Our Marine Parks Grants – Round 5

Purpose and Program Overview

The Our Marine Parks Grants Program is a Commonwealth-funded initiative administered by Parks Australia under the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The program supports organisations to engage directly in the management, protection and sustainable use of Australian Marine Parks. Since its inception, the program has invested $28.2 million across four rounds, funding 91 projects that have contributed measurable marine conservation outcomes across Australia’s network of 60 offshore marine parks.

Round 5 of the program delivers $5.6 million (GST exclusive) to eligible organisations. The round is designed to build the capacity of marine park users to actively participate in managing Australia’s marine environment. Priority is placed on collaborative projects that protect biodiversity, improve ecosystem health and strengthen culturally informed stewardship practices, particularly those involving First Nations communities and coastal industries.

The program is relevant to a broad range of entities operating in or adjacent to Australian Marine Parks, including First Nations organisations, tourism operators, commercial and recreational fishing bodies, scientific research organisations, community groups and local governments. Applications are submitted through GrantConnect and are administered by the Community Grants Hub.

Key Grant Details

• Total funding pool: $5.6 million (GST exclusive) for Round 5
• Grant amount per project: $50,000 to $500,000 (GST exclusive)
• Application open date: 13 August 2026
• Application close date: 27 October 2026
• Eligible organisation types: Broad range including companies, incorporated associations, Indigenous corporations, local governments, statutory entities and consortia (see Eligibility Criteria below)
• Co-contribution required: No mandatory co-contribution; however, financial and in-kind contributions are strongly encouraged, and projects with higher co-contributions are likely to be assessed more favourably
• Location/applicability: National — projects must contribute to one or more Australian Marine Parks located in Commonwealth waters around Australia
• Administered by: Community Grants Hub (on behalf of Parks Australia)
• Grant opportunity reference: GO8558 on GrantConnect

Priority Sectors

Round 5 identifies the following priority areas for funding:

• First Nations and Sea Country management — supporting Traditional Owners to care for Sea Country, document traditional knowledge, and maintain cultural values and connections to country
• Community and stakeholder engagement — increasing participation of regional communities and marine park users in management activities
• Marine conservation and biodiversity — protecting species and habitats from environmental threats and pressures
• Fishing and seafood industry — improving sustainability practices and participation in marine park management among commercial and recreational fishing operators
• Tourism — supporting tourism operators to engage positively in marine park stewardship and visitor education
• Scientific research and monitoring — generating evidence-based knowledge to support informed park management decisions
• Education and awareness — improving understanding of marine park values, rules and management arrangements among park users and the broader public

Funding Scope

• Minimum grant amount: $50,000 (GST exclusive) per project
• Maximum grant amount: $500,000 (GST exclusive) per project
• Total pool for Round 5: $5.6 million (GST exclusive)
• Project duration: Projects are expected to commence from June 2027 and must be completed by 1 May 2030 (up to three years)
• Funding structure: There are no formal streams or categories within Round 5. All eligible project types compete within a single competitive funding round

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements to be considered eligible:

• Eligible entity types: Companies, cooperatives, incorporated associations, Indigenous corporations, local governments, corporate Commonwealth entities, non-corporate Commonwealth statutory authorities, corporate and non-corporate state or territory entities, statutory entities, eligible trustees acting on behalf of a trust, and consortia led by an eligible lead organisation
• Australian financial institution: The applicant organisation must hold an account with an Australian financial institution
• No duplication of government-funded activities: The applicant must certify that the proposed project does not duplicate management actions already funded and underway through other Australian Government programs
• No outstanding compliance obligations: Applicants must not have overdue reports, acquittals or outstanding debts relating to previous Australian Government grant funding
• Workplace gender equality (large organisations): Organisations with 100 or more employees may be required to demonstrate compliance with the Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012 reporting requirements
• Project alignment: The project must contribute to one or more Australian Marine Parks and align with the program’s stated objectives

Note: Sole traders and individuals are not listed as eligible applicants. Entities should confirm their eligibility against the official program guidelines on GrantConnect before applying.

