Wikimedia Australia has awarded funding to three Partner Projects for 2025–26, aiming to lift the quality and visibility of Australian content across Wikipedia and related platforms. The selected proposals focus on First Nations participation, biodiversity data, and skills in the cultural sector.
Expressions of interest opened in September, with applicants asked to align with priorities of equity, inclusion and capacity building. Grants in this round range from $5,000 to $10,000.
Barayamal’s “Regional Mentor Blaze on‑Wiki” will pair new editors (especially in regional First Nations communities) with experienced mentors in short, hands‑on sessions. The content focus includes local business history and notable First Nations entrepreneurs, with an emphasis on neutrality, reliable sources and strong citations. The project received $10,000.
A second grant, worth $5,000, supports Wikipedia User:Pengo to refresh threatened‑species lists and build tools that keep biodiversity pages readable, accurate and locally relevant. Pengo Wray, who designed the “conservation status” icons used in species infoboxes, will lead the development. As Pengo wrote in the application, “Regional biodiversity is culturally important to many…”, and the aim is to keep that knowledge easy to find.
The Australian Museums and Galleries Association (AMaGA) will receive $10,000 to train staff and volunteers to use Wikimedia platforms. Newly trained users will review and strengthen entries for regional, remote, and First Nations‑owned and operated galleries, museums and keeping places, so that diverse collections and knowledge are visible in Australia and internationally.
Wikimedia Australia’s partner‑project model is designed to build skills while delivering public value. The program prioritises self‑determined opportunities with First Nations peoples, expands participation across the regions, and improves demographic diversity for a sustainable movement. In short: fund the work, teach the skills, and leave the infrastructure stronger than you found it.
It also recognises where Australians already look for answers. Wikipedia consistently sits in the top ten sites visited here, so improvements ripple widely – from classrooms and libraries to newsrooms. When entries are well‑sourced and locally grounded, readers get a clearer picture of Australia’s people, places and species.
Projects begin this year and run through to 2026. The outcomes to watch for are practical: new editors trained and retained, species lists easier to use and maintain, and more cultural institutions confident about sharing knowledge openly. That’s a national win for accuracy and access, not just a tidy internal report.
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