Summer By The Sea Grants

Overview

Summer By The Sea Grants proudly support the delivery of free summer events that engage and educate the Victorian community about the marine and coastal environment.

The Victorian Government provides funding through the annual Summer By The Sea (SBTS) Grants program for free public events on coastal Crown Land.

Since 2021, the SBTS Grants has delivered over 250 free events reaching more than 15,000 people. These events champion inclusivity and enhance the diversity of Victorians who visit and care for our coastal environments.

The SBTS 2026 Grants program supports community participation, engagement and education to enhance community knowledge and understanding of coastal and marine management in the face of climate change.

The SBTS Grants objectives are:

champion inclusivity and increase the diversity of Victorians visiting and caring for our coastal environments

strengthen the capacity of Victorians to take informed action on conservation, sustainability and climate change through event-based educational activities

prioritise Traditional Custodians' Self-Determination in caring for Country, recognising their deep knowledge and enduring connection to Sea Country

promote positive behaviour change and marine and coastal volunteering and stewardship.

The theme for 2026 is 'The coast, the sea, and our community', reflecting the value and importance of community in how beautiful local places are cared for.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include:

Aboriginal groups and organisations, Traditional Owners, land councils, trusts, co-operatives and Registered Aboriginal Party under the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006

incorporated groups, organisations and educational institutions with a focus on the marine and coastal environment

individual/sole traders or private businesses

local or state government bodies, committees of management

Applicants must also hold:

an active ABN

public liability insurance of at least $20 million, covering the specific event category(s) outlined in the grant application.

Guidelines

The 2026 Summer By The Sea Grant Guidelines outline full eligibility, assessment criteria and required documentation to support your application.

2026 Summer By The Sea Grant Guidelines (PDF)

2026 Summer By The Sea Grant Guidelines (Word)

How to apply

Applications are submitted online using the DEECA Grants Online portal.

Use the link below to start your application. Click on the ‘Start New Application’ button once redirected:

https://deeca.my.site.com/grants/s/form?id=a0hRF00000A6rv8YAB

To return to a draft application, click below:

https://deeca.my.site.com/grants/s/

For more information on how to use the DEECA Grants Portal, visit here.

Supporting documentation

Key dates

Event	Date
Applications open	15 September 2025
Applications close Late applications will not be accepted	5pm AEDT 15 October 2025
Applicants notified	November 2025
Event delivery	3 January – 18 January 2026
Acquittal reports submitted	February 2026

General Enquiries

coastcare.victoria@deeca.vic.gov.au

Barwon South West region

Shaya Kaartinen-Price
0436 604 127
shaya.kaartinen-price@deeca.vic.gov.au
(Please note – Shaya is unavailable from 15 to 19 September 2025)

Port Phillip Bay and Western Port region

Jess Schubert-Hoban
0475 557 628
jess.schubert-hoban@deeca.vic.gov.au
(Please note – Jess is unavailable from 25 to 6 October 2025)

Gippsland region

Laura Town-Hopkinson
0427 818 683
laura.town-hopkinson@deeca.vic.gov.au

Previous Summer By The Sea programs

Summer By The Sea 2025

The theme for the 2025 program was ‘The Beach is For Everyone’. The theme celebrated diversity and found a variety of meaningful ways to connect all Victorians to the coastline.

Events	Organisation	Location
Snorkel	Bayplay Adventure Tours	Portsea
Rockpool ramble	Bellarine Catchment Network	Ocean Grove, Eastern Beach, Barwon Heads, Breamlea
Koonya beach walk	Blairgowrie Friends of Mornington Peninsula National Park	Koonya beach
Welcome to Country, Smoking Ceremony, Walk & Talk	Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation	Beaumaris
Cetacean science presentation	Cetacean Connections	Phillip Island and Mount Martha
Sea Days Festival – Roaming display	The Connies	Port Welshpool
Snorkelling	Disabled Divers Association	Beaumaris
Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony	Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation	Crofts Bay
Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony	Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation	Cape Conran
Penguin Gawk, Marvellous Mutton Birds, Touch table, Rockpool Ramble	Habitat Connections	London Bridge, Port Campbell, Warrnambool, Peterborough, 12 Apostles, Muttonbird Island
Litter clean-up & BBQ	OzFish Unlimited	Geelong
Marine mammal presentation	Marine Mammal Foundation	Woolamai, Port Campbell
First Nations cultural awareness workshop	Nomuckerlener Indigenous Consulting	Frankston and Point Cook
Dancing with the stars, Dinosaur discovery, Estuarine ecology, First Nations Cultural Discovery, Geology Walk, Inverloch volcanics, Making art from nature, Native plants and animals, Rockpool ramble, Seashell exploration	South Gippsland Conservation Society	Inverloch
Borough By The Bay Festival	Southern Ocean Environmental Link	Queenscliff Harbour
Stand Up Paddleboarding	Surfing Victoria	Statewide
Shore snorkel and Canoeing	Swan Bay Environmental Association & Marine and Freshwater Discovery Centre	Queenscliff, Swan Bay
Wild Families	Victorian National Parks Association	Barwon Bluff
Sea Slug Census	Victorian National Parks Association	San Remo
Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony	Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation	Queenscliff
Education walk	Werribee River Association	Point Cook
Junior Rangers	White Cliffs to Camerons Bight Foreshore Reserve CoM	Whitecliffs Foreshore Reserve
Running event	Wild for Nature	Torquay
Working bee	Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club	Woolamai

Summer by the Sea