Grants for 2025 National Science Week engagement activities

You can apply if you:

• are an individual 18 years of age or older, or
• have an Australian business number (ABN).

You can’t apply if you are:

• an organisation, or your project partner is an organisation, included on the National Redress Scheme’s list of Institutions that have not joined or signified their intent to join the Scheme
• an employer of 100 or more employees that has not complied with the Workplace Gender Equality Act (2012)
• a non-corporate Commonwealth entity (unless you are a publicly funded research organisation, as defined in section 14 of the grant opportunity guidelines)
• a trust (however, an incorporated trustee may apply on behalf of a trust).

Partner with other organisations

You can partner with one or more organisations to deliver the project. But you must decide who the lead organisation is.

The lead organisation must fill out the application form, be the main driver of the project and be eligible to apply.

If your application is successful the lead organisation:

• signs the grant agreement
• is responsible for making sure your group follows the rules in the grant agreement
• identifies all members of the proposed group and provides a letter of support from each project partner (as detailed in Section 7.2 of the grant opportunity guidelines). A template letter of support is located on this page under ‘key documents’.
• has a formal arrangement in place with all parties prior to execution of the grant agreement.

Project specific legislation requirements

If you are successful, relevant personnel working on the project must maintain the following registration/checks, and comply with the following:

• working with children check
• working with vulnerable people registration.

You must complete your project by 15 September 2025.

To be eligible your project must:

• be directed towards a science-related activity that will be conducted in Australia during National Science Week 2025, or where appropriate, in the week before or after National Science Week 2025
• be available to the general public and engage the wider community
• address one or more of the following purposes:
  • draw the nation’s attention towards the sciences
  • spark broad interest and engagement in the sciences
  • provide an opportunity for all Australians, including those historically under-represented in the sciences, to participate in science events and activities
  • foster partnerships between the community, research organisations and industry
  • trial new and innovative science communication activities
• be delivered in at least one of the following formats:
  • an in-person event involving physical attendance
  • an online event involving two-way audience participation or involvement
• include eligible project activities.

Examples of eligible activities include:

• events relating to existing exhibitions (including travelling exhibitions)
• cinema and theatre
• debates
• quizzes
• open days
• interactive presentations and workshops
• expos and fairs
• forums
• events that relate to the theme for that particular year
• online events that include two-way audience participation or involvement, such as interactive virtual tours, online Q&As or online workshops.

We may also approve other activities.

You can apply for a grant between $2,000 and $20,000. The grant will be up to 100% of eligible expenditure.

You can use this grant funding for:

• travel and accommodation
• external venue and equipment hire
• consumable materials used during your event (for example, workbooks, chemicals etc.)
• external presenter fees and travel
• prizes
• event advertising and promotion, including graphic design
• displays for the event
• costs associated with a change in delivery method (for example, virtual tours and online streaming of events.