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COMMISSIONED RESEARCH PROJECT 

APPLY NOW: Improving transitions to careers for young people with disability

Applications are now open for the NDRP's first Commissioned Research Project. This project will focus on improving the transition of young people with disability from education and training into employment.

On this page:​

​​Key information

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  • Applications open: 13 October 2025​

  • Applications close: 21 November 2025, 5.00 PM AEDT​

  • Funding decisions: Early February 2026​

  • Total opportunities: 3 funding opportunities

  • Funding available: Up to $190,000 per opportunity​

  • Project duration: 12 months​​

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This activity received grant funding from the Australian Government as an initiative under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021-2031. 

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The NDRP commissioned research model aims to involve people with disability from beginning to end of the process: from setting research priorities to actively participating in research.  

The research focus

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We're seeking highly experienced research teams to explore the systems and organisational factors that affect:

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  • Young NDIS participants' ability to make genuine, informed choices about career support

  • Service providers' capacity to deliver best practice career transition support.​

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This research will focus on creating systemic change, not trialling specific interventions.


How this project was shaped

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This research topic was developed through extensive community engagement, including:

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  • Consultation with Disability Representative Organisations

  • Review of existing lived experience evidence

  • Roundtable discussions with government, researchers, and community representatives.

 

Find out more about the consultation process. â€‹â€‹

Three opportunities

 

We will fund three research teams. Each opportunity focuses on a different group of young NDIS participants (aged 15–25) who receive employment assistance supports:​ 

OPPORTUNITY 1: Broad focus. Covers all population groups who receive support (noting that Autistic young people and young people with intellectual disability are two primary recipient groups).

OPPORTUNITY 2: First Nations focus. Specifically focuses on younger Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander NDIS participants.

OPPORTUNITY 3: Complex support or communication needs focus. Focuses on participants with complex support or communication needs (for example, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing young people)

Opportunities 2 and 3 may also include NDIS participants aged 15–25 who don’t currently have employment assistance supports, but who are interested in employment.

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Each project will receive $190,000 over a 12-month duration. 

Key Documents

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Commissioned Research Funding Guidelines

Find more information

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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Watch the Q&A Session recording: 

Watch the Q&A Session recording (Auslan):

Who should apply


We will fund projects that focus on improving transitions to real, sustained employment outcomes for young people with disability. Projects will include young First Nations people, and those with complex support and communication needs.


We’re looking for highly experienced teams that bring:

  • Lived experience leadership: people with disability in named, paid roles across governance, research and knowledge mobilisation. 

  • Strong policy impact capability: experience translating evidence for decision-makers and shaping implementation. 

  • Cross-sector partnerships: for example in education, employment, community, disability advocacy, industry, and government. 

  • First Nations leadership and/or partnership: centring self-determination and Indigenous data sovereignty. 

  • Strong skills to include young people with complex support and communication needs: for example, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) users, Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing and Blind or Low-Vision young people, people with intellectual disability, and neurodivergent young people. 

 

Find out more about eligibility. â€‹

All proposals must align with the NDRP’s guiding principles.

Ready to apply? 

Before you start:

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Applications close 21 November 2025, 5:00 PM AEDT

Accessibility and support

We have provided guidelines in Plain Language and Auslan, and budget guidance for access and participation payments. Available access supports may include things like AAC, communication partners, Auslan, captioning, Easy English, tactile or oral interpreting and other adjustments.

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If you need materials in a different format or have questions about access, please contact us.

 

We aim to make sure our funding process is transparent, ethical and accountable, so that all applicants are treated fairly, and funding decisions are based on merit.

 

​​Phone: 03 9000 3813

SMS only: 0485 931 168

email: research@ndrp.org.au

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