GO7849: Sponsorship Grants for Student Science Engagement and International Competitions 2026

This grant opportunity provides funding to eligible entities to facilitate student participation in a project involving in-person or virtual STEM events, activities, or competitions hosted in Australia or overseas.

The intended outcomes of the opportunity are to: support Australian students to develop STEM skills increase the number of students applying to participate in domestic and international STEM competitions and events increase the number of students participating in STEM education and going on to a career in STEM increase engagement and participation in groups underrepresented in STEM.

This grant opportunity aims to increase STEM participation among students from schools with lower Index of Community Socio-educational Advantage (ICSEA) values.

Up to $1.6 million is available for this grant opportunity for the 2025-26 financial year.

Stream 1: At least $1 million in funding is available for applications on behalf of Australian student(s) enrolled in a school with an ICSEA value of 1000 or below.

Funding under this stream does not cover participation in international competitions held overseas.

Stream 2: Up to $600,000 in funding is available for applications on behalf of Australian student(s) enrolled in schools with any ICSEA value.

Funding under this stream is intended for participation in in-person or virtual international STEM competitions held overseas.

Multiple applications can be made from a single applicant for different STEM events, activities or competitions.

However, when totalled, the funding requested across all applications cannot exceed $15,000 for Stream 1 and $25,000 for Stream 2.

The maximum funding that may be requested across both streams is $40,000.

For more information about the minimum and maximum amounts of funding available per applicant and per student by each stream, please refer to section 3.1 of the grant opportunity guidelines.

To be eligible you must apply on behalf of Australian student(s) enrolled in a school and under 18 at time of application to participate in a single specific STEM event, activity or competition; the applicant or a collaborator must have an Australian Business Number (ABN); you must be able to enter into a grant agreement in your own right or through an affiliated entity.

Eligible applicants are: an Australian primary or secondary school on the Australian Schools List, or an entity incorporated in Australia.

Government schools in NSW, SA, TAS and WA are not legal entities in their own right and must include their relevant state or territory education department ABN as a collaborator.

Non-government Australian schools that are unincorporated must apply through a related incorporated entity.

Projects must be completed within one year of application and within four weeks following the event(s).