Make your Great Barrier Reef school trip more accessible with the Kids for the Reef Rebate

Planning a school trip to the Great Barrier Reef? There has never been a better time to take students to one of Australia’s most extraordinary natural environments. Infuse Travel’s Reef & Rainforest educational tour combines hands-on Great Barrier Reef experiences, rainforest exploration, Aboriginal cultural learning and environmental conservation in an immersive seven-day school trip through Far North Queensland.

And now, when participating on this program, eligible schools may be able to access funding through the Australian Government’s Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program.

What is the Kids for the Reef rebate?

The Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program is part of the Australian Government’s $10 million Reef Educational Experience Fund (REEF), designed to help Australian schools take students to the Great Barrier Reef for educational experiences.

The program is open to public, private, independent and Catholic schools, as well as registered home educators, and supports eligible students from Year 4 through to Year 12.

For eligible school excursions, rebates are generally between $20 and $400 per student, with higher amounts available in some circumstances. The rebate is calculated based on factors including the distance between the school and the departure point for the Reef activity. Additional support may be available for outer regional, remote and very remote schools, schools with an ICSEA score of 1,000 or less, and schools taking First Nations students to the Reef.

For schools planning a Cairns school trip or Queensland school excursion, this can make an immersive Great Barrier Reef experience significantly more accessible.

Infuse Reef & Rainforest school program is eligible

Infuse Travel’s Reef & Rainforest program has been designed specifically to give students a deeper understanding of the natural and cultural environments of Far North Queensland.

The seven-day educational tour takes students from Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, Mossman and the Daintree Rainforest, combining outdoor adventure with curriculum-linked learning. Students snorkel on the outer Great Barrier Reef, learn from marine biologists, explore the Daintree, participate in Aboriginal cultural experiences and contribute to environmental conservation projects.

The program includes multiple reef-based learning experiences, including a full-day trip to the outer Great Barrier Reef with snorkelling at two sites as well as marine biologists providing education about the reef, its species and the impacts of climate change. Students also undertake a further reef experience during the program, with opportunities to snorkel and observe marine life including sea turtles.

These experiences sit alongside the program’s broader learning areas, including Geography, Sustainability, Outdoor Education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures and Civics & Citizenship.

More than a Great Barrier Reef excursion

A Great Barrier Reef school trip should be about more than simply seeing the reef. Our Reef & Rainforest program gives students the opportunity to understand the connections between Queensland’s marine, rainforest and cultural environments.

Students can:

• Snorkel and swim on the Great Barrier Reef
• Learn about coral reefs, marine species and climate change from marine biologists
• Explore the Daintree Rainforest, one of the world’s oldest rainforest environments
• Participate in an Aboriginal cultural immersion and learn from Elders and community leaders
• Take a Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge with an Aboriginal Guide
• Learn about Traditional Custodians, Country and Aboriginal land management
• Take part in rainforest conservation projects including tree planting, seed propagation and invasive species removal
• Explore the region’s unique wildlife and ecosystems
• Cruise through rainforest waterways and learn about the ecological significance of the region

This combination of Great Barrier Reef education, outdoor learning, cultural immersion and environmental conservation makes the program a meaningful alternative to a traditional school excursion.

Curriculum aligned educational Travel

The Kids for the Reef program is available to eligible Australian schools, including government, private, independent and Catholic schools. Eligible students are in Years 4–12.

To qualify, schools must book an overnight trip that includes a reef-based experience with an Austrade-approved High Standard Tourism Operator. The trip must also include an eligible curriculum-related reef activity, which can include on-water or in-water experiences, conservation activities, cultural experiences and other curriculum-linked Reef education. The Infuse Reef and Rainforest meets these criteria.

Our Reef & Rainforest program has been structured around exactly this kind of immersive, curriculum-linked learning, with substantial time dedicated to Reef education and in-water experiences. Eligibility and the final rebate amount are determined by Austrade through the school’s application.

How much could your school receive?

The Kids for the Reef rebate is generally $20–$400 per eligible student, although in some circumstances the rebate can be as high as $1,650 per student. The amount varies according to factors including the school’s location and eligibility characteristics.

For example, a school with 50 eligible students receiving a $400 rebate could potentially receive $20,000 towards its excursion.

Austrade determines the final rebate amount after the school submits its application, so schools should use the official rebate calculator and eligibility criteria when planning their trip.

How does your school apply for the Kids for the Reef rebate?

The school is responsible for applying for the Kids for the Reef rebate directly through the Australian Government. Infuse Travel can provide the itinerary and booking documentation needed to support your application.

Before applying, schools need to:

• Check their eligibility against the Kids for the Reef program guidelines.
• Register as a Reef Guardian School. Registration is free and is usually confirmed within 2–3 days.
• Book an eligible Reef & Rainforest program and obtain confirmation of the booking.
• Prepare the required documentation, including the trip itinerary, evidence of the confirmed Reef booking, deposit receipt, number and year levels of participating students and total and per-student trip costs.
• Submit the application through SmartyGrants.

Applications are open from 21 July 2026 until 12 May 2028, unless available funding is exhausted earlier. Eligible excursions must be completed by 11 June 2028.

Schools can find the full eligibility criteria, rebate calculator, application requirements and SmartyGrants application portal on the official Australian Government Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program page.

View the Kids for the Reef rebate and apply.

Planning a Great Barrier Reef school trip?

If you’re looking for a Great Barrier Reef school excursion, Cairns school trip or educational tour of Queensland, Infuse Travel’s Reef & Rainforest program brings together some of Far North Queensland’s most important natural and cultural experiences.

From snorkelling the Great Barrier Reef to walking through the Daintree, learning with Aboriginal communities and contributing to conservation projects, students don’t just visit the Reef. They learn why it matters and what they can do to help protect it.

With the opportunity for eligible schools to access the Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate, now is the time to start planning your next school trip to Far North Queensland.

Explore the Reef & Rainforest program or contact Infuse Travel to start planning your school trip.

The Kids for the Reef School Excursion Rebate Program is administered by the Australian Government through Austrade. Eligibility and rebate amounts are subject to the program guidelines and assessment of each application. Schools should check the latest Austrade requirements before applying.