RESEARCH • COLLABORATION • NATIONAL SCALE
Great Southern Reef Research Partnership
The Great Southern Reef Research Partnership brings together universities, management agencies and NGOs from across Australia to build a more complete understanding of the Great Southern Reef.
Researching the reef as one connected system
The Partnership
The Great Southern Reef Research Partnership is a collaboration between universities, management agencies, and NGOs from across Australia, is taking a whole-of-system approach to safeguard the critical functions, fisheries, and biodiversity of the Great Southern Reef.
Funded by the Ian Potter Foundation, the partnership aims to investigate the unique biodiversity and ecological processes that underpin the GSR and increase understanding of how social dynamics and human behaviour promote sustainable outcomes for the reef.
Why It Matters
Safeguarding Australia’s Unique and valuable Temperate Reefs
The Great Southern Reef, a network of cool-water reefs spanning over 8000 km along the southern half of Australia's coastline, is among the most diverse, unique, and valuable marine ecosystems on the planet.
Despite its global significance, public awareness and scientific understanding of the reef remain low. It is recognised as one of Australia's most at-risk ecosystems under climate change.
The Research
RESEARCH FOR LONG-TERM REEF MANAGEMENT
The new partnership has several ambitious research priorities to increase understanding and to ensure the long-term protection of the Great Southern Reef system. These priorities include:
01
Monitoring the reef
Building national approaches to understanding reef biodiversity inside and outside protected areas.
02
understanding reef processes
Investigating the ecological processes that influence reef health, stability and resilience.
03
understanding Stewardship
Exploring how social dynamics and human behaviour can support stewardship and sustainable outcomes.
“This partnership presents an exciting opportunity to combine social and ecological sciences in order to raise community awareness of the reef’s importance, promote behaviour change in key groups that lead to real-world outcomes that protect the reef and its natural values.”
SCIENCE + SOCIETY
UNDERSTANDING WHAT DRIVES POSITIVE CHANGE
Building on 30 years of foundational ecological research, scientific activities will be expanded across the Great Southern Reef. Ecological and behavioural sciences will be integrated to understand the drivers of positive change.
Dr. Scott Bennett from the Institute of Marine and Antarctic Science highlights this goal, "The partnership provides an exciting opportunity as it is the first time we are integrating social and ecological sciences across the entire Great Southern Reef to understand and improve the health of the reef".
Empowering Sustainability
This project aims to provide a step-change in the way temperate reefs are understood and managed in Australia, providing a foundation for intergenerational sustainability and stewardship of the Great Southern Reef.
The GSR holds immense cultural and spiritual value for Indigenous Australians. It also plays a vital role in local communities and economies along Australia's southern coastline, for a range of recreational and environmental reasons, and by supporting important industries such as fishing and tourism. The partnership aims to increase recognition of these values by the 17 million Australians that live along the GSR, positively affecting the way we engage with and manage the reef.
“Our shared scientific fascination with the gsr has grown over decades, yet we’ve often operated in isolation. now, through the power of partnership, we can unite our collaborative efforts and that is the exciting momentum we need.”
From knowledge to stewardship
building the foundation for better reef management
Long-term monitoring, shared knowledge and interdisciplinary research are essential to understanding how the Great Southern Reef is changing. By bringing together researchers, managers and communities, the partnership is helping build the evidence and coordination needed to support better-informed decisions, stronger stewardship and more effective management of Australia’s temperate reefs.
Meet the Scientists
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Scott Bennett
The concept of the Great Southern Reef originated from a paper published by Bennett and colleagues in 2015.
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Thomas Wernberg
Professor Thomas Wernberg is a renowned marine ecologist with a profound connection to the ocean, particularly the study of kelp forests.
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Adriana Vergès
Professor Vergés' passion extends beyond the realm of research as she consistently focuses on applying her findings for real-world impact.
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Melinda Coleman
Melinda Coleman, a leading marine scientist and geneticist, is on a mission to unlock the secrets of the Great Southern Reef.
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Sean Connell
In the realm of marine ecology, Professor Sean Connell stands as a prominent figure and a true trailblazer.
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Scott Ling
Associate Professor Scott Ling has dedicated his career to the understanding and preservation of Australia's marine ecosystems.
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Prue Francis
Prue Francis stands at the forefront of ocean literacy and marine conservation, engaging students, educators, and the wider community.
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Gretta Pecl
Gretta Pecl has built a global reputation as a marine science communicator and advocate for citizen science.
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Michael Sams
As manager of marine and coastal programs at Parks Victoria, Sams combines research with strategic action to address complex ecological challenges.
A National Collaboration
Partners across australia
Continue exploring
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National Marine Science Strategy
Australia’s new National Marine Science Strategy 2026–36 arrives at a time when pressure on the ocean is rising fast. Climate impacts are accelerating, biodiversity is under strain, coastal risks are growing, and the demand for marine science that can inform real decisions is only becoming more urgent.
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more ARTICLES
A deeper look at timely reef topics, stories and insights from science, community voices and coastal experiences.
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VIDEOS
Check out our short films and clips about temperate reef life, research in action, community work and reef encounters across southern Australia.
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