Geoscience Australia Strategy 2026–2036 Focus areas and key enablers
Page last updated:24 March 2026
Bringing together the best of our people, science, data and technology to deliver on our strategy over the next decade
Image caption: Critical mineral field trip for quartz sampling in the Mt Isa region. Location: Cloncurry, Queensland. Credit: Geoscience Australia.
Our strategy charts a path for the next decade with 10-year goals supported by short-term initiatives. Over the next 10 years we will continue to strengthen our scientific capabilities and deliver on our commitments to national priorities and investments. We will play a leadership role across 5 focus areas, enabled by core capabilities.
Focus areas
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Unlocking Australia’s minerals, energy and groundwater resource potential through expert geoscience knowledge and analysis. |
Resource potentialG1.1 Deliver expert geoscience knowledge and analysis to support Australia’s transition to net zero and enhance Australia’s sovereign capabilities through the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative, in line with the 10-year roadmap. 8 |
G1.2 Provide trusted geoscience data and insights to support the sustainable use and management of Australia’s groundwater resources to enhance our economic, water and food security, resource development and protect environmental assets and cultural values. |
G1.3 Provide national leadership and trusted advice to inform policy responses to existing and emerging national priorities that benefit from geoscience solutions. |
Read more on Resource potential
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Measuring Australia’s land movement and delivering accurate, reliable and resilient positioning and navigation across Australia’s land and maritime areas. |
Positioning and navigation servicesG2.1 Deliver Satellite-Based Augmentation System positioning and navigation services, underpinning national prosperity and safety through the Southern Positioning Augmentation Network. |
G2.2 Deliver accurate, high-quality and reliable positioning monitoring and geodetic services enabling productivity, resilience and innovation through the Positioning Australia program. |
G2.3 Provide national leadership of government civilian positioning and navigation to ensure accessible, reliable and resilient national positioning, navigation and timing capabilities, informed by international engagement. |
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Transforming Earth observation data into Earth insights by monitoring, analysing and predicting change across Australia’s dynamic land, water and coastal environment over time. |
Earth analysisG3.1 Deliver integrated Earth observation data, analysis and insights that integrate time-series land, water and environment data to meet national priorities, through Landsat Next and the next-generation of Sentinel satellites. |
G3.2 Deliver resilient Earth observation data supply chains to ensure high-quality data that delivers on national priorities. |
G3.3 Provide national leadership of government civilian Earth observation to ensure accessible and resilient national capabilities, including through engagement and science diplomacy. |
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Providing trusted national information and insights about the land, marine and coastal geography of Australia including its external territories. |
National land, marine and coastal mappingG4.1 Deliver sustainable, trusted and comprehensive national mapping and location data, information, products and services that drive national priorities, including through an updated and expanded Digital Atlas of Australia, our whole-of-government integrated geospatial infrastructure implementation. |
G4.2 Provide national and international leadership ensuring Australia’s national mapping and location information is dynamic, authoritative and integrated to unlock insights and innovation. |
G4.3 Deliver a marine cadastre to provide authoritative information to support administration of Australia’s maritime jurisdiction and strengthen marine planning, ocean policy and maritime security. |
Read more on National land, marine and coastal mapping
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Monitoring and modelling natural and human-induced disaster risks and assessing impacts on Australia’s communities and infrastructure. |
Hazards and impactsG5.1 Deliver fully automated, high-availability, timely and reliable earthquake monitoring and alerting services through the National Earthquake Alerts Centre. |
G5.2 Deliver hazard impact services, including through the Digital Atlas of Australia, to provide advanced modelling and insights into the impacts of all hazards on buildings and infrastructure. |
G5.3 Uplift the national geohazards science program that advances understanding of geophysical risks and consequences. |
Read more on Hazards and impacts
Key enablers
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Building a safe, resilient and inclusive workforce that drives excellence, delivers long-term impact and reflects the diversity of the Australian community. |
Thriving people and cultureEG1.1 A future-ready workforce with adaptive skills, strong leadership, and opportunities for growth and career development that support resilience and responsiveness to change. |
EG1.2 A culture where people feel safe, inspired, and empowered to contribute meaningfully, and deliver impact with integrity, fostering a positive employee experience. |
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Providing quality-assured, applied geoscience and conducting our science with integrity. |
EG2.1 Our world-class geoscience continues to be known for its trustworthiness, accuracy, reliability and integrity, underpinned by quality assurance and data standards. |
EG2.2 National and international leadership of applied geoscience prioritisation, collaboration and innovation, supporting the development of science aligned to our national priorities. |
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Aligning decision-making, funding and delivery to our evolving priorities and circumstances, flexibly, transparently and sustainably. |
EG3.1 Strategic, multi-year prioritisation, planning and monitoring processes to align budget and resourcing with priorities and provide assurance over delivery. |
EG3.2 Sustainable operations through optimised overhead costs and reduced duplication, supported by increased efficiency of administrative processes, to maximise our delivery potential. |
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Driving geoscience excellence and innovation through modern, secure data and digital capabilities across the enterprise. |
EG4.1 Data and digital capabilities across the enterprise are modern and fit-for-purpose to enable innovation and high-quality science outcomes along the full data value chain. |
EG4.2 Governance and delivery of data and digital products and services balance user needs, enterprise value, security and innovation to maximise strategic outcomes and sustainability. |
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Engaging with our stakeholders to inform, inspire and involve them in our programs and in geoscience. |
EG5.1 Strategic communications and engagement drive increased awareness and usage of our products and services by key stakeholders and increased public understanding of the relevance of our work to Australian life. |
EG5.2 High-quality, curriculum-aligned education products and services foster a pipeline of future geoscience leaders. |
Implementing our strategy
Through our Corporate Plan, annual business planning cycle and individual performance plans, we will put the strategy into action.
Our strategy and planning cycle.
Highly-skilled and thriving workforce
We support a culture where people feel safe, inspired and deliver impact with integrity.
Find out more about working at Geoscience Australia.
Downloads
Index and glossary
Visit our Index and glossary for publication-wide endnotes, glossary, government priorities and image index.
Focus areas explored
Resource potential
Unlocking Australia’s minerals, energy and groundwater resource potential through expert geoscience knowledge and analysis.
Positioning and navigation services
Measuring Australia’s land movement and delivering accurate, reliable and resilient positioning and navigation across Australia’s land and maritime areas.
Earth analysis
Transforming Earth observation data into Earth insights by monitoring, analysing and predicting change across Australia’s dynamic land, water and coastal environment over time.
National land, marine and coastal mapping
Providing trusted national location information on Australia’s land, marine and Antarctic geography (natural and built environment).
Hazards and impacts
Monitoring and modelling natural and human-induced disaster risks and assessing impacts on Australia’s communities and infrastructure.
8 Geoscience Australia, Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity roadmap (2024–34), GA website, 2024, accessed 23 February 2026.
