarded almost $1.5 million across four projects targeting workforce sustainability, hospital presentations, and pain management

THURSDAY, 9 APRIL 2026: The HCF Research Foundation, Australia’s leading non‑government funder of health services research, has opened expressions of interest for its 2026 Health Services Research Grants, calling on researchers to help improve how Australians access and experience healthcare – particularly in mental health and equitable care.

The program supports research that delivers practical, real‑world improvements to healthcare delivery, with successful projects funded from 1 January 2027.

This year’s priority areas include innovative mental health models that expand timely, high‑quality support for people experiencing acute need, and research to identify and address gender bias in healthcare services – both areas with direct implications for patient safety, access and outcomes.

“Health services research is where evidence meets real life,” said Adjunct Professor Karen Price, Chair of the HCF Research Foundation. “We support projects that can be applied in practice – research that improves fairness in care, strengthens access to support, and helps people get the right care at the right time, in the right setting.”

The 2026 grants round will involve a two‑stage application process, beginning with an expression of interest, to ensure funding is directed toward projects with strong potential for impact, translation and scale.

Head of the HCF Research Foundation, Dr Christopher Pettigrew, said the focus remains firmly on research that can drive measurable change. “We’re looking for work that can be implemented, scaled or inform policy and service design,” he said. “That’s how research delivers real value – for patients, clinicians and the health system as a whole.”

Backed by Australia’s largest not‑for‑profit health fund, the HCF Research Foundation funds independent health services research that bridges the gap between evidence and practice, benefiting HCF members and all Australians. Since 2000, the Foundation has committed more than $37.9 million to over 165 projects aimed at strengthening how healthcare is delivered.

The call follows the announcement of outcomes from the HCF Research Foundation’s 2025 Health Services Research Grants round, which awarded almost $1.5 million across four projects focused on workforce sustainability, reducing avoidable hospital and emergency department presentations, and improving pain management and opioid safety. Together, the projects reflect the Foundation’s focus on research that can be implemented in real settings and scaled to improve patient outcomes and system performance.

More information, including eligibility criteria and application details, is available at:
https://www.hcf.com.au/about-us/hcf-foundation/hcf-foundation-applications

Expressions of interest close at 5pm on Wednesday 13 May 2026 (AEST).

ENDS

About us:

ABOUT THE HCF RESEARCH FOUNDATION
The HCF Research Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for HCF members and all Australians by providing funding and support to encourage health services research for the benefit of all. Now in its 25th year, the HCF Research Foundation (the Foundation) is uniquely focused on supporting health services research, an area of research that does not receive significant fundings from other sources. The Foundation’s program aims to address issues of scale and significance in healthcare and to make a tangible impact in the delivery of health services for our members and all Australians. To learn more about the Foundation go to hcf.com.au/about-us/hcf-foundation

 

ABOUT HCF

HCF, Australia’s largest not-for-profit health fund protecting Australians since 1932, covers more than 2 million members with health and life¹ insurance, travel², pet³, home⁴ and car⁵ insurance. HCF has been awarded Outstanding Value Health Insurance by Canstar ten years in a row from 2016-2025. On average over the last 10 years, HCF has paid out more cents in every dollar in premiums to members as benefits than the industry average^*. To learn more about HCF go to hcf.com.au/about-us

^* 88.7% compared to 84.4% across the industry. Calculated based on the average of the past 10 years, sourced from APRA Statistics: Operations of Private Health Insurers Annual Report data 2015–24 and Quarterly Private Health Insurance Statistics Jul 2024–Jun 2025.

¹ Issued by HCF Life. Consider the PDS and TMD at hcf.com.au/lifeinfo

² HCF Travel Insurance is issued by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited. Please consider the PDS at hcf.com.au/travel and TMD at allianzpartners.com.au/policies before deciding whether to buy the product.

³ HCF Pet Insurance is issued by PetSure (Australia) Pty Ltd, except for policies entered into before 21 March 2024 and subsequent renewals of those policies, which are issued by The Hollard Insurance Company Pty Ltd. Consider the PDS and TMD at hcf.com.au/petinsurance before deciding if the product is right for you.

⁴ Issued by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited. Consider the PDS at hcf.com.au/insurance/home and TMD which is available by calling 1300 657 046 before deciding if the product is right for you.

⁵ Issued by Allianz Australia Insurance Limited. Consider the PDS at hcf.com.au/insurance/car and TMD which is available by calling 1300 657 046 before deciding if the product is right for you.

 

Contact details:

Joni Thomes 0475 576 738 or [email protected]