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Programs

Grants

Our grants support projects that strengthen Australia’s connections with Southeast Asia and ASEAN across the business, education, cultural, and community sectors. Our grants program is a competitive opportunity that funds programs closely aligned with our four pillars.  

Applications are open for our 2026-27 grants round!  

Up to $2.2 million funding is available for eligible Australian organisations and individuals to undertake initiatives that will strengthen engagement with Southeast Asia.  

Projects must involve more than one Southeast Asian country 

We are looking for projects across 3 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, and  
    • Demonstrate an inclusive approach - led by private sector but engaging state and territory governments, peak bodies, chambers and councils and Southeast Asia diplomatic representatives. 

OR 

  • 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 

OR 

  • 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. 

OR 

  • 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. 

Eligible Australian organisations and individuals  can apply for grants ranging from $50,000 and $200,000 per year, for up to two years.   

To read the grant guidelines and submit your application, visit SmartyGrants. 

Resources

Past recipients

Find out more about our 2024-2025 grants recipients. 

2025-2026 Grant Recipients
Grant Recipient
Project Summary
Countries Involved
Grant amount (EX-GST)
Location
Creative Industries
Grant Recipient
ACMI
Project Summary
ACMI will strengthen professional and creative exchanges, residencies and collaborations between Australia and Southeast Asian museum curators, producers, educators, archivists and technical staff. The program will build a co-curated digital screen media exhibition with two cultural institutions across Southeast Asia.
Countries Involved
Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$400,000
Location
Victoria
Grant Recipient
ARC Circus Pty Ltd
Project Summary
ARC Circus is a women-led contemporary circus company. They will deliver creative collaboration activities to build cultural connection between Southeast Asian and Australian performers and creatives. ARC Circus will facilitate collaboration between performers from across Southeast Asia and including First Nations Australians.
Countries Involved
Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Vietnam  and Australia 
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$161,547
Location
Queensland
Grant Recipient
BANG-ON Collective
Project Summary
BANG-ON's 'We are weaving oceans' program will create a platform for reciprocal exchange between Australian and Filipino artists.  The grant will activate a network of grassroot organisations, Indigenous communities, artist-led initiatives and festivals across Southeast Asia.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia,  Philippines, Singapore and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$400,000
Location
National
Grant Recipient
Sport Inclusion Australia
Project Summary
Empower HER Through Sport empowers and promotes the inclusion of women with a disability. It will work with sporting representatives in Southeast Asia to enhance the visibility and representation of people with a disability, with a strong emphasis on gender equality. The program will also target engagement with Australians of Southeast Asian heritage.
Countries Involved
Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Australia 
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$130,000
Location
National
Projects that recognise the expertise and networks of Australians of Southeast Asian heritage
Grant Recipient
Australian Industry Group 
Project Summary
The ASEAN-Australia Innovation Network will create a space for diaspora communities to share their deep business experience and expertise. It will connect Southeast Asian Australian professionals and entrepreneurs with Australian businesses to drive growth in ASEAN markets. The program will expand Australia’s export capability, drive business growth and deepen cultural and commercial connectivity between Australia and ASEAN markets.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$400,000
Location
National
Grant Recipient
Australian Wooden Boat Festival
Project Summary
In collaboration with the Australia-Indonesia Institute, the ASEAN Maritime Heritage Program showcases Southeast Asian maritime cultures. It will present Indonesian maritime heritage at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival in Hobart through traditional boats, performances and hands‑on cultural activities.
Countries Involved
Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
Location
Tasmania
Grant Recipient
City of Darwin 
Project Summary
Darwin Fusion 2026 deepens economic and cultural exchange between Darwin and Southeast Asia. Due to its geography, Darwin is uniquely positioned to foster meaningful and lasting international relationships. It will connect Southeast Asian diaspora business, industry, community and cultural groups.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Philippines, Timor-Leste, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$115,000
Location
Northern Territory
Grant Recipient
Global Viet Women 
Project Summary
The Australia–Mekong Screen Exchange is a two-year pilot program that will strengthen screen industry collaboration, creative capability and co-production pathways between Southeast Asian and Australian screenwriters, directors and producers.
Countries Involved
Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$150,000
Location
National
Grant Recipient
Per Capita Australia
Project Summary
The ASEAN Thought Leaders Program and Policy Dialogue will bring our brightest minds and future leaders together to deepen their expertise and confidence to contribute to our region’s policy discussions through research, training and mentorship. It will enhance diversity in our national conversation and have a flow on effect of supporting Australians to better understand Southeast Asia and our region.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$180,000
Location
National
Research grants to support trade and investment   
Grant Recipient
Swinburne University of Technology
Project Summary
Accelerating Digital Transformation: A Business-Led Agenda for Australia-ASEAN Engagement in Indonesia and Vietnam will address critical digital transformation needs in Indonesia and Vietnam.

The program will be co-designed and delivered with Indonesian and Vietnamese industry associates, universities and government agencies. It will equip Australian businesses with research backed by market intelligence to expand their digital exports, while also supporting Southeast Asian partners. The research findings will be presented at the Australian Engagement Forums in Sydney and Melbourne.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$262,734
Location
Australia