Defence Strategic Policy Research Program

The Defence Strategic Policy Research Program grant opportunity will provide operating funding to the Australian strategic policy sector for up to five years, from 2027–28 to 2031–32. This grant opportunity was established to implement the government response to the 2024 Independent Review of Commonwealth funding for strategic policy work (the Varghese review). The grant opportunity is confined to activities that support the Australian Defence Force (or other defence purposes), with the majority of an organisation’s business-as-usual activities directed toward the annual national security policy research priorities, set by the Secretaries’ Committee on National Security (SCNS) and published by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The objectives of the grant opportunity are to promote the development of Australia’s defence and national security policy and strategy by: informing and shaping debate through quality research, discussion fora, and other strategic policy work on Australian strategic and defence policy issues deepening public discussion on Australia’s strategic and defence policy choices strengthening engagement between Defence and the strategic policy sector. The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are: published original, evidence-based strategic policy research development of new and emerging talent within the Australian strategic policy sector, promoting equitable and diverse participation, including with gender-diverse and/or First Nations-led organisations enhanced engagement with public and private sector experts, including outside metropolitan locations enriched professional development for Defence personnel (military and civilian).