Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants Program - 2026-27

Throughout Australia, individuals and groups are working to identify private unmarked graves of First World War veterans and marking these graves to recognise their service. This Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants (MPG) Program contributes to the cost of establishing a grave marker on currently unmarked private graves.

The MPG Program provides one-off funding of up to $620 per grave to assist with the purchase of a grave marker for unmarked private graves of veterans of the First World War. You can seek funding for up to 10 grave markers in each individual application, and you may only submit a maximum of 2 applications.

The objective of the grant opportunity is to contribute to community recognition of the service and sacrifice of service personnel in the First World War. It does this by providing funding to contribute to the cost of establishing a grave marker on currently unmarked private graves.

The intended outcome of the MPG Program is to mark private graves of veterans of the First World War so as to:

• enable community recognition of service
• preserve and add to the knowledge of, or provide information about, Australia’s wartime heritage. 

Eligibility

You are only eligible to apply for a grant if ALL the below requirements are met:

• The grave must be located within the Commonwealth of Australia, including external territories: Christmas Island, Cocos and Keeling Islands, Norfolk Island, Ashmore and Cartier Islands, Coral Sea Islands, and Heard and McDonald Islands.
• The grave must be unmarked as per the definition outlined in section 2 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines.
• The veteran at rest within the grave must have:
•  lived in Australia at the time of enlistment
•  seen active service in the First World War between 10 August 1914 and 21 August 1918 with the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, the Australian Imperial Force or the King Edwards Horse
• been assessed by the Repatriation Commission and been found ineligible for official commemoration by the Government.
• You have appropriate permission to alter the grave (see section 4.2 of the Grant Opportunity Guidelines).
• You have a formal quote from an authorised provider for the total cost of the marker.