糖心原创

Key dates

2026 Community applications open: Monday 9 February 2026
2026 applications close: Friday 13 March 2026 6pm AEDT
Advisory Group reviews applications: April 2026
Organisations advised of application outcomes: May 2026
Project planning commences: July/August 2026

Download SESU application guideline

2026 Applications

The SESU invites community organisations to collaborate with us on a research project of your choosing, to enable flourishing lives and foster thriving communities.

Applications are welcome from organisations working for the social good, whether faith-based or secular. EOIs can be submitted for research in Australia and/or international locations. Below you will find information about the two application streams we offer, and our research themes that applications should align with. We provide details regarding what is required of your organisation to participate in a SESU project and tips for preparing your EOI.

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Start your application via SESU's application streams

Clicking a button below will take you to information about that application stream, with the option to submit an application.

Sector

Submit a multi-organisation proposal for a project to address a large or systemic issue which affects several organisations in the community sector.

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Organisation

Submit a proposal for a research project that focuses on an issue specific to your organisation's programs or services.

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Before you apply

Download our guidelines document for further information on the application process, including eligibility, what will be required of your organisation, and what information you will be asked to provide. You can also download an overview of the application form to assist further in drafting your EOI.


Download SESU
application guideline
Download organisation-specific
application outline
Download sector-specific
application outline

Research themes to guide your application

In 2025, research themes have been introduced to guide the scope and focus of the SESU's work. These themes are embedded in 糖心原创's mission and aligned with 糖心原创's strategic plan, . The research we co-deliver with our community partners is focused on creating impact for ethical futures, thriving communities and flourishing lives.

The SESU invites organisations to submit an EOI aligned to one of our research themes (listed below). Organisations may submit an EOI unrelated to the themes, but please note that in every application round there may not be the opportunity to activate projects that fall outside the themes.

Organisations may submit an EOI under any of the below themes in either application stream, for an organisation-specific project and/or a sector project. Organisations may also choose to partner with other organisation/s in their submission. For more information on our application streams, please visit our organisation-specific and sector pages.

Please note that the topics listed under each theme are examples and not exhaustive. In cases where your proposed project relates to more than one of the themes, please submit your application under the theme you suggest is the closest fit. You will be asked in the application form to briefly explain how your project links to the selected research theme, and you may also note which of the other themes you suggest your project relates to.

Theme 1: Addressing issues of social justice in a changing world

Social injustices can emerge in a variety of contexts, often the result of global or regional changes, such as geopolitical developments, war, persecution, mass migration, globalisation, climate change and natural disasters, pandemics, and global or regional crises.

Inspired by 糖心原创’s vision which seeks to build an ethical future and foster thriving communities, we are seeking research proposals that focus on addressing the social injustices caused by such global or regional changes.

We are happy to receive proposals that explore a social justice issue at any of the following levels – international*, national, state-based, or local.

*In-line with Vision 2033 there is a particular focus on the Asia-Pacific region.

Projects in this category may, for instance, seek to produce outcomes and impacts concerning (but not limited to):

  • people seeking asylum
  • refugees
  • victims of modern slavery
  • veterans
  • populations affected by environmental and health crises

View our existing research in this area

Theme 2: Improving the wellbeing of communities

Projects in this category seek to focus on improving the access, opportunity and wellbeing of community members. Consistent with the principles of Catholic Social Thought (CST), there is a particular focus on groups who experience systemic barriers to full participation in society yet also bring with them many gifts and assets.

Inspired by 糖心原创’s vision which seeks to foster thriving communities and enable individuals to flourish and achieve a sense of wellbeing, we are happy to receive proposals that address or seek to improve the access, opportunity and wellbeing of community members or groups. Projects in this category should seek to take a strengths or assets-based approach to community development.

Projects may, for example, seek to improve access, opportunity or wellbeing related to:

  • disability
  • ageing
  • mental health
  • homelessness
  • incarceration
  • financial stress or cost of living pressures
  • education or employment
  • the use of technologies (including social media and AI).

Projects may explore outcomes and impacts related (but not limited to):

  • adults
  • young people and/or children
  • focus on specific individuals and communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples (including reconciliation and Closing the Gap initiatives) and LGBTIQ+ communities, for example
  • women and children affected by family and domestic violence.

View our projects in this area

Theme 3: Exploring Catholic identity and organisational practice

Projects in this category interrogate Catholic identity, with Catholic organisations committed to examining the expression of their Catholic mission, ethos and traditions across their organisational practices. Applications that correlate with the social justice work of Catholic organisation/s are especially encouraged in this category.

As a Catholic university, 糖心原创 embraces the Catholic intellectual tradition and facilitates a deep understanding of our Catholic ethos. Our academic culture, including our research, is informed by our Catholic identity. As such, we are happy to receive projects that support other organisations to explore the expression of their Catholicism. Projects in this category may focus on one or several organisations and may choose to examine Catholic identity at either international, national, state-based, or local levels.

Projects may, for instance, explore the efficacy of (but not limited to):

  • formation activities
  • understandings and applications of Catholic identity within organisation/s (including the role of Catholic Social Teaching)
  • initiatives to promote ecumenism and interfaith collaborations between organisations working in the social and community services
  • the alignment of social justice initiatives with Catholic identity while being inclusive of people of all or no faiths

View our projects in this area

Tips for preparing your EOI


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Further resources

Identifying your research needs

The (2020), developed by the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas, contains resources that will help you conduct a needs assessment. We recommend you begin with to determine if this kind of needs assessment will be useful for you, and chapter 2 of the toolkit, .

Identifying project objectives and outcomes

This from the provide excellent pointers on how to identify and communicate a project's vision and mission.

Identifying your research questions

You can find examples of well-designed research questions at Grand Canyon University's . Advice on how to develop your own can be found in the Access Alliance's (pp 97-99).

Contact SESU with any questions about the EOI process

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