What is the program?
The Australian Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Program (ABDMP) provides financial support to Australian institutions to digitise and prepare existing biodiversity data for open access through the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA).
Australia holds vast collections of biodiversity records in museum drawers, field notebooks, spreadsheets, and databases, that are not yet publicly accessible. This program helps institutions make that data available for science, conservation, and decision making.
Is my project eligible?
Eligible applications:
- Applications must be submitted through or in partnership with an ABN-registered institution
- Currently have data that will not otherwise be shared on the ALA
- Data must primarily feature species occurrence records (records of where and when a species was observed), ideally including species name, location, and date
Ineligible applications:
- Projects proposing new data collection / fieldwork
- Funding for purchasing or developing new database systems
- Existing ALA partnership projects already receiving ALA or NCRIS funding
Additional requirements
Applicants must agree to provide data to the ALA in Darwin Core Standard under a Creative Commons licence. Not sure if your project is eligible? Send us an email at outreach@ala.org.au.
Funding and budget
$10k–$20k
Small projects
Targeted datasets, specific survey series, or smaller collections
$21k–$50k
Large projects
Large collections, complex data curation, or significant volume of records
What funding can cover:
- Staff time for digitisation, data curation and technical support
- Equipment: scanners, imaging tools, storage
- Conversion of analogue data to Darwin Core Standard
What is not covered:
- Fieldwork that generates new biodiversity data, or fieldwork equipment, including acoustic and camera equipment
- Purchase or development of new database software
- Projects not resulting in data published on the ALA
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 round are now open and close on 24 April 2026 (5pm AEST). Submit your application using the online form below. If you’d like to prepare your responses offline first, download the drafting template before you begin.
Apply now Download drafting templateInformation session and Q&A drop in
We are running an online information and Q&A drop-in session to help you prepare a strong application. You are also welcome to submit any questions to outreach@ala.org.au.
Information and Q & A session details:
- Wednesday 8th of April 3-4pm AEST
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/43324230769198?p=PB91iIaqkr8vxz9lwu
Meeting ID: 433 242 307 691 98
Passcode: eu9W6qx9
What your application must include
| Inclusion | Description |
|---|---|
| Project description | Proposed data mobilisation activity (max 500 words) |
| Data gaps addressed | Spatial, temporal, or taxonomic gaps your data fills (max 200 words) |
| Alignment with national priorities | How the project aligns with national priorities, e.g. Threatened Species Action Plan, National Biosecurity Strategy (max 300 words) |
| Budget | Estimated costs completed in the provided budget template (required attachment) |
| Letter of support | From the financial delegate of your institution or department |
To assist applicants with preparing their submissions, we have created a drafting template to help you prepare your application offline before officially submitting, as well as a budget template for applicants to use and attach with their applications.
Applications that help fill taxonomic, temporal, or geographic gaps in the ALA are more competitive. We’ve provided a list of data-poor genera as one way to explore potential gaps in ALA data, but it is not restrictive. Proposals may also focus on other underrepresented areas of biodiversity data.
Record density was calculated by dividing the number of occurrence records in each region by the number of species recorded there. Only records from after 1999 were included to reduce the influence of historical specimen and collection records.
The map below provides an example of geographic gaps. It shows the areas of Australia (by IBRA and IMCRA bioregions) where the Atlas of Living Australia currently holds the most and least biodiversity occurrence records (as of 20 March 2025).
The following resources may help you identify relevant data gaps and national priorities for your application. These are provided as guidance only, and applicants are encouraged to include other relevant resources or documents where appropriate.
- State of the Environment Report (2021)
- Threatened Species Action Plan 2022–2032
- National Biosecurity Strategy
2026 project timeline
- Now-30 April 2026 – Applications open. Information session and Q&A drop-in being run on 8th April (see How to apply section for details)
- 24 April 2026 – Applications close at 5pm (AEST)
- June-July 2026 – All applicants notified of outcomes
- July-August 2026 – Successful applicants and ALA finalise data-sharing agreements
- 31 June 2027 – Data published to the ALA in Darwin Core Standard
FAQs
Can’t find your answer here? Email outreach@ala.org.au or attend the information session listed in the How to apply section.
Q1. What is the Australian Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Program (ABDMP)?
The ABDMP provides funding to help institutions digitise and share existing biodiversity data, making it openly available for research, conservation, and decision-making. The program aims to improve access to biodiversity information, support national and global priorities, and fill key data gaps.
Q2. Why is this program important?
Australia has vast biodiversity data that is not yet digitised or accessible. Mobilising this data and making it available on the ALA:
- Supports scientific research and conservation efforts.
- Improves biodiversity management and policy decisions.
- Enhances Australia’s contribution to global biodiversity databases like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).
Q3. Who is eligible to apply for the grant?
Eligible applicants include Australian institutions such as:
- Universities and research institutions
- Museums and herbaria
- Government agencies
- NGOs and conservation organizations
- Private businesses involved in biodiversity data collection
Applicants must have an Australian Business Number (ABN).
Q4. What types of projects are eligible?
Projects must focus on mobilising existing species occurrence records to be shared on the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA). This includes digitising, standardising, and making biodiversity occurrence records openly available. Examples of eligible projects include:
- Museum, herbarium, or research collection records
- Unpublished field survey data
Q5. What types of projects are not eligible?
- New research projects that generate new data (the program supports mobilising existing data only).
- Projects focused only on analysis without making data publicly available.
- General biodiversity awareness campaigns without a clear data-sharing component.
