Maker Projects Community STEM Engagement Grants 2026

Grant amount per project: $20,000 to $100,000.
Total program funding available: $2 million (across 2026–27 to 2027–28).
Co-contribution required: Grant funding is up to 80% of eligible expenditure. You and or your partner(s) must contribute at least 20% of eligible expenditure. Contribution may be cash and or in-kind, with an identified dollar value for in-kind items directly related to the project.
Project timing: Earliest start date is November 2026 and projects must be completed by 30 June 2028
Applications close: June 17 2026

The Maker Projects Community STEM Engagement Grants 2026 provide funding for community-based projects that foster creativity and inquiry-based STEM learning for students and young people under 18 through hands-on activities. Projects are intended to build practical skills in areas such as design, engineering and programming, and to encourage creativity and entrepreneurial thinking.

The program aims to increase accessibility and participation in STEM activities, particularly for groups historically underrepresented in STEM, including women and girls, First Nations peoples, people in regional, rural and remote areas, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, people with disability, and young people experiencing disadvantage.

Grants support delivery of STEM-related events and activities where participants can experiment, tinker and learn by doing, including engagement with experts such as scientists, technologists, engineers, mathematicians, inventors, innovators or entrepreneurs. Projects must be collaborative and include at least one partner organisation actively participating in delivery.

Key Requirements

Hands-on STEM learning for under 18s: Projects must enable students and youth under 18 to develop and apply STEM knowledge through experimentation, tinkering and hands-on engagement with technologies.
Increase access and participation: Projects should increase access to STEM-related events and activities, with a focus on improving participation for groups historically underrepresented in STEM.
Build practical skills and pathways: Activities should build practical knowledge and skills in scientific experimentation, design, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship, and encourage interest in further study and careers in STEM.
Collaborative delivery model: You must deliver the project through a collaborative partnership established before application submission, including at least one partner organisation that actively participates in delivery.
Financial contribution: Grant funding is up to 80% of eligible expenditure and you and or partner(s) must contribute at least 20% of eligible expenditure as cash and or in-kind

What is eligible for funding?

Interactive workshops.
Events relating to existing interactive exhibitions
Hands-on participation activities for students and youth under 18.
Resources for participants that support lasting impact of funded activities.
Other activities may be approved where they align with the program objectives and outcomes.

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible applicants must have an ABN and be one of the following

An entity incorporated in Australia
An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
An incorporated association
An incorporated not-for-profit organisation
A publicly funded research organisation (PFRO)
A government or non-government vocational education and training (VET) provider

Other considerations: joint applications are acceptable with an eligible lead organisation. You must have a collaborative partnership in place before submitting and include mandatory attachments including letters of support from each partner and a trust deed where applicable.

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

Industry analysis presentation
Competitor Analysis Presentation
Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.

This grant is open

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