Geoscience Australia launches new 10-year strategy to shape the nation’s future

Minister for Resources the Hon Madeleine King MP today launched Geoscience Australia’s new enterprise strategy, setting a clear direction for how the organisation will deliver trusted geoscience insights to support Australia’s resilience, innovation and prosperity over the coming decade.

‘Understanding the Earth beneath our feet – from the Earth’s core up into space and the oceans that surround us – remains fundamental to our resilience, innovation and prosperity,’ Minister King said.

‘Today, the launch of Geoscience Australia’s new strategy sets the direction for the next decade of that vital mission; harnessing the full impact of integrated geoscience for the benefit of all Australians.

‘This strategy affirms the importance of Geoscience Australia to Australian life. It recognises that the work it does, the data it produces, and the insights it generates underpin decisions that – although they may not necessarily know it – affect every Australian.’

The strategy, Shaping Our Future: Geoscience Australia Strategy 2026–2036, outlines how as trusted leaders in applied geoscience we will bring together world-class scientific capability, national datasets and advanced technology to inform decision-making across government, industry and communities.

At the heart of the strategy is the vision: ‘Shaping Australia’s future through geoscience insights’. This reflects the vital role geoscience plays in supporting economic growth, managing natural hazards, enabling the transition to net zero and protecting Australia’s natural environment.

Chief Executive Officer Melissa Harris PSM said the strategy builds on more than a century of geoscience leadership while positioning the organisation to respond to emerging national priorities.

‘Australia’s land and marine environments are vast, diverse and continually changing. This strategy ensures our science, data and technology continue to support the nation’s safety, resilience and prosperity for generations to come,’ Ms Harris said.

Applied geoscience underpins around $124 billion in economic value each year, supporting industries, infrastructure and decision-making across the country.

Delivering impact across five national focus areas

The new strategy outlines how Geoscience Australia will deliver integrated geoscience insights across five key focus areas:

• Resource potential – unlocking Australia’s minerals, energy and groundwater resources to support economic growth and the energy transition

• Positioning and navigation services – delivering precise national positioning capabilities that underpin productivity, safety and innovation

• Earth analysis – transforming satellite and Earth observation data into insights about Australia’s changing land, water and coastal environments

• National land, marine and coastal mapping – providing trusted national mapping and geospatial information for planning, development and environmental management

• Hazards and impacts – monitoring and modelling natural hazards to help protect communities and infrastructure.

These capabilities support major national initiatives including Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity, Landsat Next, SouthPAN, and the Digital Atlas of Australia.

Supporting Australia’s national priorities

The strategy aligns Geoscience Australia’s work with key government priorities such as the transition to net zero, economic security, climate resilience and the digital revolution.

It also reinforces the agency’s commitment to strengthening partnerships across governments, industry and academia, while deepening engagement with First Nations peoples to create collaborative opportunities and support self-determination.

A strategy focused on people, partnerships and impact

Alongside its scientific focus, the strategy highlights several shifts in how Geoscience Australia will operate, including:

• putting users at the centre of its work

• integrating geoscience, ways of working and outputs

• delivering decision-ready insights

• taking an enterprise approach

These shifts aim to ensure the organisation remains agile and future-ready in a rapidly changing world.

‘Realising this vision will take collaboration across government, industry and research partners,’ Ms Harris said.

‘Together, we can help shape a safer, more prosperous and sustainable future for Australia.’

The Shaping Our Future: Geoscience Australia Strategy 2026–2036 is now available https://www.ga.gov.au/about/our-strategy