Upcoming Program and Grant Opportunities
Australian Export Awards – Celebrating First Nations exporters
This year, the Australian Export Awards has introduced a new First Nations Exporter Award. The new category celebrates the outstanding international success of First Nations businesses. This includes First Nations businesses operating in any industry, who have been exporting for 3 years or more. The First Nations Exporter Award acknowledges the increasing impact of Indigenous-led enterprises in international markets. Finalists and winners in this category will be recognised overseas as one of Australia's top exporters, helping to unlock invaluable business opportunities and giving businesses a competitive edge on the world stage.
First Nation businesses are encouraged to apply in any of the other 13 existing award categories, such as Agribusiness Food and Beverages; Creative Industries; Regional Exporter; and Technologies, among others. Presented by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), the Australian Export Awards is Australia's longest running export awards program. It recognises outstanding, innovative and inspiring Australian exporters and the contribution they make to Australia's economic prosperity.
Applications will open on 29 April and close 13 June 2025. To learn more about the awards, visit the Australian Export Awards.
Australia-Japan Foundation 2025-26 Grant Round
The Australia-Japan Foundation 2025-26 Grant Round is now open. Priority areas for the 2025-26 round area: society, culture and sport; economic diplomacy and geopolitics; education and Australian studies; scientific innovation; and communication, information and advocacy. The Australia-Japan Foundation encourages the recognition and inclusion of First Nations people and interests as a core principle to be considered in applications.
Applications for the grant round will close at 2:00pm (AEST) 6 May 2025.
Australia-Korea Foundation 2025-26 Grant Round
The Australia-Korea Foundation 2025-26 Grant Round is currently open. The grant program aims to:
- increase public awareness of Australia in Korea, and of Korea in Australia, and the importance of the bilateral relationship;
- develop partnerships, collaborations and people-to-people links (including with diaspora) in areas of shared interest in the bilateral, regional and global context, and;
- increase Australians' ability to effectively engage with Korea and Koreans' ability to effectively engage with Australia.
The grant round will close at 3:00pm (AEST) 30 April 2025.
Modernising Australia's Southeast Asian free trade agreements for the future
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is conducting a comprehensive review of Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia to identify opportunities to upgrade and ensure they continue to deliver for Australian businesses and investors. The review will identify recommendations to help inform the Australian Government's future FTA upgrade priorities.
We are inviting public submissions to inform the review and welcome views from a wide range of stakeholders, including trade and investment exposed industries and representative organisations, state and territory governments, private sector, civil society, NGOs and the Australian community. We are particularly interested in views on how to better engage First Nations traders in our future FTAs.
Submission can be made until 31 December 2025. Information about the terms of reference for the review and making submissions can be found at Southeast Asian Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) upgrade and modernisation agenda.
Austrade Go Global Webinar Series
Join Austrade and industry experts for unique exporting insights. Our webinars cover export basics through to more advanced topics. Here are a few upcoming webinars that may be of interest to Indigenous businesses.
- Agrifood Opportunities in Vietnam: 16 April 2025, 12-12:45pm AEST - Understand the agriculture landscape in Vietnam. Get insights and updates from industry experts on the market opportunities and challenges, how to navigate them and how to succeed. Hear how changing consumer trends and increasing middle-class affluence are creating opportunities for Australian agriculture in Vietnam. Register for Agrifood opportunities in Vietnam
- IP for Export: 13 May 2025, 12-12:45pm AEST - This interactive webinar will help simplify international IP protection with the latest information from IP Australia. Tailored for Australian business looking to expand into new overseas markets, you'll get practical insights through case studies and scenarios. Learn how registered IP rights can protect your brands and inventions, helping your business to grow. Register for IP for export.
- Fintech and cyber security opportunities in Vietnam and Southeast Asia: 14 May 2025, 2-3pm AEST – This webinar will help you succeed in Vietnam's high growth digital economy. You'll hear insights from industry experts and get a better understanding of the regulatory, policy and competitive landscape. Register for Fintech and cyber security opportunities in Vietnam and SEA
Recent News
National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership Inaugural Meeting
Austrade was pleased to convene the first meeting of a new Partnership for First Nations tourism in Gadigal Sydney on 18 March 2025, marking the next phase in work to elevate First Nations views within Australia's visitor economy. The National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership is led by First Nations peoples from across Australia, including the Torres Strait Islands, and was developed as part of the THRIVE 2030 strategy to grow Australia's visitor economy.
First update of 2025 from Ambassador Justin Mohamed
It's been a busy start to 2025 for Ambassador for First Nations People, Justin Mohamed, and the Office for First Nations International Engagement. This year our aims are to build on key successes from 2024 and continue to secure greater trade and investment opportunities and outcomes for First Nations businesses.
Some of the key events of 2025 so far include:
- Chairing the inaugural meeting of the pilot First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group in early February, ensuring the voices and insights of First Nations economic stakeholders are present in Australia's trade and investment agenda, and helping to drive economic growth for all Australians. (See March Bulletin.)
- Meeting with Japan's Consul-General in Melbourne to discuss collaboration with Japan on First Nations trade, investment and business activities. Australia will embed First Nations perspectives throughout our participation at World Expo 2025 Osaka – celebrating our modern diversity and showcasing the rich heritage of First Nations people through our cultural and business programs.
- Welcoming Canada's Minister of Export Promotion, International Trade and Economic Development, Mary Ng, at an Indigenous Trade Circle roundtable in Sydney. Minister Ng's Team Canada Trade Mission to Australia included a significant delegation of Indigenous business and trade representatives, which focused on strengthening collaboration between Canada and Australia to support the economic prosperity of Canadian and Australian Indigenous Peoples.
- Visiting Aotearoa New Zealand where the Ambassador had a busy week focussed on building upon the already deep and longstanding Indigenous links across business, government and culture, including with the Minister for Māori Affairs, and Māori economic and business stakeholders.