Research funding to improve health care for people with disability

Media event date: 20 October 2026 Date published: 20 October 2026 Media type: Media release General public People with disability will benefit from $30 million in Australian Government funding for research into improving their health and wellbeing and access to health care. This funding, through the Medical Research Future Fund, will support medical research and innovations that meet health needs of people with disability.

Research shows that people with disability have poorer health outcomes. This includes higher rates of preventable hospitalisations and avoidable deaths, as well as worse mental and physical health. People with disability also experience significant barriers to accessing health care.

Funding is available for 4 areas of research: Stream 1: improving understanding of, and access to, inclusive and effective health care across the lifespan for people with disability Stream 2: improving understanding and use of inclusive preventive health care for people with disability Stream 3: developing ways to support people with disability to develop stronger health self-belief, improve health literacy and/or make well-informed decisions about their care Stream 4: supporting the diverse health needs of people with disability experiencing other forms of disadvantage.

Researchers must show how people with disability, including those with relevant lived experience, have informed and will continue to inform the research. Applications are open. Read more at: www.grants.gov.au Quotes attributable to NDIS Minister, Jenny McAllister: “People with disability deserve a health system that listens to them, understands their needs and gives them every opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

“Too many people with disability still face barriers to getting the health care they need, and the Albanese Government wants to change that. “This grant is about funding high-quality research, informed by people with disability, to find new and better ways to make our healthcare system as accessible and inclusive as possible." Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister Disability and carers Accessibility We acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

We pay our respects to them and their cultures, and to Elders both past and present. © Commonwealth of Australia