Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8369

The Australian Government is inviting applications by an open competitive process to apply to deliver services under the Protecting the Great Barrier Reef — Community Stewardship Program Round 2.

The Australian Government announced a total of up to $12.5 million (GST exclusive) over 7 years from 2023–24 to 2029–30 for the Protecting the Great Barrier Reef – Community Stewardship Program. For this grant opportunity (Round 2), up to $7.538 million (GST exclusive) is available over 4 years from 2026–27 to 2029–30.

Objectives of the Round 2 grant opportunity are to:

• deliver community-based, on-ground actions that measurably improve the health and resilience of key Reef species and habitats
• build a long-lasting inclusive and interconnected community stewardship network that mobilises and coordinates communities, Traditional Owners and partners to protect the Reef.

Intended outcomes of the Round 2 grant opportunity are to:

• contribute to the delivery of the Reef 2050 Plan and at least one of the Reef Trust Outcomes
• support actions addressing the threats to the Reef’s ecosystem and heritage values associated with climate change, coastal development, land-based runoff and direct use, identified in the Great Barrier Reef Outlook Report 2024
• increase community-based protection of the Reef through environmentally responsible practices and strengthen coordination of Reef protection activities by local communities
• empower local communities, including Traditional Owners, to engage in a culture of stewardship that delivers positive outcomes for the Reef.

To be eligible, you must have:

• have an Australian Business Number (ABN)

and be one of the following entity types:

• Company
• Cooperative
• Corporate Commonwealth Entity
• Corporate State or Territory Entity
• Incorporated Association
• Indigenous Corporation
• Local Government
• Statutory Entity
• Non-corporate Commonwealth Statutory Authority
• Non-corporate State or Territory Entity
• Non-corporate State or Territory Statutory Authority.

If you are applying as a Trustee on behalf of a Trust, the Trustee must be one of the eligible entity types as listed above.

Further information on entity types is available on the Community Grants Hub webpage.

Assessment of applications - Within 10 weeks from the closing date

Approval of outcomes of selection process - Within 14 weeks from the closing date

Notification to applicants - Within 16 weeks from the closing date

Negotiations and award of grant agreements - Within 20 weeks from the closing date

Earliest start date of grant activity - March 2027

End date of grant activity - 30 June 2030.

To apply, you must:

• complete the online application form on GrantConnect
• provide all the information requested
• address all eligibility criteria and assessment criteria
• include all necessary attachments
• submit your application to the Community Grants Hub by 9:00 pm AEDT on 6 October 2026.

Please see:

• Protecting the Great Barrier Reef - Community Stewardship Program Round 2 - Questions and Answers - version 2.