2026-27 Marking (First World War) Private Graves Program Grant Opportunity Application

The Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants (MPG) Program is committed to individuals and groups working to identify the unmarked graves of First World War veterans and marking these graves to ensure their service and sacrifice are remembered. 

Information about the application process is available in the 2026-27 Marking (First World War) Private Graves Grants Program, Grant Opportunity Guidelines (Guidelines). Before submitting your application, please read the Guidelines. Any questions must be emailed to MPG@dva.gov.au.

Please read before starting your application

Once you start this application, you must complete it in one sitting because it cannot be saved as you progress or completed later.

Before starting your application for the 2026-27 MPG Program grant funding, you must ensure that you have gathered the below documentation to support your application.

All documentation must be saved in one of the following format types - PDF, JPEG, or PNG. If your documentation is in another format (e.g. Microsoft Word DOC format), you can convert it to PDF by opening the file and selecting “File-Save as Adobe PDF”.

  1. Completed veteran/s details template– listing the full name, service number, rank, unit, date of discharge, date of death, and grave location of each veteran whose grave marker/s you are applying to establish.
     
  2. Completed Repatriation Commission assessment – evidence from the Repatriation Commission within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) showing that the veteran/s have been assessed for official commemoration by the Australian Government and found ineligible. This request for an assessment for official commemoration is required for your application to progress, noting that a response to this form does take some time to procure. If you have not completed this form, it can be found here: D9535 form: Request to the Repatriation Commission for a determination for cause of death to be assessed as war related. You need to have this form assessed before you can start your application process.
     
  3. Quote/s for grave markers – a copy of the quote/s you have for the manufacture and supply of a new plaque or gravestone marker, and the cost of materials and labour associated with marking the grave/s.

  4. Copy of death certificate/s – please provide a copy of the death certificate/s.

    If you wish to claim the cost of the death certificate/s, you will require receipt/s associated with obtaining the death certificate/s. A receipt is only required if you are claiming the cost of the death certificate/s.

  1. Permission to alter grave/s – evidence of permission to alter the grave/s as per section 4.2 of the 2026-27 MPG Program Guidelines.

This application should be completed by organisations or individuals applying for 2026- 27 MPG Program grant funding. Please complete all questions in this application and click the “Submit” button at the bottom of this application to ensure that it is submitted successfully to DVA.

A copy of your application will be emailed to you after it has been submitted. You should keep a copy of your application and any supporting documents. 

Applications must be received by DVA prior to the application closing date of 9:00pm AEDT on 27 November 2026. 

DVA will not accept handwritten applications or applications received by post or fax. 

Please note: Applications that do not include all mandatory attachments are incomplete. They will not progress to assessment and will be found ineligible. Please double-check all attachments to ensure they are correct. You cannot edit or review an attachment once you have uploaded it to this application. If you attach an incorrect file, please delete it and upload the correct attachment.

For the 2026-27 MPG Program, the maximum grant amount per grave is $620. Applicants can seek funding for up to 10 grave markers per individual application and a maximum of two (2) individual applications can be submitted per applicant.

If you are approved for a grant under the 2026-27 MPG Program, you will be required to enter into a legally binding agreement with DVA based on this application, in the form of a Letter of Agreement. To view an example, please refer to the Letter of Agreement template on the Department of Finance website: letter-of-agreement-template.docx.

Any questions relating to the 2026-27 MPG Program or technical support required in completing and/or submitting the application must be emailed to MPG@dva.gov.au by 5:00pm AEDT on 19 November 2026. A response will be provided within three (3) business days.

DVA administers this grant opportunity and application process. 

Privacy notice – Your personal information is protected by law, including the Privacy Act 1988. DVA needs to collect your personal information for the purpose of administering the payment of successful grant applications for the 2026-27 MPG Program.

By completing this application, you confirm you are authorised to provide the personal information on behalf of any named contact people.

Please note: If you do not provide the personal information requested in this application, DVA may be unable to assess your application, contact you about your application, or administer any grant payment if your application is successful.