Eligible Activities and Expenses

The following types of activities and projects are eligible for funding under Round 5:

• Development and implementation of Sea Country management plans
• Protection and management of cultural values and culturally significant sites
• Marine park monitoring, surveillance and research activities
• Marine debris removal, ghost net management and invasive species control
• Community education and public awareness programs
• Citizen science projects
• Tourism and visitor experience initiatives
• Communication and outreach activities
• Climate adaptation and resilience-building projects
• Development of mobile applications and technology solutions supporting marine park management
• Industry engagement activities supporting sustainable marine use
• Installation of physical infrastructure, including signage and marker buoys that improve understanding of marine park values
• Training and professional development activities
• Data collection, habitat assessment and biodiversity monitoring

Activities must clearly contribute to achieving outcomes within Australian Marine Parks. Administrative overhead and purely operational costs unrelated to project delivery are unlikely to be considered eligible.

Assessment Process

This grant is competitive. Applications are assessed by a judging panel and ranked against each other. Funding is not guaranteed to any eligible applicant.

Applications are evaluated against the following criteria:

• Project merit — the degree to which the project addresses program priorities and delivers clear, measurable outcomes within Australian Marine Parks
• Strategic alignment — the extent to which the project aligns with the objectives of the relevant marine park management plans and broader Commonwealth marine policy
• Stakeholder engagement — evidence of meaningful engagement with relevant communities, First Nations peoples, industries or other partners
• Value for money — the level of co-contribution (financial or in-kind) offered, and the efficiency of proposed expenditure relative to projected outcomes
• Capability to deliver — demonstrated organisational capacity, relevant experience and a realistic project plan and budget

Applications with higher co-contributions, strong partnerships and clear evidence of organisational capability are likely to be more competitive.

Recent Program Updates

• Round 5 open: The fifth round of the Our Marine Parks Grants Program opened on 13 August 2026, with applications closing on 27 October 2026.
• Increased investment: Round 5 represents a continued government commitment to marine park stewardship, building on $28.2 million invested across Rounds 1 to 4.
• Free application support: Parks Australia has engaged Remote Strategy Plus, a majority Aboriginal-owned consultancy, to deliver three online seminars to assist applicants in preparing strong applications. Recordings of Seminars 1 and 2 (held 1 and 3 September 2026) are available via the Parks Australia website. Seminar 3 was held on 9 September 2026.
• Administration: Round 5 is administered through the Community Grants Hub via GrantConnect (GO8558), consistent with the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines.

Application Tips

Applicants are encouraged to consider the following when preparing a Round 5 application:

• Confirm eligibility early. Review the official program guidelines on GrantConnect to verify that the organisation and proposed project meet all eligibility requirements before investing time in a full application.
• Gather supporting documents in advance. Relevant documents may include financial statements, evidence of ABN registration, letters of support from project partners, and details of any co-contributions being offered.
• Align the proposal clearly with program objectives. Applications should explicitly reference how the project contributes to protecting biodiversity, engaging marine park users or supporting First Nations management of Sea Country.
• Demonstrate measurable outcomes. The assessment panel will evaluate whether the project can deliver tangible, verifiable results within Australian Marine Parks. Applicants should include clear milestones, deliverables and evaluation methods.
• Highlight co-contributions. While not mandatory, financial or in-kind contributions from the applicant or partners demonstrate commitment and value for money, which are weighted positively during assessment.
• Show organisational capability. Include evidence of relevant experience, prior project delivery, qualified personnel and robust governance arrangements.
• Engage with the free support seminars. Recordings of the application support seminars are available via the Parks Australia website. These resources include worked examples of strong selection criteria responses and guidance on what the assessment panel is looking for.

Where to Get Help

Consider consulting a grant specialist like Pattens Group for a personalised eligibility assessment and expert assistance in preparing a strong, compliant and competitive application. Contact us today and get connected with Australia’s best grant specialist, boasting over 35 years of experience in the industry and a 100% success rate. For official guidelines, application details, templates, and further information, visit the official website of Our Marine Parks Grants and other associated Australian government websites.