[ASA] Fwd: STA Member Update | 1 May 2026

Sat May 2 15:45:00 AEST 2026

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The STA Member Update is sent to the leadership of member organisations. Please forward to your executive and membership, including the policy submission and funding opportunities below.

1 May 2026

Dear Richard,

With the beginning of May comes the countdown to the Federal Budget. All eyes will be on Canberra when Treasurer the Hon Dr Jim Chalmers delivers his plan for the coming years in a little over a week. I don’t envy the complex set of challenges he must navigate to set our country on a successful path, in the short and longer term.

As we emphasised in the STA Pre-Budget Submission<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/icgsCoV1kpfBpR4ENf6sJUpPgaf?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>, Australia’s STEM industry is the foundation of innovation, economic resilience and sovereign capability – but it’s under unsustainable strain. The three urgent priorities that must be addressed are:

  1.  Immediate stabilisation through CPI-indexed increases to research grant programs and agencies

  2.  Investment to secure Australia’s crucial STEM workforce

  3.  The strengthening of STEM education in the face of declining student participation

The clearest demonstration of that strain was the 350 science job cuts CSIRO announced in November last year, which adds to 800 jobs cut in the previous 18 months. This week, a Senate inquiry handed down its report<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/bGSfCp81lrtvEWDmriJt8UGTaTk?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> into funding and resourcing for our national science agency, and it’s a sobering read. STA gave evidence to the inquiry in an in-person hearing, and in our response to the final report<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/0AnWCq71mwfz63WZAhruRUEbNgL?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>, we highlighted a new workforce analysis undertaken by STA. It shows that one in three STEM professionals are expecting to leave the sector, 42 per cent of Australia’s Bachelor-qualified STEM workforce are born overseas and a 10 per cent decline in the number of Year 12 students studying STEM over the past decade.

We cannot delay in addressing these problems. The Ambitious Australia report<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dR1gCr81nyt13Y9EKTGC0U4wCln?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> provides a blueprint to turn around decades of under investment in STEM. Last Friday, STA President Jas Chambers gave a Members Webinar<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/OjxNCvl1rKi205Xxmt8FoUQQE-J?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> to share her insights from the Ambitious Australia Forum she attended with the Minister for Science and Minister for Industry and Innovation, Senator the Hon Tim Ayres. And we have set a date for Members to receive our Federal Budget Briefing on Friday 15th May.

In other news, we wish Secretary Meghan Quinn PSM well in her move from the Department of Industry, Science and Resources to become the next Secretary of the Department of Defence<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/cd6rCwV1vMfAZmpKMTRHVUJh5Of?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. We were grateful she could join us at Science Meets Parliament<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/dA7HCxngwOf9qVOk6c7IVUyIyq0?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> to share her insights on how science informs policymaking.

And in a milestone that will be celebrated around the world, Sir David Attenborough will turn 100 on the 8th May. Across his staggering career, he has filmed in more than 80 countries and earned over 30 major broadcasting and environmental awards. He has inspired generations, bringing the wonder of nature into our living rooms. Who knows what world-changing or life-saving innovations have come from the people he inspired? For that, we are all in his debt.

With best wishes,

Ryan Winn

CEO, Science & Technology Australia

REPORTS AND POLICY

  *   Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy released the 2026 National Defence Strategy and Integrated Investment Program<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/-iMOCyojxQT0mwnZvinSvUxXzxL?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

  *   Minister for Science Tim Ayres addressed the Business Hunter Economic Update Breakfast<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/MJ1nCzvkyVCxNZL6lF1TLU9T0S0?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

  *   Minister for Science Tim Ayres addressed the 2026 Technology and Innovation Summit<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/kLODCANpgjCnJXY4yUkUAUGaodv?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUBMISSIONS

  *   The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water consultations on the:

- Draft Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimation and Reporting Guidelines for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/P0loCBNqjlCMJrojQhMc5U2O7IH?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> – submissions close 8 May.

- 2026 National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Scheme updates<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/02MoCD1vlpTnrzPq2UxfrUjRbD2?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> – submissions close 8 May.

For policy related matters contact STA Director of Policy and Engagement Sarah Tynan<mailto:sarah.tynan at sta.org.au>.

Browse the complete list of reports, policy news, and opportunities for submissions in our LinkedIn newsletter.

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GRANT FUNDING AND OPPORTUNITIES

  *   The EMCR Forum at the Australian Academy of Science is inviting expressions of interest to join its Executive Committee for 2026–27. This is an opportunity for early- and mid-career researchers to contribute to national science policy discussions and help shape the Forum’s future direction. Applications close 7 May. Apply now<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/y_iQCGv0oyC0ZRgkximi4UBFb5N?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

  *   The International Bioactives Conference 2026 (IBC 2026)<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/AWM5CJyBrGf1LvXZGT7soUyg0ls?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> is taking place from 22--24 September 2026 at Macquarie University in Sydney. IBC 2026 will bring together researchers, industry leaders and policymakers across food, health, agriculture and biotechnology to explore emerging science and pathways to translation.

MEMBER NEWS
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Super STEM Workshops

Until the end of the financial year STA will be offering a discounted ticket price of $180+GST for our scheduled workshops. Join us on 20 May for a Government Relations Bootcamp<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/97MvCMwGxOtRV1lXKIoC8U8ZrZr?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> workshop and/or 27 May for a Marie Kondo your writing workshop<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/X0tJCNLJyQUE58R7KIwFzUyicHA?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>. Registration is essential<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/2iDlCOMKzVT0rjGnVi8HrUG3cKM?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

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Women in STEMM Leadership Summit

The 2026 Women in STEMM Leadership Summit<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/vK8mCROND2uRP1VE9IgTGU1oBjj?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> is organised by the Women Leaders Institute in partnership with STA. One of STA’s strategic goals is to drive diversity and inclusion in the sector. The Summit will be an important contributor to putting action to this. STA members interested in attending the summit can use the code STA100 to receive a discount.

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Science Meets the Economy

STA's new program Science Meets the Economy (SMtE)<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/BI_1CXLW2mUq7RJ2vsYfDUWRYMh?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com> was officially launched last month. SMtE is a groundbreaking intitiative that aims to fundamentally reset leadership in science and technology industries and transform our nation’s economy. The three-day program will take place later in the year, so to ensure you are kept up to date on all details make sure you subscribe to the SMtE mailing list<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/qTgHCYW8NocNoq8MRTvhRUxjAHh?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

STA delivers strong benefits to members, including discounted professional services via our Member Benefits Program<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/aPCwCZY1NqiDnLGlZF0igUB34PU?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

Want the latest news from Science & Technology Australia? Subscribe to our media release distribution list<mailto:media at sta.org.au>, it is open to all.

Want to keep up to date with the latest in science and technology policy and advocacy? Subscribe to our LinkedIn newsletter - the Science and Technology Update<https://url.au.m.mimecastprotect.com/s/My0gC1WLPxckwoR3yFxsMUVs2oO?domain=scienceandtechnologyaustralia.us9.list-manage.com>.

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