A million-dollar investment kicks off our 2025–26 Major Grants

We hosted a meet-and-greet for our newest Major Grant recipients to share what led them to their projects, build relationships and celebrate the beginning of the next round of projects.

03 March 2026

Grant support

There was a welcome buzz upstairs at the VLF office recently as we hosted the meet-and-greet for our newest Major Grant recipients. This year felt a little different as the new cohort got together for the first time, and for good reason. This year, VLF is investing $1 million to support new research and community legal initiatives in the Victorian legal assistance sector.

Beyond the numbers, the day reflected what we have found each year, it is about bringing people together. Representatives from nine different organisations came together to swap stories, compare notes, and start building the relationships that will drive their work over the life of their projects. From the first conversations over morning tea, it was clear this cohort isn't just looking to tick boxes but make a real dent in the challenges facing our justice system.

Two people sit at a meeting table in a conference room, engaged in conversation. One person wears a light head covering and patterned outer layer, while the other wears a short‑sleeved textured jacket. Notebooks, cups, and a takeaway coffee cup are on the table, suggesting an active workshop or discussion setting.

Different projects, one shared goal

This year’s projects cover a wide range of issues, but they share a common commitment to approaches grounded in data, lived experience, and community insights to achieve better outcomes for Victorians.

The diversity of the cohort is striking, with work spanning sector capability building around climate‑related legal risks and police misconduct, deepening understanding of the experiences of migrant communities and women involved in the child protection system and supporting communities including young people and consumers.

While each project tackles a specific problem, seeing them all in one room reminded us of the power of a collective approach. Whether it's improving service delivery or systemic reform, the commitment to evidence-driven change is the thread that ties them all together.

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More than just funding

As each team introduced their work, the room was full of "aha" moments. The conversations weren't just polite—they were practical with discussions on research hurdles, collaboration and problem-solving that we hope will last long after the funding cycle ends.

Our Strategy & Engagement team also hopped in to talk about how we support these projects beyond the funding. Early conversations will help later on with communications, translating complex research into plain English, and making sure the final findings actually reach the people who need to see them.

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Lessons from the field

One of the highlights was hearing from Melanie Saunders at Justice Connect. She shared some honest, "warts-and-all" reflections from their recent project on self-help resources.

Melanie spoke candidly about the realities of participant recruitment including the frustrations, the pivots, and the eventual breakthroughs. It was exactly what the group needed to hear, a reminder that research is rarely a straight line, and that’s okay.

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The road ahead

This meet-and-greet was a celebration, but as we know the funding is the beginning, or the middle, but never the end of work to improve access to justice. With $1 million fuelling this year’s cohort, these projects have the potential to shape smarter policy and help more Victorians understand and exercise their legal rights.

What struck us most was the warm, curious, and genuinely optimistic atmosphere. We’re incredibly proud to support this group and will bring you more stories and insights as these projects take shape across the sector.