Current Grant Opportunity View - GO8468

The strategic objective of the New Colombo Plan (NCP), as described in Program 1.5 of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Portfolio Budget Statement (PBS) is to advance Australia’s interests and bilateral relationships through enduring people-to-people, institutional and business links with the Indo-Pacific region.

The intended outcomes of the NCP are:

• for participants to acquire Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy
• to foster deeper people-to-people and education relationships between Australia and the Indo-Pacific, and
• to increase Australia's economic engagement with the region by supporting NCP participants to build job-ready skills, and supporting NCP alumni to maintain their ties to the Indo-Pacific.

The 2027 NCP Mobility Program will provide funding to Australian universities to deliver 4–9 week mobility projects.

The objective of the NCP Mobility Program is to support Australian undergraduate students to develop Indo-Pacific capability by undertaking shorter term programs in the region, including structured learning, internships, mentorships, practicums and research, in areas of Australia’s strategic interests.

The intended outcomes of the NCP Mobility Program include:

• participants develop their Indo-Pacific knowledge and capability, including language skills, in line with Australia’s strategic interests
• Australian universities leverage institutional partnerships in the Indo-Pacific and there is an expansion of engagement with counterpart institutions in priority host locations and languages
• alumni maintain and develop their Indo-Pacific capability, including language skills, and engagement with the region, and
• from the 2027 Round, strengthened First Nations engagement in the Indo-Pacific, including growing First Nations trade and investment with our region.

Refer to the NCP Mobility Program 2027 Round Guidelines (sections 4 and 5).

The 2027 NCP Mobility Program will run from 1 January 2027 to 28 February 2029.

$7,800,000.00

Applications must be lodged in SmartyGrants by the closing date/time (11 pm Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST) on 4 August 2026).

Industry Briefing: New Colombo Plan 2027 Round

The NCP Secretariat will hold a webinar for Australian universities on Monday 15 June 2026 to discuss the 2027 Round. 

NCP Secretariat staff will be able to take questions during the webinar. A summary of the Q&A will be published as an addendum on GrantConnect.

The briefing will be held via Microsoft Teams, with details below.

Date: Monday 15 June 2026

Time: 1 pm to 2.30 pm (AEST)

Location: Online via Microsoft Teams

Meeting link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/246544454752244?p=EgHByzCEWlwxaB20nK

Meeting ID: 246 544 454 752 244

Passcode: Mq3hK3xw