Jessica Shelley Consultancy
Jessica Shelley Consultancy provides specialist grant development, research strategy and advisory services to researchers, research teams and organisations across Australia. From initial concept development through to funding submission, Jessica provides tailored guidance to strengthen research proposals, align applications with funding requirements and communicate the value and potential impact of research.
Working across Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (HASS), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), health and medical research, and industry-focused initiatives, the consultancy supports a wide range of competitive funding opportunities.
Research Funding and Consultancy Services
Navigating competitive research funding requires more than a well-written application. It takes strategic planning, a clear understanding of assessment criteria, compelling evidence and a strong articulation of research outcomes. Jessica Shelley Consultancy offers practical, targeted support to help researchers and organisations strengthen their proposals, develop partnerships and maximise their funding potential.
Research Grant Development
Developing a competitive grant application requires a clear research vision, a strong project rationale and careful alignment with the objectives of the funding program. Jessica provides end-to-end grant development support, working with researchers and research leaders to strengthen applications at every stage.
Services include:
• Research concept development and strategic advice.
• Grant application development, drafting and review.
• Alignment of proposals with funding guidelines and assessment criteria.
• Constructive feedback to strengthen research narratives.
• Support across national and international funding schemes, industry tenders and philanthropic grants.
Research Grant Development (Initial Consult): Starting from $450.
Research, Impact and Engagement
Jessica provides targeted advice to help researchers identify, evaluate and develop compelling impact and engagement case studies that demonstrate the value of their research.
Services include:
• Consultation with research leaders to identify potential impact and engagement case studies.
• Assessment of case study strengths and advice on prioritising the most compelling examples.
• Development of structured work packages to gather relevant evidence and supporting information.
• Guidance on crafting clear, evidence-based research impact and engagement narratives.
• Strategic advice to strengthen the communication of research outcomes and benefits.
Research, Impact and Engagement Advisory Packages: Starting from $1,760.
Research Project Development
A successful research proposal depends on strong project design, demonstrated capability and clear alignment with assessment requirements. Jessica works alongside research leaders to review proposed applications, identify opportunities for improvement and develop targeted strategies to strengthen research performance and submission quality.
Services include:
• Strategic review of research proposals against funding criteria and guidelines.
• Identification of targeted actions to strengthen researcher profiles, funding records, outputs and impact.
• Research budget analysis and review.
• Review of project management documentation, including Gantt charts, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Risk Management Plans.
• Development of practical recommendations and action plans to support submission readiness.
Industry Collaborations and Partnerships
Meaningful partnerships between researchers, industry and other stakeholders can create opportunities for innovation, collaboration and real-world impact. Jessica supports researchers and organisations in identifying opportunities, developing engagement strategies and establishing partnerships that align research expertise with industry needs.
Services include:
• Industry engagement and partnership strategies.
• Environmental scans to identify potential collaborators and opportunities.
• Commercialisation advice.
• Practical frameworks to support collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Guidance on developing partnerships and communicating shared objectives.
Expertise across research funding programs.
Jessica Shelley Consultancy provides targeted advice and application development support across a range of Australian and international research funding opportunities, including:
CRC & CRC-P
Funding
Cooperative Research Centres and Cooperative Research Centres Projects.
MRFF
Funding
Medical Research Future Fund.
SQW
FUNDING
Skilling Queensland Workforce funding.
Avant Foundation Transformation Grant
Funding supporting transformative healthcare and medical innovation.
Horizon
Europe
International collaborative research and innovation funding opportunities.
Philanthropic
Grants
Targeted support for other competitive funding opportunities.
Industry
Tenders
Targeted support for other competitive funding opportunities.
ITRP
Funding
Industrial Transformation Research Program.
Not-for-Profits, DGR1 Organisations and Charities
We support not-for-profit organisations, registered charities and DGR1-endorsed entities to identify, secure and maximise grant funding opportunities. From community initiatives and service delivery to infrastructure, capacity building and organisational growth, we provide tailored grant research, strategic advice and end-to-end application development.
With experience across the community, health, education and research sectors, we understand the challenges of securing funding and work collaboratively with organisations to develop competitive, outcomes-focused applications that demonstrate meaningful community impact.
Why Specialist Grant Writing Support Matters
Not-for-profit organisations, registered charities and DGR1-endorsed entities operate within different regulatory, governance and funding frameworks. Each grant opportunity comes with its own eligibility requirements, assessment criteria and supporting documentation, making the application process complex and time-consuming.
A successful grant application requires more than a compelling project idea. It involves understanding the funding guidelines, demonstrating organisational eligibility, preparing accurate budgets, coordinating letters of support, establishing meaningful partnerships and ensuring all required documentation is complete and compliant.
Our support includes:
• Grant identification and eligibility: Matching funding opportunities to your organisation's legal structure, charitable status, DGR endorsement and strategic priorities.
• Application development: Preparing clear, competitive applications aligned with funder priorities and assessment criteria.
• Letters of support and partnerships: Identifying and engaging relevant stakeholders, coordinating letters of support and demonstrating genuine community and industry collaboration.
• Governance and compliance: Reviewing required documentation, including ACNC registration, ABN details, DGR endorsement where applicable, financial statements, policies and organisational governance requirements.
• Budgets and project planning: Developing realistic project budgets, identifying co-contributions and preparing project plans, timelines and measurable outcomes.
• Submission coordination: Managing application requirements, supporting documents and deadlines to ensure a complete and professional submission.
We understand that many community organisations operate with limited resources, relying on small teams and volunteers to deliver essential services. Our role is to take the complexity out of the grant application process, allowing your organisation to focus on what matters most — delivering meaningful outcomes for the communities you serve.
A strategic and collaborative approach.
Every research project is different. Jessica Shelley Consultancy takes a collaborative, project-specific approach to grant development and research advisory services.
By working closely with researchers and organisational leaders, Jessica helps identify strengths, address potential gaps and translate complex research ideas into clear, persuasive funding applications and impact narratives.
Whether you are preparing for an upcoming funding round, developing a research project or seeking advice on research impact and engagement, Jessica Shelley Consultancy can help you identify the next steps.
Client Testimonials
“Jessica demonstrated exceptional capability in developing strategic industry partnerships and supporting complex research funding proposals. Her work involved identifying and engaging prospective industry partners, facilitating stakeholder discussions, coordinating letters of support and partnership documentation, and strengthening collaboration between researchers and external organisations.
Her contribution was instrumental in securing significant preliminary industry commitments and establishing the partnerships required to support a competitive, large-scale funding application.
Jessica brings a strong combination of strategic thinking, attention to detail and stakeholder engagement expertise, with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex research environments and translate collaborative opportunities into meaningful funding outcomes.”
Dr. F (Academic) USQ
“Jessica played a significant role in securing external investment and supporting the successful delivery of a complex, externally funded university research project. From securing initial funding through to project completion, Jessica demonstrated strong capabilities in research project coordination, stakeholder engagement, governance and contractual management. She worked collaboratively with researchers, investors and external stakeholders to ensure project milestones, reporting requirements and contractual obligations were met.
Her contribution extended beyond funding acquisition to supporting research activities, coordinating the communication of findings and facilitating discussions around future development and commercialisation opportunities.
Jessica demonstrated exceptional organisational skills, attention to detail and an ability to navigate complex research environments, contributing to both the successful delivery of the project and its broader research and innovation outcomes.”
Dr. A (General Surgeon and Adjunct Academic) UniSQ