Best Client Outcomes Grant Program

About this program

The TAC Best Client Outcomes Grant Program aims to improve the quality of, and equity of access to, rehabilitation services in Victoria. The program provides grants to fund research projects that will support the rehabilitation of people injured in transport accidents.

Grants between $50,000 and $200,000 (exclusive of GST) are available for each project over a 24-month period. Approximately $1 million is available across the program.

Applications

There is a two-stage process to apply for this grant program:

Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) opens on 4 May and closes 12pm Thursday 28 May 2026
Stage 2: Application via invitation only

Only the most competitive project ideas that pass Stage 1 will proceed to Stage 2.

Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions

EOIs can be submitted online from Monday 4 May to 12pm Thursday 28 May 2026 through the SmartyGrants platform.

Grant program guidelines

Download the grant program guidelines PDF, 1.1MB.

Funding agreement

The grant funding agreement template will be available shortly and will be added here when ready.

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply?

To be eligible for funding, your project must take place in Victoria and include research expertise on your project team.

Your organisation must be Victorian based and one of the following:

hospital
rehabilitation service
post-hospital rehabilitation service
primary health care service providing rehabilitation

Only the most competitive project ideas that proceed through Stage 1: Expression of Interest will be invited to submit an application to Stage 2: Application.

Applicants must nominate a Chief Investigator who will be responsible for submitting the EOI, application, conducting the project, and reporting as required under the Funding Agreement.

The TAC will accept multiple EOIs from a single organisation, however each EOI must nominate a different chief investigator to lead each project. Each project must be inherently different.

What projects can receive grant funding?

We are seeking research projects that address an identified gap in the quality of rehabilitation services delivered to TAC clients.

This means projects that:

respond to client needs and expectations
leverage and apply existing evidence of best practice
empower clients to take an active role
build the capability of service providers
improve the efficiency of the service environment
measure client experience and outcomes
increase client independence as they prepare for the transition to home and community settings
leverage technology to support client outcomes
address health inequity.

Projects funded through this program must deliver a tangible product to assist the implementation of findings into practice. Products may be, but are not limited to, one or more of the following:

intervention protocol
best practice guideline
resources for client education
framework or strategy
business case
animated video.

What funding is available?

This program offers grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 (exclusive of GST) over a 24-month period. Approximately $1 million is available across the program.

Can the TAC help with participant recruitment for my project?

The TAC is unable to assist with participant recruitment for your project. This includes recruiting TAC clients.

One of the most common reasons for project delays is difficulty meeting participant recruitment targets, so ensure you include strategies to achieve your sample size without support from the TAC.

My project includes the provision of a service, can I request funds to cover the cost of the service?

More information about your project will be needed to answer this question. Please contact the Research team via research@tac.vic.gov.au to discuss specific details of your project and the options available.

I’m a PhD student, can I apply?

This grant program isn’t suitable for PhD projects due to the 24-month funding period.

I’m a provider outside of Victoria, can I apply?

The TAC exists to support the Victorian community – therefore to be eligible for funding, organisations must be located in Victoria and proposing projects that will benefit the Victorian community.

What projects have been previously funded?

Projects funded through the 2026 Best Client Outcomes Grant Program are:

Alfred Health – Assessing the factors associated with patient reported anxiety on hospital discharge and the effect of psychosocial follow-up post discharge
Murdoch Children’s Research Institute – Supporting Victorian clinicians with communication strategies to address unproven therapies and misinformation in spinal cord injury care
The Community Doctor – Living Well with Pain: A Community-Based Empowerment Program for TAC Clients
Step 2 Allied Health – Development of best practice guidelines for anxiety in return to drive rehabilitation through Delphi consensus methods
Epworth HealthCare – Developing a Vocational Rehabilitation Training Package for Allied Health Clinicians Working in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation

Who can I contact with questions?

You can contact the TAC research and evaluation team at research@tac.vic.gov.au with any questions about the grant program.


