Applications are now open for Queensland schools to join the Great Barrier Reef Education Experience Program which is a subsidy for reef experience based school excursions.
“This three-year program will turn the Great Barrier Reef into Queensland’s biggest classroom and create new tour opportunities for reef operators from Bundaberg to Cooktown,”
Minister for Tourism Industry Development and Innovation and Minister for Sport, the Honourable Stirling Hinchcliffe
Mr Hinchliffe reports that more than 40 registered marine tour operators have already jumped onboard to share reef knowledge with Queensland school students.
As part of the program, the Queensland Government will pay up to $150 for each student joining an overnight reef education excursion and $40 for eligible day excursions. Schools will be able to apply for the subsidy for eligible school excursions being undertaken from Term Three, 2021. The Program will run over a three-year period or until the funding of $1 million has been exhausted.
Mr Hinchliffe said the program delivers a unique outdoor learning opportunity for more than 6000 eligible students, boosting our next generation’s understanding of Queensland’s greatest living asset.
Equally important, the program supports local jobs and the tourism industry’s economic recovery.
Queensland-based The Busy Group administers the Education Experience Programs, which also include the Outback Queensland Education Experience Program.
More information and the school application form are available here: http://www.qldeducationexperiences.org.au
