ASEAN-Australia Centre - 2026-27 Grants Program

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The ASEAN-Australia Centre 2026-27 Grants Program

Introduction (Not Applicable)

Thank you for your interest in the ASEAN-Australia Centre's (‘the Centre’) 2026-27 Grants Program. This grant opportunity contributes to DFAT Portfolio Budget Statement Outcome 1 Portfolio Budget Statements.

The Centre administers the Grants Program according to the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024 - Federal Register of Legislation (CGRPs).

Established in 2024, the Centre is a national platform that supports initiatives aimed at strengthening Southeast Asian literacy in Australia and business, education, cultural and community connections between Australia and Southeast Asia.

The Centre, subject to ongoing budget, will provide grants each year. The objectives of the program are to:

To develop, promote and strengthen understanding and engagement between Australia and Southeast Asia (encompassing ASEAN Member States) in support of Australia’s national interests.
To support implementation of the ASEAN-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership aligned with ASEAN priorities.
To build on the Australian Government’s ongoing commitment to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia and supports implementation of recommendations from Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040

To deliver on its objectives, the Centre focuses its work on four strategic pillars:

Southeast Asia literacy
Economic linkages
Education
Cultural connections.

Grant Streams (Not Applicable)

For the 2026-27 grant opportunity, the Centre welcomes applications in line with the Centre’s mission and pillars in the following streams:

Stream 1 – Economic engagement
Initiatives to support networking and engagement, exchange of information and opportunities, awareness-raising, business matching and Asia capability for Australian business that:
- Focus on a priority sector identified in Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040
- Demonstrate an inclusive approach - led by private sector but engaging state and territory governments, peak bodies, chambers and councils and Southeast Asia diplomatic representatives.

Initiatives that support Australian First Nations businesses to build economic engagement with Southeast Asia, in line with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.

Stream 2 – Creative industry and cultural connections

Creative industry exchanges, residencies and capacity-building
Professional development, skills sharing and creative collaboration
Initiatives that support export pathways and market development for arts workers, businesses and organisations.

Stream 3 – Asia capability

Proposals that draw from the skills and knowledge of students from Southeast Asia studying in Australian higher education institutions to support Southeast Asia literacy in the education and business sectors

Establish benchmarking and accreditation tools for Australian professionals in higher education, research and business to demonstrate their Southeast Asia literacy, and establish mechanisms to support Australians to maintain this important professional capability.

Develop resources and initiatives aligned to the Australian Curriculum to support teaching about Southeast Asia in primary and secondary schools in Australia, which may include materials that support alignment of community-based language learning with school-based language learning.

For all grant streams:

Projects must involve multiple Southeast Asian countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam)
Applications should clearly identify Southeast Asian partners involved in the project
Applications are encouraged from Australians of Southeast Asian heritage that promote engagement with, and increase awareness of Southeast Asian diaspora communities
Applications from First Nations Australians and First Nations Australian-led organisations are strongly encouraged
Women and women-led businesses and organisations are strongly encouraged to apply
Applications from people with diverse abilities are welcomed.

Grants Available (Not Applicable)

The Australian Government has a total of $2.2 million over two years (2026-27 to 2027-28) for this grant opportunity.

The minimum grant amount per annum is $50,000
The maximum grant amount per annum is $200,000.
Applicants may apply for a multi-year grant (up to two years) for an equivalent amount (i.e. a grant for any amount between $100,000 and $400,000 over two years).

Grant Period (Not Applicable)

The maximum grant period is two years. If successful, you must start your grant activity before the end of the 2026-27 financial year (i.e. before 30 June 2027).