Reef Assist program

The $34 million Reef Assist program commenced in 2020 and has delivered 22 environmental projects to date through two phases, in addition to providing critical job and training opportunities for regional communities in the Great Barrier Reef catchment.

Originally established to support tourism-dependent regions impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, the highly successful program also includes 11 projects currently being delivered under the $2 million Reef Assist Traditional Owner Grants Program.

Watch a video about the Reef Assist program.

Reef Assist 1.0 (2020 – 2022)

Reef Assist 1.0 commenced in October 2020 with $13.5 million invested over a two-year period in the tourism-dependent Wet Tropics, Burdekin and Mackay Whitsunday regions.

Ten projects were delivered in partnership with local governments, natural resource management organisations and public and private organisations.

At a glance

  • Over 230 jobs created with around 50% filled by First Nations, 33% by youth and 20% by women
  • Over 80% of participants received training through more than 110 different training courses
  • 155,000 native seedlings planted with 300 hectares revegetated and weeds removed from 660 hectares
  • 220 coastal island sites restored including 1,025 kilograms of marine debris collected
  • 38 hectares of gullies remediated with 266 gully erosion control structures built

Read about the projects delivered under Reef Assist 1.0.

Reef Assist 2.0 (2023 – 2026)

Reef Assist 2.0 invested $18.5 million with twelve projects contracted across five of the six Reef regions.

These projects had a strong focus on providing opportunities for First Nations people and youth to increase work skills through formal and hands-on training, in addition to undertaking practical landscape repair work for healthier waterways.

At a glance

  • Over 240 jobs created with around 50% filled by First Nations, 30% by youth and 35% by women
  • 155 participants completed over 670 training courses, achieving more than 2,200 formal accreditations
  • 318,000 plants planted with over 120 hectares of wetlands and streambanks remediated
  • 114 hectares of gullies remediated with over 560 sediment control structures installed
  • An estimated 2,722 tonnes (or 64 semi-trailers) of sediment stopped annually from reaching the Reef

Read about the projects delivered under Reef Assist 2.0.

Last updated:
8 April 2026