National Science Week Grants Now Open
Across Australia, communities are exploring, discovering and celebrating science during National Science Week. From hands-on activities and public talks to exhibitions and community events, National Science Week continues to inspire curiosity and connection through science.
If this year’s program has sparked an idea, now is a great time to start planning for 2027.
National Science Week will celebrate its 30th anniversary in 2027, and funding will be available to help individuals and organisations bring science engagement activities to life in their local communities. The Australian Government’s National Science Week Public Event Grants program supports projects that encourage public participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), with a focus on inclusive and engaging experiences.
What’s New for 2027?
Updated grant guidelines have been released for the 2027 funding round, including two significant changes:
- The minimum grant amount has increased from $2,000 to $5,000.
- A new four-year funding model has been introduced, with a single set of guidelines covering grant rounds from 2027 to 2030.
Successful applicants can apply for grants of between $5,000 and $20,000 to deliver National Science Week activities that engage the public and celebrate science.
Key Dates
Applications for the 2027 National Science Week Public Event Grants open on 1 September 2026 and close on 6 October 2026.
Whether you’re part of a school, community group, research organisation, local council or simply have a great idea for engaging people with science, now is the perfect time to start planning.
For full details and grant guidelines, visit the National Science Week grants page: https://business.gov.au/grants-and-programs/national-science-week-public-event-grants-2027-30.
National Science Week is Australia’s annual celebration of science and technology, encouraging people of all ages to explore the role science plays in our lives and communities.
Maker Project Community Grants – Now Closed
The opportunity provides grants up to $100,000 to foster creativity and inquiry‑based STEM learning for students and youth under 18 through hands-on learning.
What do you get?
Grants from $20,000 to $100,000.
Who is this for?
Organisations that deliver community‑based Maker Projects for students and youth under 18 years of age. The opportunity particularly supports projects that increase access and participation for groups historically under‑represented in STEM, including:
- women and girls
- First Nations peoples
- young people living in regional, rural and remote areas
- people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
- people with disability, and
- young people from low socio‑economic or educationally disadvantaged backgrounds.
About the program
Maker Projects Grants aim to foster creativity and inquiry-based learning. They support the development of STEM skills in students and youth under 18 years of age in design, engineering and programming, through hands-on learning.
The objectives of the grant opportunity are to:
- deliver projects where students and youth under 18 years of age, at the time of application, can develop and apply their STEM knowledge through experimentation, tinkering and hands-on learning by engaging with a range of technologies
- encourage practical skills, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking through the delivery of hands-on STEM-related events and activities
- inspire students and youth under 18 years of age to pursue further studies and careers in STEM
- make projects accessible to as many young people as possible, including those in regional, rural and disadvantaged areas
- make a positive and ongoing impact on students and youth under 18 years of age, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM including as defined in the glossary of the grant opportunity guidelines.
The intended outcomes of the grant opportunity are:
- increased practical knowledge and skills in scientific experimentation, design, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship through hands-on activities for students and youth
- increased accessibility and participation in STEM-related events and activities for students and youth under 18 years of age, particularly those historically underrepresented in STEM as defined in the glossary
- positive and ongoing development of STEM skills for participating students and youth, fostered through hands-on inquiry-based learning.
For more information on how to apply, click the link below:
Maker Projects Community STEM Engagement Grants 2026 | business.gov.au
Inspiring Tasmania Grants – Now Closed
Got a great idea for an engaging, innovative STEM program or initiative and need funding to put it into action? Or already running a great program and looking for funding to take it to the next level?
The Inspiring Tasmania Program is offering grants to fund a range of STEM engagement initiatives and activities in Tasmania in 2026.
Two different streams of funding are available:
- National Science Week Grants
National Science Week, held from 15 to 23 August 2026 aims to raise the profile and increase 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.
- Community STEM Grants
This program aims to build capacity of 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).
Within each stream, two levels of grants are available:
- Program grant: up to $5,000
- Seed Grant: up to $1,500
- Specifically available to individuals, groups, and organisations who have not received an Inspiring Tasmania or Inspiring Australia grant before and do not regularly host science engagement activities.