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Our Marine Parks Grants - Round 5

Our Marine Parks Grants – Round 5

  • Total funding pool: Up to $5.6 million (GST exclusive).
  • Funding per project: $50,000 to $500,000 (GST exclusive).
  • Matched funding required: No mandatory co-contribution requirement. Financial and in-kind contributions are strongly encouraged and projects with higher co-contributions are likely to be more competitive.
  • Activities expected to run: June 2027 to 1 May 2030.
  • Applications close: October 27 2026.
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The Our Marine Parks Grants – Round 5 program supports projects that strengthen the management, protection and sustainable use of Australian Marine Parks. The program aims to engage marine park users, First Nations peoples, communities, researchers, tourism operators and other stakeholders in activities that protect biodiversity, improve ecosystem health and strengthen stewardship of Australia’s marine environment. Funding is available for projects that support Sea Country management, scientific research and monitoring, community engagement, education, compliance initiatives, tourism-related activities and marine conservation outcomes.

Projects must contribute to one or more Australian Marine Parks and align with the program’s objectives of improving marine park management, supporting First Nations participation, enhancing community capacity, increasing awareness and understanding of marine parks, supporting sustainable industry engagement and improving scientific knowledge that informs evidence-based management.

Key Requirements

  • Support First Nations participation in Sea Country management Projects may document and maintain traditional knowledge, cultural sites and values, strengthen cultural stewardship and support First Nations participation in marine park management and protection activities.
  • Enhance community engagement and capacity Activities should increase community understanding of marine parks, strengthen participation in management activities and improve awareness of social and environmental values.
  • Protect marine environments Projects should contribute to protecting marine parks from threats and pressures, reducing damage and increasing resilience of marine ecosystems.
  • Support sustainable industry participation Funding supports engagement with industries such as tourism, recreational fishing and commercial fishing to improve understanding of and participation in marine park management.
  • Improve scientific knowledge Research and monitoring activities should contribute to improving knowledge and evidence-based decision-making for marine park management.
  • Deliver measurable outcomes Applicants must demonstrate project outcomes, stakeholder engagement, value for money and capability to deliver on time and within budget

What is eligible for funding?

  • Development and implementation of Sea Country plans.
  • Protection and management of cultural values and culturally significant sites.
  • Marine park monitoring, surveillance and research.
  • Marine debris, ghost net and invasive species management.
  • Community education and awareness programs.
  • Citizen science projects.
  • Tourism and visitor experience initiatives.
  • Communication and outreach activities.
  • Climate adaptation and resilience initiatives.
  • Research and monitoring projects aligned with marine park priorities.
  • Development of mobile applications and technology solutions supporting marine park management.
  • Industry engagement activities supporting sustainable marine use.
  • Infrastructure such as signage and marker buoys that improve understanding of marine park values and management arrangements.
  • Training and educational activities.
  • Data collection, habitat assessment and biodiversity monitoring projects

What companies are eligible for funding?

Eligible entities include:

  • Companies
  • Cooperatives
  • Corporate Commonwealth Entities
  • Corporate State or Territory Entities
  • Incorporated Associations
  • Indigenous Corporations
  • Local Governments
  • Non-corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authorities
  • Non-corporate State or Territory Entities
  • Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authorities
  • Statutory Entities
  • Eligible Trustees acting on behalf of a Trust
  • Consortia led by an eligible lead organisation

Additional considerations:

  • Must have an account with an Australian financial institution.
  • Must certify the project does not duplicate government-funded management actions already underway.
  • Must not have overdue reports, acquittals or debts related to previous Australian Government funding that would impede project delivery.
  • Organisations with 100 or more employees may need to demonstrate compliance with workplace gender reporting requirements.

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 a professional government grant writer consultant. Avant Group is Australia’s largest independent grants advisory firm. Find out more about our government grant writing and consulting service here. 

How can I get help understanding if I’m eligible for this grant? 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.