Federal Grants Program to support Australia’s maritime history opens for 2026Federal Grants Program to support Australia’s maritime history opens for 2026 

The Maritime Museums of Australia Project Support Scheme (MMAPSS) is funded by the Australian Government – through the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts and the Australian National Maritime Museum.

Since its inception in 1995, the Australian Government has provided more than $2.61 million to over 565 projects and over 93 development opportunities under MMAPSS, to organisations in Queensland, New South Wales (including Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands), Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, Western Australia (including the Cocos and Keeling Islands), the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory. 
MMAPSS provides grants of up to $15,000, as well as museological training opportunities valued at up to $3,000 and in-kind support from Australian National Maritime Museum experts.

MMAPSS offers funding to museums and other not-for-profit organisations to help preserve or display objects of national and historical maritime significance. It also supports staff or volunteers, including from remote or regional organisations across Australia, to spend time learning specific skills and making valuable connections. 

The 2026 MMAPSS application round is open from February 27 until March 24.

MMAPSS gives grants of up to $15,000 for projects that fall into one or more of these categories:

• Collection management (registration, documentation and storage)
• Conservation (preservation, vessel restoration, conservation work/treatments and professional assessments)
• Presentation (research, development of exhibitions, establishing interpretative displays and workshops)
• Development of relevant education or public programs which make collections more accessible to audiences

MMAPSS also gives grants of up to $3,000 to support attendance at the Museum Administrators’ Course:

• Museological training for paid or unpaid workers of not-for-profit organisations caring for Australia's maritime collections
• Funding will support the accommodation and travel costs of staff and/or volunteers to participate in a week-long Museum Administrators’ Course to develop museological skills and knowledge that will increase standards of practice for the care and management of maritime collections (provided by the Australian National Maritime Museum).