Murray Darling Meets Mesoamerica: Country, Culture and Cuencas
Grant recipient: Charles Sturt University, New South Wales
This project will deliver a seven-day Australia-Central America Water Innovation and Cultural Exchange that will connect experts from Panama, El Salvador, Costa Rica and Guatemala, along with the Secretariat for Central American Economic Integration (SIECA), with Australian counterparts. The project will showcase Australia's leadership in integrated water management, First Nations stewardship and nature-based solutions, as well as highlight regional innovation in community-based governance. Key activities include workshops, site visits and policy dialogues in Melbourne, Victoria, and Albury, New South Wales, in May 2026.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $50,000.00
Project locations: Australia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala and Panama
Post: Mexico City
DFAT state offices: Victoria and New South Wales
Responsible Critical Minerals Supply Chains: Australia and Brazil Research and Practice Forum
Grant recipient: Queensland University of Technology
This project will establish an Australia-Brazil Research and Practice Forum to advance transparent and responsible critical minerals supply chains. Led by Queensland University of Technology and Fundação Getulio Vargas (a university and think tank based in Sao Paulo, Brazil) and its associate research centres, the project will convene an in-person forum in São Paulo and a virtual follow-up in Brisbane, Queensland to drive collaborative activity through expert presentations, master classes and round tables.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $45,000.00
Project locations: Australia and Brazil
Post: Brasilia
DFAT state office: Queensland
Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Urban Restoration: Connecting Experiences between Australia and Ecuador
Grant recipient: Fundacion Great Leaf (not-for-profit organisation)
This project will build a collaborative platform between Fundación Great Leaf (Ecuador) and Flinders University's Frontiers of Restoration Ecology (FORE) team (Australia), Melbourne University and other Australian restoration experts, to enhance restoration science, capacity building, and community engagement in relation to restoration of tropical rainforests. The project will be implemented in Ecuador's Chocó tropical forest with activity also taking place in Adelaide and in Melbourne in Australia, through online and in-person exchanges, field workshops, and joint seminars. It will connect scientists, students, Non-Government Organisations, and communities to exchange knowledge in restoration and microbial ecology. By integrating Australian scientific innovation with Ecuadorian community-based restoration practices, the project will co-develop new methods and educational tools for climate-resilient forest recovery.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $50,000.00
Project locations: Ecuador, Adelaide and Melbourne
Post: Santiago de Chile
DFAT state offices: South Australia and Victoria
Develop and extend Australia Chile Performing Arts Mobility
Grant recipient: Australian Performing Arts Centres (PAC Australia)
This project will bring together two leading art markets — the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) and Platea Teatro a Mil's Professionals Week — to strengthen cultural, professional, and First Nations-to-First Nations connection between Australia and Latin America. PAC Australia, based in Perth, and Teatro a Mil, based in Santiago, Chile, will deliver a one-year exchange program involving delegates, producers and artists from both regions. Activities will include participation in APAM's online Groundwork program, roundtables, networking sessions at both markets, and research visits to help identify areas for future collaboration among producers and artists.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $24,000.00
Project locations: Australia and Chile
Post: Santiago de Chile
DFAT state office: Western Australia
Shared Futures: Australia-Colombia Policy Exchange on Mine Closure and Energy Transitions
Grant recipient: University of Queensland
This project will build on existing collaboration between the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) at the University of Queensland and the Centro Regional de Empresas y Emprendimientos Responsables (CREER) in Colombia to exchange lessons on mine closure in coal-dependent regions in the context of energy transitions. Key activities include two reciprocal exchange visits (CREER to Australia, CSRM to Colombia) to build mutual understanding and engage with a broad range of stakeholders and participation in virtual policy forums. Key outcomes of this project will be the drafting and dissemination of policy briefs to government, industry, and civil-society audiences.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $50,000.00
Project locations: Colombia
Post: Bogotá
DFAT state office: Queensland
Fit to Lead: Developing Women Leaders in Fitness and Nutrition for Sport
Grant recipient: Adelaide University Soccer Club Inc
Led by the Adelaide University Soccer Club in partnership with Alianza Valledupar FC (Colombia) and Blumenau Women's Basketball (Brazil), this project will run online and in-person workshops, mentorship, and leadership exchanges to advance women's leadership in sport. Female experts in fitness, nutrition, and mental health will co-design and deliver training modules, fostering technical expertise and leadership confidence. Participants will engage in virtual cultural exchanges, co-develop bilingual learning resources, and showcase outcomes at events in each country.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $48,000.00
Project locations: Australia, Brazil, Colombia
Posts: Brasilia and Bogotá
DFAT state office: South Australia
World Surfing Conservation Conference 2026
Grant recipient: Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve Inc
Project Description
This project will form part of a landmark international surfing conference, the World Surfing Conservation Conference, focused on the intersection of surfing, ocean conservation, and cultural heritage. Project activity includes supporting the visit of a Latin American delegation; screening a South American film documentary; and dedicated speaker sessions and workshops with a South American focus, including youth and First Nations speakers and experts. This activity will deepen connection and collaboration between Australian and Latin American regions with strong coastal and surfing challenges to help address shared environmental challenges.
Grant amount (excluding GST): $30,000.00
Project locations: Australia, Peru, Colombia and Costa Rica
Posts: Bogota, Peru and Santiago de Chile
DFAT state offices: New South Wales and Queensland