Inspiring Australia Tasmania is offering grants to fund a range of STEM engagement events and initiatives in Tasmania.
Two stream of grant funding are available:
- National Science Week Grants
National Science Week, held from 15 to 23 August 2026 aims to raise the profile and increase public awareness of the importance of science, technology, and innovation in our society.
This grant program is available to support the delivery of public National Science Week events and activities held between 8-30 August 2026.
- STEM Community Grants
This program aims to build capacity, programs, initiatives, and activities that raise the profile and provide engagement with a focus on groups historically under-represented in STEM*.
This grant program is available to fund activities as listed above, where these are delivered outside of the National Science Week period (8-30 August 2026).
For each stream, two levels of grants are available:
- Program grant: up to $5,000
- Seed grant: up to $1,500
- These grants are specifically available to individuals, groups, and organisations who have not received an Inspiring Tasmania or Inspiring Australia grant in the last three years and do not regularly host science engagement activities.
* Groups historically underrepresented in STEM are defined under the Diversity in STEM strategy to include:
- First Nations people
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people
- Women and girls
- People living in regional and remote areas
- People with disability
- People from low socio-economic backgrounds
- Neurodiverse people
- LGBTIAQ+ people
- People who face age-based discrimination
Program Objectives
National Science Week Grants Program
National Science Week, one of Australia’s largest national festivals, aims to raise the profile and increase public awareness of the importance of science, technology, and innovation in our society.
The objectives of this program are:
- Promote and encourage community interest, participation, and engagement in STEM
- Raise awareness of the contributions and achievements of Tasmanian scientists and innovators, including contributions to the improvement of everyday life
- Increase engagement and participation in groups historically under-represented in STEM*
STEM Community Grants Program
The STEM Community Grants Program contributes to a vision for an Australian society engaged in and enriched by science.
The objectives of this program are:
- Increase engagement and participation in groups historically under-represented in STEM*
- Support building STEM engagement and communication capacity in Tasmania
Eligibility
Eligible Applicants
To be eligible to apply for a grant, you must be:
- an individual (aged 18 years or older)
- a community group, association, or organisation
- a business, industry body or local government organisation
- state government department or agency with a community focus (e.g. libraries)
To be eligible for the seed grant category in either stream, you must:
- not have received an Inspiring Tasmania, Inspiring Australia to run a science engagement initiative/activity in Tasmania in the last three years
- not regularly deliver science engagement initiatives/activities
Successful grantees must be able to provide a valid tax invoice with an ABN.
Please note, that due to employer obligations under Australian taxation and superannuation requirements, for applicants employed at the University of Tasmania (who is the auspicing organisation for the Inspiring Australia – Tasmania) grant funding paid to staff will incur PAYG tax and superannuation deductions from the grant funds. Alternatively, the grant funds can be transferred to a research trust project within the University to be managed by the applicant.
Eligible costs
Eligible costs can be included in the budget for a grant application. These include:
- Venue and equipment hire
- Event consumables
- Event advertising and promotions, including graphic design and printing
- Transport/accommodation associated with the project
- Prizes and giveaways
- Equipment
- External presenter fees
- Staff costs for activity development or delivery of the activity outside of staff hours already paid by your organisation/group
Ineligible costs
Ineligible Costs can be listed in the grant application budget, but must not be funded by the grant funds. These include:
- Business As Usual costs
- Permanent infrastructure and large capital expenditures
- Staff costs for administering the grant or writing the grant or grant reporting or staff hours already paid by your organisation/group
- Activities that are exclusively for a school or school audience
- Research projects
- Administrative fees imposed by a parent organisation
- Expenditure items that receive funding under another Commonwealth program, or from a National Science Week state or territory Coordinating Committee, in the same year
Eligible Initiatives/Activities
- Initiatives /activities must take place in Tasmania.
- Initiatives /activities under the National Science Week Grants Program must take place between 8 and 30 August 2026.
- Initiatives /activities under the STEM Community Grants Program must take place outside of 8 and 30 August 2026.
- Initiatives/activities in areas outside of major cities are encouraged.
- Initiatives/activities run by Tasmanian-based applicants will be prioritised
And eligible activities/initiatives will need to address one or more of the following objectives:
- Promote and encourage community interest, participation, and engagement in STEM
- Raise awareness of the contributions and achievements of Tasmanian scientists and innovators, including contributions to the improvement of everyday life
- Increase engagement and participation in groups historically under-represented in STEM*
- Build engagement and communication capacity in the Tasmanian STEM ecosystem
Please be sure to address the specific objective of the grant scheme you are applying for in your application.
Funded activities/initiatives may include, but are not limited to, applications for the following types of STEM engagement:
- workshops or field activities
- fairs, expos, shows or exhibitions
- science through the arts activities
- interactive online events, podcasts, videos, or virtual tours
- presentations, demonstrations, lectures, or webinar
- forums, debates, quizzes
- citizen science activities
- build organisational capacity in STEM, for example through professional development
- STEM clubs or groups
- school initiatives open to the wider community that are not for the exclusive or primary benefit of a school or its enrolled students. Initiatives in or for schools that are specifically for students and their families can apply for the Australian Science Teacher’s Association’s National Science Week School’s grants.
