Information for MRFF Scientific reporting and milestones

Progress reports

MRFF grantees are required to submit progress reports for most MRFF grant opportunities administered by NHMRC. The frequency of progress reporting is outlined in each grant schedule.

MRFF grants have standardised progress reporting due dates as follows:

• MRFF grants with annual progress reporting requirements are required to submit reports by 30 September of each year for the duration of the grant
• MRFF grants with bi-annual (6 monthly) progress reporting requirements are required to submit reports by 30 September and 31 March each year for the duration of the grant.

MRFF grants have standardised progress reporting periods as follows:

• Annual progress reports (due 30 September) will report on the previous financial year – for example:
  • Annual reports due 30 September 2025 will report on the period 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
• Bi-annual progress reports (due 31 March and 30 September) will report on the following periods – for example:
  • Bi-annual reports due 31 March 2025 will report on the period 1 July 2024 to 31 December 2024
  • Bi-annual reports due 30 September 2025 will report on the period 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2025.
• A small number of MRFF grantees may have reporting periods outside the standard periods above. RAOs are reminded to check Sapphire for due dates of outstanding reports.

From 1 July 2025, use of the progress reporting template in Sapphire is compulsory and the offline reporting template is no longer available. MRFF CIAs should complete and submit their report via Sapphire by the due date, which is specified in Sapphire. Reporting templates can be progressively completed and saved in preparation for submission by the due date.

If MRFF progress reports are not submitted to NHMRC by the due date, this will affect outstanding grant payments. The Commonwealth reserves the right to amend or adjust the requirements of progress reports as necessary.

Grantees must note that the MRFF progress report template available in Sapphire may be amended or adjusted from time to time.

Final reports

A final report must be completed within 6 months of completion of the funding period, relinquishment or termination of the grant. The due date for this report is specified in Sapphire.

From 1 July 2025, use of the final reporting template in Sapphire is compulsory and the offline reporting template is no longer available. MRFF CIAs should complete and submit their report via Sapphire by the due date, which is specified in Sapphire. Reporting templates can be progressively completed and saved in preparation for submission by the due date.

The final report template available in Sapphire may be amended or adjusted from time to time. The Commonwealth may ask for additional information upon review of final reports.

Additional reporting

The Commonwealth may ask the grantee for ad-hoc reports on the project. The grantee must provide these reports in the timeframes notified by the Commonwealth. The grantee might also be asked to participate and provide information about the activity as part of the overarching evaluation of the MRFF.

Guidance on how to submit a report or other milestones in Sapphire is available in the Sapphire Knowledge Base.