Q6. Does my data have to be completely analogue, such as handwritten notes or biological specimens?
No, it can be stored on a computer, but it must not have been shared with the ALA before. For example, if you have records from fieldwork in a spreadsheet, if it has not been shared to the ALA before, this will qualify. In this case, the work would entail conversion of the data to the Darwin Core Standard.
Q7. How much funding is available?
Typically, grants of between AUD $10–$50k are available for smaller projects, and up to $50k for large projects.
Q8. What can the funding be used for?
- Staff time for digitisation, data curation, and technical support.
- Equipment such as scanners, imaging tools, or storage for digitised records.
- Conversion of existing analogue data, such as in field notes into the Darwin Core Standard for provision to the ALA.
Q9. What is not covered by the grant?
- Fieldwork that generates new biodiversity data.
- The purchase, transition, or development of new database software.
Q10. What types of biodiversity data are eligible?
Any existing biodiversity data that is not yet openly accessible, including:
- Specimen records (e.g., museum and herbarium collections).
- Observation records (e.g., surveys, monitoring programs).
Q11. Where does the data need to be published?
All funded data must be made available through the Atlas of Living Australia (ALA).
Q12. My institution may already provide data to the ALA. Does my data need to be delivered independently?
Successful applicants must check whether their organisation is already sending data to ALA. If they are, applicants must arrange with the data manager at their organisation to have the project data included with the rest of the organisation.
Q13. Are there specific data standards I need to follow?
Yes. Data must be formatted according to Darwin Core Standard and use an open-access license (CC0 or CC BY). For guidance, see:
Q14. How can I identify data gaps?
Resources to help identify data gaps are available in the ‘How to apply’ section.
Q15. What are national priorities?
Resources to help identify relevant national priorities are listed at the end of the ‘How to apply’ section.
Q16. How do I apply?
Applications must be submitted online via the application form — see the ‘How to apply’ section for details.
Q17. What should my application include?
Details of what the application needs to include, as well as a drafting template, are in the ‘How to apply’ section.
Q18. I applied to the program previously and was unsuccessful. Can I apply again with the same project?
Yes. You are welcome to re-apply for the current program, however, your new application must address the current selection criteria.
Q19. If my application is successful, what needs to be provided to the ALA?
If successful, you will be required to provide your data to ALA in Darwin Core Standard and make it open and accessible under a Creative Commons licence. Additionally, you are required to provide a short report including photographs to the ALA summarising what was achieved with the funding. The ALA team will be hosting information sessions, Q&A drop-in sessions, and one-on-one meetings to help support your project.
Q20. When will I know if my application is successful?
Typically, applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application in June–July each year.
Past funded projects
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions of Western Australia – Digitisation of the Curtin University orphaned herbarium collection
- Macquarie University, School of Natural Sciences – Digitising the Downing Herbarium
- Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory – Mobilising Northern Australian Fish and Terrestrial Vertebrate Tissues
- Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery – Digitising and mobilising QVMAG complete Botany Collection
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery – Addressing knowledge gaps in Tasmanian insects
- Western Sydney University, School of Science – Mobilising the Agrotis
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) – Contributing over 260,000 records from remote and historically under-surveyed regions such as the Kimberley and Cape York, focusing on threatened species and restricted-range endemics.
- Museums Victoria – Digitising a significant Click Beetle collection, adding approximately 6,000 records and 99 new species to the ALA.
- Royal Botanical Gardens Victoria – Mobilising data from approximately 1,800 Australian macrofungi specimens, including a selection of field images.
- University of Melbourne – Digitising non-vascular bryophyte and liverwort specimens collected over the last 20 years, contributing contemporary taxon distribution and habitat occupancy data for under-represented taxa in the ALA.
- West Australian Museum – Contributing a significant collection of 3,500–4,000 trapdoor spiders, alongside extensive field notes to enhance understanding of these species.
- National Herbarium of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens of Victoria – Mobilising more than 5,000 specimen-based occurrence data records from Australian macroalgae.
- Western Australian Museum with Kit Prendergast – Mobilising thousands of native bee data records from physical specimens collected in southwestern WA, representing more than 200 bee species.
- Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, South Australia – Making >30,000 bryophyte and >6,000 lichen records available to the ALA through digitisation of physical collection labels.
- D’Estrees Entomology and Science Services – Delivery of 7,000–10,000 insect occurrence records from Kangaroo Island, focused on underrepresented taxa.
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery – Mobilising more than 15,000 invertebrate species records representing Tasmanian spiders, echinoderms, cnidarians and annelids.
- Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Primary Industries – Delivering validated specimen-based records for Australian collected true fruit flies.
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries – Mobilising plant pest and disease data from the NSW Biosecurity Collections (~600,000 records).
- South Australia Museum – Mobilising the South Australia Museum’s Australian Biological Tissues Collection of 39 donated frozen tissue collections of Australian freshwater fishes (around 90% of all known species and ~46,000 records).
- Queensland Museum Network – Mobilising and enhancing data from the Cribb Australian Fish Trematode Collection (>20,000 records of >1,000 fish species).
- Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery – Mobilising wildlife molecular and tissue data (>8,500 sample vials and 1,650 formalin-fixed specimens in the histology collection).
- Edith Cowan University – Mobilising plant and fungi data from the Robert Brown Herbarium.
- Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority – Mobilising data in the Kings Park and Botanic Garden Herbarium collection (18,200 specimens).