Grant consulting, project management and writing

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A successful grant application needs more than a good idea and a well-told story.

​​Grant writing involves specialised skills. It requires a deep understanding of the project or program and the ability to articulate the unmet needs, outcomes and relevance to the grant's objectives.​

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I provide end-to-end grant support — from early-stage strategy through to full submission-ready delivery — with a focus on high-value, competitive funding applications in health, medical and scientific sectors.

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With over 18 years’ experience in grant writing, research translation and large-scale project delivery, I specialise in turning complex ideas into strategic grant applications with clear, compelling and fundable narratives.​​​ I have supported government tenders and a wide variety of grants, including NHMRC, MRFF, NDIS, heritage, housing, business development and community grants. 

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Grant support services

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Grant strategy and writing

I work with researchers, founders and leaders to shape, write and refine grant applications that align with funder priorities and score strongly against assessment criteria. This includes translating technical, clinical and research content into clear, persuasive and evidence-based proposals.

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Project management of large grants and consortia​​

I support grant clients by providing grant consulting services to develop and improve their projects and programs for successful funding. I offer project management services for larger grants with multiple stakeholders, who are often scattered across the country, with competing commitments and tight schedules.​​​

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Grant support packages

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Strategic review of your grant

A targeted, high-level review of your draft against funder criteria. I identify gaps, weaknesses and missed opportunities, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to strengthen competitiveness.

Best for: those with a solid draft who need expert input before submission.

 

Strategic review and grant improvement (writing and editing)

A comprehensive review plus extensive editing and rewriting to improve clarity, structure and impact. I will refine your narrative to ensure it is cohesive, persuasive and aligned to assessment criteria, while maintaining technical accuracy. With a bird's eye view of your draft, I will make suggestions to improve and strengthen it, including adding other themes, evidence and research.

Best for: those with a draft that needs substantive improvement to be competitive.
 

Full grant project management, coordination and writing

End-to-end grant support from concept to submission. I lead strategy, narrative development, writing, stakeholder coordination and revision management for submission readiness, ensuring all components are aligned, complete and of high quality.

Best for: complex grants, tight timelines or multi-partner submissions where coordination and narrative consistency are critical.

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Additional services

•    Editing and polishing final submissions
•    Translating technical content for assessors and mixed audiences
•    Stakeholder coordination and input consolidation
•    Development of supporting grant documents (work plans, risk plans, engagement strategies)
 

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Grant readiness

Not sure if you’re ready to apply for a grant? I offer grant readiness support to help organisations assess whether they have the strategy, evidence, partnerships and alignment needed for a competitive submission. This can significantly improve success rates and reduce wasted effort on premature applications.​​​

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Client feedback on grant support

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"Dear Melissa,

I hope you are well. I would like to share with you fantastic news, we were successful in getting NHMRC Development Grant this year. The outcome is still under strict Embargo though but I would like to let you know about this wonderful outcome and thanking you for your fantastic job in helping us significantly improve this application. We have got very good mark possibly top 5% and the reviewers gave very good feedback about our application."

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"Melissa helped project manage a consortium grant application and was clear with us about setting timelines and output expectations to meet the grant guidelines and the due date.  I was particularly grateful for the sharp editing when we really needed it to get the grant submitted on time and with a sigh of relief!”

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"Melissa made a real contribution in transforming our 3rd attempt into a successful NHMRC Ideas grant application. She clearly understands what granting agencies are looking for.

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Most importantly, she obviously did a lot of her own research to understand the science of our grant, which is very technical – microbeam radiotherapy. From that starting point, she transformed our language into clear, succinct, logical descriptions.

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She also discovered unnecessary reiteration, and in this and other ways, made a real practical contribution to meeting the challenge of the page-limit. It’s amazing how experience make a difference."

 

Thank you so much again for your help with our grant application, it has been a great pleasure working with you and I look forward to working with you again in the next grant application round."

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"It was great to work with you and you added a lot of value in a short time. I would be very keen to work with you again.  I will reach out when the next opportunity arises (highly likely will be a grant application)."

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"Melissa is a forward-thinking leader who adds momentum to any project she applies herself to, she is passionate, professional and extremely time efficient.” 

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"Dear Melissa, I am so happy with what you did! Reads so much better now. More shiny and impressive now. Thank you so much."

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"Thanks, Melissa - couldn't have done it without your help with the grant writing!"

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