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Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF): Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program

School groups visiting the Great Barrier Reef can apply for an Australian Government rebate via this page.

Status: Open

The $6 million ‘Kids for the Reef’ school excursion rebate program is offering Australian Government subsidies for school trips to the Great Barrier Reef. The program is the heart of the Australian Government’s Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF).

The Kids for the Reef program is:

  • open to public, private, independent and Catholic schools and to registered home educators
  • available for eligible Year 4 to Year 12 students.

Eligible school excursions must include at least one overnight stay.

How the program works

To qualify for the Kids for the Reef program, schools must book an overnight trip that includes a Reef-based experience with an Austrade-approved High Standard Tourism Operator (HSTO).

Download the list of Austrade-approved High Standard Tourism Operators (DOCX 260 KB). Last updated July 2026.

Kids for the Reef rebates are scaled according to how far a school is located from the departure point for its chosen Reef activity (as defined in the list of HSTOs or otherwise advised by your chosen HSTO).

Higher rebates are available to:

  • outer regional, remote and very remote schools
  • schools with a score of 1,000 or less on the Index of Community Socio-Educational Advantage (ICSEA)
  • schools taking First Nations students to the Reef.

Program objective

The program makes it easier for students from across Australia to experience the Great Barrier Reef and understand its ecological importance. 

Rebate amounts

Rebates are generally between $20 and $400 per student. In some cases, the amount may rise to $1,650 per student. All rebates are exclusive of GST.

See the rebate table and calculate your expected rebate.

Austrade determines final rebate amounts based on the information you provide in your application.

Austrade may review the rebate model in future and adjust it if needed.

Eligibility

This grant program is open to:

  • Australian Government (public) schools
  • non-government (private, independent, Catholic) schools
  • home educators registered with the relevant state or territory authorities.

For the full eligibility criteria, please see Section 4.1 of the grant guidelines.

Schools must show that their trip includes an eligible activity that relates to the Australian Curriculum. Eligible curriculum-related activities can include but are not limited to:

  • on-water experiences
  • in-water experiences
  • on-island experiences that directly interact with the Reef and contribute to its conservation
  • cultural experiences
  • other curriculum-linked reef education activities.

For full details, please see Section 5.1 of the grant guidelines.

Grant dates

This grant program will run over the 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years.

Applications open at 9:30 am AEST Tuesday 21 July 2026.

Applications close at 5:00 pm AEST Friday 12 May 2028, unless funds are exhausted before this.

All grant activity (excursions) must be completed by Sunday 11 June 2028.

The program end date is Friday 30 June 2028.

Grant guidelines

Download the REEF: Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program guidelines (DOCX 353 KB)

Frequently asked questions

View the REEF: Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program FAQs for schools.

Apply

Before applying:

Booking and other documentation

To apply for a rebate under the Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program, schools must show:

  • a copy of the trip itinerary, including an approved curriculum-related reef activity
  • evidence of a confirmed booking with an approved High Standard Tourism Operator
  • a receipt for any deposit/s paid
  • the proposed number of students undertaking the excursion and other required information such as their year levels
  • the total and per-student cost for the excursion
  • other details required under Section 6.1 of the grant guidelines.

How to apply

When you have completed the preparations needed, you can apply for a rebate via SmartyGrants.

High Standard Tourism Operators  

If you are an HSTO and would like to register to provide tours under the program, please view the REEF: Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program FAQs for operators.

Contact us

Email: tourism.grants@austrade.gov.au with 'Kids for the Reef program' in the subject line.

Phone: 13 28 78

Learn more

The Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program is part of a $10 million Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF) from the Australian Government.

The $10 million fund will also:

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