All activities/initiatives must comply with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
All in-person activities/initiatives must meet Tasmanian public health guidelines.
Assessment Criteria
Program Grants
Eligible applications will be assessed against the following:
- Reach and impact demonstrated through:
- Identifying the intended audience of the proposed activity, noting where appropriate the anticipated audience numbers, ages/demographics, geographic reach, and outlining whether/how this event is catering to people from specific groups that are historically under-represented in STEM.
- A clear and inclusive promotional plan to outline how the target audience will be reached, including any innovative approaches
- How participation will be kept affordable and accessible
- The impact of the proposed activities for the intended audience
- How success of the project will be evaluated
- Applicant’s capacity, capability and resources to carry out the project, demonstrated through identifying:
- Ability to run the activity, including previous experience and access to support from personnel with suitable skills and experience.
- Access to appropriate venues, infrastructure, technology, and any required regulatory or other approvals required to run the proposed activity.
- Submission of a considered and achievable budget.
Seed Grants
These seed grants are designed to support smaller-scale activities/initiatives that spark curiosity, creativity and connection through STEM. These grants are specifically available to individuals, groups, and organisations who have not received an Inspiring Tasmania or Inspiring Australia grant in the last three years and do not regularly host science engagement activities.
Eligible applications will be assessed against the following:
- Reach and impact demonstrated through:
- Who is your project for and how will you reach them? Where possible, please be specific regarding which historically under-represented groups in STEM
- How will your project benefit your audience and how will you assess this?
- Applicant’s capacity, capability and resources to carry out the project, demonstrated through identifying:
- Your capacity to run the proposed science engagement initiative/activity and how you will access any needed equipment, infrastructure, and/or expert knowledge
- Submission of a considered and achievable budget.
Budget
A well-considered budget is an important part of any successful grant submission.
Tips for preparing a strong grant budget:
- General descriptions of required items and estimated costs are appropriate at this stage.
- Note any other funding sources that you have already secured, or hope to secure.
- List all in-kind contributions in your budget. These are non-cash contributions in the form of donated goods, services, or assets – for example:
- Staffing costs covered by applicants organisation (e.g. event coordinator, 10 hrs at $40 hour = $400 in kind contribution)
- Waived venue or equipment hire
- Waived speaker fees
Please use this budget template.
Please refer to this example budget to help develop a successful budget.
Assessment Process
Applicants will be assessed by a Grants Subcommittee of the Inspiring Australia – Tasmania Reference Group. The assessors will identify any potential or actual conflicts of interest before applications are assessed – these issues will be managed accordingly.
Assessment will be based on the written information provided by the applicant. In some instances, the assessors may request further information before making its final decision.
The Grants Subcommittee will assess eligible applications against the assessment criteria and rank projects accordingly. Based on the project ranking, the Grants Subcommittee will determine the successful applications. Under specific circumstances, the Grants Subcommittee may offer partial funding for a grant application.
How to apply
- Read the guidelines carefully.
- Submit a complete application form through the Inspiring Tasmania webpage before 11.59 pm 8 March 2026
- Template program grant application and template seed grant application
- Example of a successful grant application
- Template program grant application and template seed grant application
- Submit detailed budget
- Budget template
- Example of a successful budget
- Budget template
- Grant applicants must be able to provide a valid tax invoice (ABN required***) to receive funds.
- Applicants can apply for up to one grant within each stream, i.e. one application for the Science Week Grants, one application for the STEM Community Grants.
If you have any questions about these grants, please contact inspiring.tasmania@utas.edu.au
** Special conditions apply for the payment of grant funds to University of Tasmania staff. An ABN is not required, however superannuation and PAYG tax will be deducted from the grant amount or funds can be transferred for management in a research trust project.
Resources and advice for grant writing
Here are some tips to help you write a successful grant:
- Understand the Program: Review the objectives of the grant stream you are applying for. Ensure your project aligns with at least one of these objectives.
- Clear Objectives: Define the objectives of your project, such as raising awareness of a particular scientific issue or encouraging hands-on participation. Make sure they are measurable and achievable.
- Detailed Plan: Provide a clear project plan with timelines, key milestones, and roles. Show how you will engage the community and meet your objectives.
- Budget Justification: Create a realistic and well-detailed budget that outlines how the grant funds will be used, including materials, venues, and promotion costs.
- Follow Guidelines: Adhere to all application guidelines and deadlines and ensure your proposal is complete and organised.
By aligning your project with the goals of the grant stream and clearly communicating its impact, you can enhance your chances of securing funding.
Here are some examples of what a successful application and budget looks like:
Watch this video from our colleagues in the national office to learn more helpful tips on how to write a successful science week grant.
Here are some tips from our colleagues in Queensland.
Successful Grants
Successful grantees are required to
- Sign a letter of agreement (example for science week and STEM community)
- Acknowledge grant funding by including the Inspiring Australia logo on all promotional materials and where possible, display an Inspiring Australia Tasmania banner at grant-funded events.
- For grants funded under the National Science Week Scheme, list events/activities on the National Science Week website by 1 June 2026 and include the National Science Week logo in addition to the Inspiring Australia logo.
- Provide an evaluation report after the completion of the activity by the due date specified in the grant agreement.