2026-27 field season grants for Queensland Marine Turtle Network members 

The Great Barrier Reef Foundation (GBRF), Container Exchange (COEX) and the Queensland Marine Turtle Network (QMTN) are partnering to support local communities leading marine turtle conservation across Queensland with grants to fund practical, community-led action to protect turtles and the habitats they rely on.

The partnership combines the power of QMTN members’ local community leadership, COEX’s commitment to empowering Queensland communities to take positive environmental action and GBRF’s experience enabling community-led conservation.  

The Queensland Marine Turtle Network Community Grants Program provides small grants to support activities such as beach clean-ups, habitat restoration, turtle monitoring, nest protection, volunteer response equipment and community education, connecting local groups with resources to respond quickly to threats and protect turtles and their hatchlings.

The grants are available to Queensland Marine Turtle Network Traditional Owner and community organisation members. Since 2023, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation has supported the launch and development of the Network, strengthening opportunities for groups to share knowledge, build capability and grow collaborations. This grants program builds on that foundation, providing opportunities to support groups in delivering on-ground action with their communities. 

About this Grant:

The Queensland Marine Turtle Network (QMTN) members’ Grants Program provides direct funding support to frontline marine turtle community conservation groups protecting turtles and nesting habitats along Queensland’s coastline.  

This grant round responds to insights from the QMTN 2025 Member Survey which identified support needs for equipment and on-ground efforts for monitoring, education, threat mitigation and response work. The survey highlighted the critical role of community and Indigenous-led programs in marine turtle conservation in Queensland and the central role of volunteers in these efforts.  

Funded activities are expected to support locally driven conservation action with clear outcomes for turtles and coastal ecosystems, and the local communities who care for them. Grants are open to QMTN members only.  

QMTN members in the categories of Traditional Owner or Indigenous land and sea ranger groups, or community groups or organisation registration types can apply for funding to support:  

• Equipment purchase for new (or expansion) projects– Equipment including turtle monitoring equipment, volunteer WHS protection equipment, volunteer response equipment  
• On-ground activities
  • Turtle protection – new (or expansion) activities such as beach clean-ups ahead of nesting season, shading structures to reduce nest temperatures, predator exclusion, turtle habitat restoration activities that benefit nesting turtles and hatchlings, etc. 
  • Turtle monitoring activities – new (or expansion) monitoring activities (including projects at sites in addition to those already monitored by the applicant group) that help fill key knowledge gaps and guide future on-ground activity to care for marine turtles.  

• Training and education activities – new (or expansion) activities enabling community engagement in caring for turtles and strengthening relevant skills for volunteers.  

Eligibility: 

Applicants must have in place and provide evidence of as part of their application:  

• Be a current member of the Queensland Marine Turtle Network, identified as a Traditional Owner group, land and sea ranger group, or community organisation in your registration type, and undertaking on-ground turtle monitoring and protection activities (including education, training and habitat restoration) in Queensland. Research and supporting members are not eligible to apply, although can be included in community applications as relevant.  
• Have an Australian Business Number (ABN)  
• Hold the relevant association or business insurances: Public Liability, Professional Indemnity, Workers Compensation Insurance and Volunteer Insurance  
• If applicable, permit details or QDETSI authorisation for activities are identified in the application.  
• Active WHS policies and procedures applicable to the project