Individuals may request access to, or correction of, personal information held by DVA. Information about access and correction requests, privacy complaints, DVA contact details and DVA’s Privacy Policy is available in DVA’s Privacy Policy.

If you believe that DVA has breached the Privacy Act or mishandled your personal information, you can make a complaint to the Department or to OAIC. Please contact us at privacy.enquiries@dva.gov.au.

Use of information – DVA may use the non-personal information provided in this application to assist it to:

  • comply with the Australian Government requirement to publish the details of all grant recipients, including the recipient's name, grant amount and date of award, on the GrantConnect website, as required by the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Principles 2024. 
  • publish details of successful grant recipients on the DVA website, including the recipient’s name and grant amount. This information may also be announced by the Minister of Veterans’ Affairs.
  • inform staff negotiating and establishing the 2026-27 MPG Program of risks and issues that need to be addressed for that program, and/or
  • inform future assessments for applications.

You can only submit this application if you agree to DVA using the information (not personal information) you provide in this form for the purposes listed above.

Details of applicant

2. Does the applicant organisation/individual have a current ABN?
If “No” to Question 2, please complete a Statement by a Supplier form, available from the ATO website https://www.ato.gov.au/forms/statement-by-a-supplier-not-quoting-an-abn/, and attach it here.
One file only.
1 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.
4. Does the applicant have a registered business address?
The business address must be completed in full and not be a PO Box. For example: Level 1 Main Building, 220 Business Street, Canberra City ACT 2601.

If “Yes” to Question 4, please complete registered business address details:

5. Is the postal address the same as the business address?

If “No” to Question 5, please complete postal address details:
Registered business postal address

6. Is your organisation an Indigenous organisation?

Details of contact person/s

The contact person/s must have authority to act on behalf of the applicant and will be contacted for all matters relating to this application. Please notify DVA via email at MPG@dva.gov.au if the nominated contact and/or contact details change during the application period.

Details of grave/s to be marked

Link to MPG 2026-27 Veterans Details template (Word document)
One file only.
1 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.
Note: You can request a veteran/s to be assessed for official commemoration by completing and submitting a D9535 form: Request to the Repatriation Commission for a determination for cause of death to be assessed as war related.
Maximum 10 files.
6 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.
Maximum 10 files.
6 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.

Financial details

DVA will fund up to $620 per grave. Applicants can seek funding for up to 10 grave markers per individual application and may submit a maximum of two (2) individual applications during the grant round. Please refer to Section 5.3 of the 2026-27 MPG Program Guidelines for information regarding what the grant money cannot be used for.
$
16. Will the funding assistance of $620 cover the whole cost of each grave marker?
Maximum 10 files.
6 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.
Maximum 10 files.
6 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.
19. Are you claiming for the death certificate/s for this application?
Please note: some States and Territories have waived the cost of death certificates for the MPG Program (New South Wales, Northern Territory and Tasmania). The death certificate costs can only be for veteran/s who are included in the application for the 2026-27 MPG Program and whose grave/s are unmarked as per the definition outlined in Section 2 of the 2026-27 MPG Program Guidelines.
$
Maximum 10 files.
6 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf jpeg png.

The Grant must be held in an account in the Grantee’s name and which the Grantee controls, with an authorised deposit-taking institution authorised under the Banking Act 1959 (Cth) to carry on banking business in Australia. You must provide documentation to verify the bank account details.

Governance

22. Has any senior official or person to be involved in delivering the Activity been involved in any of the following events in the last 5 years? Select all options that apply.
23. Has your entity been subject to any of the following events in the last 5 years? Select all options that apply.

Declaration

Please read and complete the following declaration:

I declare that:

  • the information provided in this application is true and correct;
  • I have read and understood the 2026-27 MPG Program Guidelines;
  • my application meets the eligibility criteria outlined in Section 4 of the 2026-27 MPG Program Guidelines;
  • I give consent to DVA to make public the details of the applicant organisation/individual and the funding received, should this application be successful; and
  • I am authorised to submit this application on behalf of the organisation/individual.