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2025-26 Grants now open for applications

The ASEAN-Australia Centre is working to deepen engagement with Southeast Asia and support the Australian Government's commitment to deliver on recommendations from Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. 

The Centre’s Grants Program for 2025-26 is now open for applications. Organisations across the business, education, cultural and community sectors are invited to apply. 

$2.2 million is available for the 2025-26 grant opportunity and applicants can apply for a grant between A$50,000 and A$200,000 per annum. The Centre will consider multi-year grants of the same amounts for up to two years.  

Applications are now open across three priority areas: 

  • Stream 1 - Creative industry initiatives to facilitate professional and creative exchanges, residencies and collaborations between Australia and the region, including, but not limited to, Australian artists with Southeast Asian heritage, and First Nations artists.
  • Stream 2 - Projects that involve Australians of Southeast Asian heritage to advance engagement with Southeast Asia and increase awareness of the value diaspora brings to this engagement, including projects that promote and support engagement in business, higher education, science, sport and civil society. 
  • Stream 3 - Research (by private or public institutions) aimed at supporting Australian companies’ access to and understanding of trade and investment opportunities in Southeast Asia with a particular focus on projects that: 
    • investigate new strategies for Australian companies to engage with, export to and invest in Southeast Asia,
    • disseminate case studies or research on resilient supply chains, trade diversification, skills exchange, or emerging sectors where Australia and Southeast Asia can collaborate for mutual benefit and
    • draw on public and private data sources to measure and analyse the position of Australian companies in the region (including relative to likeminded countries), and present those findings publicly.   

How to apply: 

Apply for a 2025-26 ASEAN-Australia Centre Grant by 12noon (AEDT) on 6 November 2025. 

Applications must be submitted online via SmartyGrants. Follow the prompts to create a user profile, complete and submit your application. Applicants should review the grant guidelines, FAQs and the sample grant agreement on SmartyGrants before applying. 

Information session: 

If you would like to know more about the grant opportunity and application process, please register to attend our online information and Q&A session at 2pm-3pm (AEDT) on 14 October 2025.  Please note this information session will not be recorded.  You may use this link to register. 

Future opportunities:

For updates on further opportunities with the Centre, sign up for email updates or follow us on Instagram or LinkedIn 

2024-2025 Grant Recipients
Grant Recipient
Project Summary
Countries Involved
Grant amount (EX-GST)
Location
Cultural, Business & Community
Grant Recipient
ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership
Project Summary
The ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership will select 30 young leaders from the Australia-ASEAN region to participate in the ASEAN-Australia Young Leaders Forum. 
Countries Involved
ASEAN, Timor-Leste and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$200,000
Location
VIC
Grant Recipient
Asialink, Asia Institute and The University of Melbourne
Project Summary
The Promoting Southeast Asia Literacy: Update and Oration project will hold two public events in Australia, discussing Southeast Asia cultural, social and economic trends and their implications for the region and Australia. 
Countries Involved
Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$110,320
Location
VIC
Grant Recipient
Avocados Australia
Project Summary
Avocados Australia will work with culinary schools and the food and beverage sector in Southeast Asia on handling and exporting Australian produce such as avocados, grapes and summer fruit, and developing a fusion cookbook and competition.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$200,000
Location
QLD
Grant Recipient
Football Australia
Project Summary
Australia-ASEAN Football Week is a football diplomacy program for women’s football administrators and players to strengthen cultural, professional and sporting connections in the lead up to Australia hosting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in 2026. 
Countries Involved
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$200,000
Location
NSW
Grant Recipient
Northern Territory Government
Project Summary
Empowerment through Energy: Timor-Leste Internship Program is a three-month internship, where Australian and Timorese participants will collaborate and share their knowledge about the renewable energy sector.
Countries Involved
Timor-Leste and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$100,000
Location
NT
Creative Industries
Grant Recipient
Sounds Australia (APRA AMCOS)
Project Summary
Sounds Australia’s ASEAN exchange promotes long-term success and collaboration between Australian and Southeast Asian music through a series of activities across two years. This exchange will improve the export capacity of Australian music and facilitate opportunities for growth across both regions.
Countries Involved
Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$200,000
Location
NSW
Grant Recipient
Turning World and the Australian Performing Arts Market, WA Government
Project Summary
Turning World will engage Southeast Asian arts industry professionals and support them to participate in Australia’s largest gathering of performing arts professionals, the Australian Performing Arts Market in Perth, Western Australia.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$399,691
Location
WA
Grant Recipient
Griffith Film School, Griffith University
Project Summary
Regional Reels is a two-year initiative that brings together 12 ASEAN filmmakers for two 
 one-week intensive programs in Brisbane. During these intensives, filmmakers will co-develop screen projects that reflect experiences, challenges and stories of the ASEAN region.
Countries Involved
Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$166,688
Location
QLD
Grant Recipient
Indian Ocean Craft Triennial (IOTA)
Project Summary
The program will engage curators and artists from Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand through a targeted exchange aimed at deepening cross-cultural understanding, friendship, and collaboration ahead of IO-TA27 in Western Australia.
Countries Involved
Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$37,000
Location
WA
Practical research initiatives to strengthen Southeast Asia literacy
Grant Recipient
Lowy Institute
Project Summary
The ASEAN-Australia Visiting Fellows program invites ASEAN business and community leaders to Australia to participate in conversations on Southeast Asia trends and engagement. This program highlights Southeast Asian voices and perspectives and builds networks between Southeast Asian and Australian institutions.
Countries Involved
Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$79,700
Location
NSW
Grant Recipient
RMIT and Asia Society
Project Summary
The SEA-Q project is a 4-6 week intensive micro-credential University accredited course for Australian business professionals to enhance their knowledge and understanding of Southeast Asia. The course, hosted by RMIT, will deliver Southeast Asia literacy across three modules: business capability, contextual understanding and community connection.
Countries Involved
ASEAN, Timor-Leste and Australia
Grant amount (EX-GST)
$387,901
Location
VIC