Best Client Outcomes Grant Program About this program The TAC Best Client Outcomes Grant Program aims to improve the quality of, and equity of access to, rehabilitation services in Victoria. The program provides grants to fund research projects that will support the rehabilitation of people injured in transport accidents. Grants between $50,000 and $200,000 (exclusive of GST) are available for each project over a 24-month period. Approximately $1 million is available across the program. Applications There is a two-stage process to apply for this grant program: Stage 1: Expression of Interest (EOI) opens on 4 May and closes 12pm Thursday 28 May 2026 Stage 2: Application via invitation only Only the most competitive project ideas that pass Stage 1 will proceed to Stage 2. Expression of Interest (EOI) submissions EOIs can be submitted online from Monday 4 May to 12pm Thursday 28 May 2026 through the SmartyGrants platform. Grant program guidelines Download the grant program guidelines PDF, 1.1MB. Funding agreement The grant funding agreement template will be available shortly and will be added here when ready. Frequently asked questions Who can apply? To be eligible for funding, your project must take place in Victoria and include research expertise on your project team. Your organisation must be Victorian based and one of the following: hospital rehabilitation service post-hospital rehabilitation service primary health care service providing rehabilitation Only the most competitive project ideas that proceed through Stage 1: Expression of Interest will be invited to submit an application to Stage 2: Application. Applicants must nominate a Chief Investigator who will be responsible for submitting the EOI, application, conducting the project, and reporting as required under the Funding Agreement. The TAC will accept multiple EOIs from a single organisation, however each EOI must nominate a different chief investigator to lead each project. Each project must be inherently different. What projects can receive grant funding? We are seeking research projects that address an identified gap in the quality of rehabilitation services delivered to TAC clients. This means projects that: respond to client needs and expectations leverage and apply existing evidence of best practice empower clients to take an active role build the capability of service providers improve the efficiency of the service environment measure client experience and outcomes increase client independence as they prepare for the transition to home and community settings leverage technology to support client outcomes address health inequity. Projects funded through this program must deliver a tangible product to assist the implementation of findings into practice. Products may be, but are not limited to, one or more of the following: intervention protocol best practice guideline resources for client education framework or strategy business case animated video. What funding is available? This program offers grants of between $50,000 and $200,000 (exclusive of GST) over a 24-month period. Approximately $1 million is available across the program. Can the TAC help with participant recruitment for my project? The TAC is unable to assist with participant recruitment for your project. This includes recruiting TAC clients. One of the most common reasons for project delays is difficulty meeting participant recruitment targets, so ensure you include strategies to achieve your sample size without support from the TAC. My project includes the provision of a service, can I request funds to cover the cost of the service? More information about your project will be needed to answer this question. Please contact the Research team via research@tac.vic.gov.au to discuss specific details of your project and the options available. I’m a PhD student, can I apply? This grant program isn’t suitable for PhD projects due to the 24-month funding period. I’m a provider outside of Victoria, can I apply? The TAC exists to support the Victorian community – therefore to be eligible for funding, organisations must be located in Victoria and proposing projects that will benefit the Victorian community. What projects have been previously funded? Projects funded through the 2026 Best Client Outcomes Grant Program are: Alfred Health – Assessing the factors associated with patient reported anxiety on hospital discharge and the effect of psychosocial follow-up post discharge Murdoch Children’s Research Institute – Supporting Victorian clinicians with communication strategies to address unproven therapies and misinformation in spinal cord injury care The Community Doctor – Living Well with Pain: A Community-Based Empowerment Program for TAC Clients Step 2 Allied Health – Development of best practice guidelines for anxiety in return to drive rehabilitation through Delphi consensus methods Epworth HealthCare – Developing a Vocational Rehabilitation Training Package for Allied Health Clinicians Working in Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation Who can I contact with questions? You can contact the TAC research and evaluation team at research@tac.vic.gov.au with any questions about the grant program.