Grant Consulting and Writing
Your project deserves to be funded. Let's make sure your application gives it the best possible chance.
Winning a competitive grant needs more than a strong idea and a well-told story. It's about communicating the project in a way that speaks directly to what funders are looking for — with clarity, strategic positioning and a narrative that stands out in a crowded field.
I'm Melissa Waine, a Sydney-based communication consultant with 20 years of experience in turning complex ideas into strategic grant applications with clear, compelling and fundable narratives.
I'm experienced with NHMRC Ideas Grants, NHMRC Investigator Grants, NHMRC Development Grants, MRFF programs, NDIS grants, government tenders and philanthropic, heritage and community grants — with a 100% funding success rate for health, medical and scientific grants in 2025.
Researchers, not-for-profit leaders and healthcare innovators typically come to me when they've been unsuccessful in previous rounds, when they're tackling their first major competitive grant, or when they need a credible external hand on a high-stakes submission.
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 research sectors.
Grant support services
Most unsuccessful grant applications aren't rejected because the research or project is poor. They're rejected because the communication is.
Assessors read dozens of applications. Yours needs to be one that makes the unmet need undeniable, the approach credible and the impact impossible to ignore — all within strict word limits and against exacting criteria.
That's where I come in.
Grant strategy and writing
In winning grant applications, every word matters. As a grant consultant and writer, 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.
For scientific and medical research grants, such as NHMRC and MRFF schemes, this means helping researchers translate technical, clinical and research projects or programs into clear, persuasive and evidence-based proposals.
For government tenders, community and philanthropy grants, this means helping health not-for-profits, healthcare organisations and community organisations refine their program or project design and improve the vision, alignment, clarity and strength of the proposal.
Best for: applicants who need expert external input to improve and develop the proposal.
Project management of large grants and consortia
Grant project management services for larger grants and consortia with multiple stakeholders who are often scattered across the country, with competing commitments and tight schedules.
Best for: applicants who need expert support to coordinate input, develop the proposal and keep it on track for submission.
Strategic review
A targeted, high-level expert review of your draft against funder criteria. I identify gaps, weaknesses and missed opportunities, and provide clear, actionable recommendations to strengthen competitiveness.
Best for: applicants with a solid draft who need expert external input before submission.
Strategic review and grant improvement
A comprehensive review plus extensive editing and rewriting to improve clarity, structure and impact. I'll 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'll make suggestions to strengthen and build on themes, evidence and competitive advantage.
Best for: applicants 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.
Grant readiness assessment
Not sure if you’re ready to apply for a grant? Before investing weeks in an application, it's worth knowing whether you have the strategy, evidence, partnerships and alignment a competitive submission requires. I offer grant readiness assessment services to help you assess whether you have the strategy, evidence, partnerships and alignment needed for a competitive submission. This helps you assess your position honestly and reduce wasted effort on premature applications.
Best for: applicants considering their first major grant or those who've been unsuccessful before.
Other grant support services
• Editing and polishing final submissions.
• Translating technical content for assessors and non-specialist audiences.
• Stakeholder coordination and input consolidation.
• Development of supporting grant documents (e.g. work plans, risk plans, engagement strategies).
Funding schemes I work with
NHMRC Ideas Grants · NHMRC Investigator Grants · NHMRC Development Grants · MRFF Grants · NDIS Grants · Government Program and Tenders · Philanthropic Grants · Community Grants · Philanthropy Grants · Business Development Grants · Heritage Grants. You can read my client testimonials here and Google reviews here.
Whether you have an initial concept, a draft or just a question about where to start — I'd love to hear about your project. The first conversation is always free.
FAQs
Q: How much does a grant writer cost in Australia?
A: Grant writing fees depend on the scope, complexity and timeline of the application. I offer packages ranging from a targeted strategic review of your draft through to full end-to-end project management and writing for large consortium grants. Get in touch for a tailored quote.
Q. What makes a health and medical research grant application competitive?
A: Competitive grants combine a clearly articulated unmet need, a credible and well-evidenced approach, a realistic and well-justified budget, and a narrative that speaks directly to what the funder is prioritising.
Most unsuccessful applications fail not because the research or project is weak, but because the communication of those four elements is unclear or unconvincing. An experienced grant writer brings the objectivity and communication expertise to fix that.
Q: What NHMRC grant schemes does Melissa have experience with?
A: I have supported a wide range of NHMRC funding schemes, including Ideas Grants, Development Grants, Investigator Grants and MRFF (Medical Research Future Fund) programs, as well as NDIS grants, government programs and tenders, philanthropic grants, heritage grants and community grants.
Q: When is the best time to engage a grant writer for an NHMRC application?
A: Ideally, engage a grant writer at least 8–12 weeks before the submission deadline. This allows time for strategy sessions, drafting, feedback rounds and final polishing. That said, I also offer shorter strategic review and editing packages for applicants with existing drafts who need rapid expert input.
Q: Can a grant writer improve the chance of success?
A: Yes. An experienced grant writer brings objectivity and a funder's perspective to your application. They identify gaps, weak arguments and missed opportunities that researchers, too close to the project, often overlook. My clients have achieved high scores and successful grant outcomes across diverse funding programs, including NHMRC grants. As well as identifying weaknesses, I often identify strengths and competitive advantages that are poorly developed and articulate these to strongly position your submission.
Q: What about grant writing for not-for-profits and community organisations?
A: In addition to medical research and health grants, I support not-for-profit organisations, such as health organisations and community groups, who are seeking philanthropic, community and government program funding, tailoring each application to the specific funder's priorities and criteria.
