""

The ALA Australian Biodiversity Data Mobilisation Program: FAQs

General information

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).

Eligibility

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  • Unpublished field survey data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.

Funding & budget

Q7. How much funding is available?

Grants of up to AUD $50k are available for large projects, and $20k for smaller 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.

Data mobilisation & sharing

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. What species groups are a priority for funding?

The priority species groups for funding are those with significant gaps in data. We provide a list of genera with a high percentage of species lacking data, which serves as a starting point for applicants considering research opportunities.

To explore these groups in more detail, we encourage applicants to consult the full document with detailed tables and search our website to assess the current records associated with their dataset.

Q15. How can I identify data gaps?

Applicants should align their projects with known taxonomic, spatial, or temporal data gaps. Helpful resources include:

We’ve provided a list of data-poor genera to guide applicants, but it’s not a limit. Competitive proposals may address other key gaps in ALA data that may be geographic, temporal or taxonomic.

As an additional example, the map below illustrates the areas of Australia (by IBRA and IMCRA bioregions) where the Atlas of Living Australia currently hosts the most and least biodiversity occurrence data (as of the 20th of March, 2025). This has been calculated by dividing the number of records in a region by the number of different species in their respective region. The data used for this map occur post the millennium (>1999) to reduce the impact of specimen or collections data which have been mostly collected prior to this period.

map of Australia showing biodiversity occurrence data by region - different colours are used for IMCRA and IBRA regions, showing more terrestrial occurrences (darker colours) in the south east of Australia, and for marine, there are darker patches indicating more records along the QLD coast, parts of NSW, TAS, and near small areas of coast in WA, NT and SA
Areas of Australia (by IBRA and IMCRA bioregions) where the Atlas of Living Australia currently hosts the most and least biodiversity occurrence data

Q16. What are national priorities?

Proposals must address one or more national priorities to highlight its importance to the panel. Examples of national priorities relevant to this program include the Commonwealth Threatened Species Action Plan, species that have been identified as underrepresented by programs such as BushBlitz, priorities identified in the National Biosecurity Strategy, or recommendations emerging from national biodiversity reporting programs such as the national State of the Environment report.

Application process

Q17. How do I apply?

Applications must be submitted online via the application form.

Q18. What should my application include?

  • Short description of the proposed data mobilisation activity (max 500 words).
  • What gaps in existing ALA coverage does the proposed captured data cover? (e.g., spatial area, temporal coverage, underrepresented taxonomic groups) (max 200 words)
  • How does the work align with national priorities? (max 300 words)
  • Budget estimating how funds would be spent (see our budget template (.xlsx))
  • Letter of support from financial delegate of institution, group or department project is affiliated with

Q19. 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, policy and guidelines. See here for further information.

Q20. 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.

Q21. When will I know if my application is successful?

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by COB June 3rd 2025.