A review of the AusSeaBed program is leading to changes that will solidify its place in Australia’s science ecosystem and ensure its future success.
An independent review of the AusSeaBed program has recommended that it officially be integrated within Geoscience Australia.
The review sets out a range of key findings about AusSeaBed’s value to the nation, how it operates and what its role should be.
Established in 2018, AusSeaBed is described as “a collaborative national seabed mapping initiative that is central to the Australian seabed information ecosystem” and which “focuses on delivering freely accessible seabed mapping data and coordinating efforts to map the gaps across the Australian maritime region of responsibility”.
AusSeaBed comprises a wide range of collaborating government agencies, companies and other bodies. In particular, the Australian Government has been represented by five partners: Geoscience Australia, the Australian Hydrographic Office, the CSIRO Marine National Facility, the Australian Antarctic Division and the Australian Institute of Marine Science.
All five of those bodies have endorsed the formal integration of AusSeabed within Geoscience Australia, as well as the formation of a new governance framework.
The review was undertaken by Dr Tony Worby, a marine scientist who has held senior leadership roles across Australia’s marine research sector, including as Chief of CSIRO’s Oceans and Atmosphere Business Unit, CEO of the Antarctic Climate & Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre, and Executive Director Oceans and Chief Scientist at the Minderoo Foundation.
“My sincere thanks to Dr Worby for his thoughtful analysis of the opportunities and challenges facing AusSeabed, and for developing a clear and strategic set of recommendations to support its long-term success,” said Jodie Smith, Chair of the AusSeaBed Executive Board.
“The review’s findings are a testament to the strength of AusSeabed and the impact that can be achieved through collaboration across governments, research organisations and industry.”
Key findings and recommendations
Writing in the review’s executive summary, Dr Worby notes that “AusSeabed has evolved from a collaborative, project-based initiative into a nationally critical capability underpinning a wide range of Australia’s marine, environmental, scientific, operational, and policy outcomes”.
“In practice, it now functions as national research and data infrastructure relied upon by multiple Commonwealth portfolios, state and territory governments, research institutions, industry, and Australia’s international commitments.”
“However, AusSeabed’s current funding and governance arrangements have not kept pace with this evolution.”
According to Dr Worby, “the primary risk facing AusSeabed is not a lack of demand, technical capability, or stakeholder support. Rather, it is the absence of a durable institutional, governance, and funding framework commensurate with its national role.”
Among the review 14 key findings are that AusSeaBed:
- Has evolved into nationally critical data infrastructure;
- It delivers value far exceeding its current funding envelope;
- It occupies a unique and non-redundant position in the national marine data ecosystem;
- It delivers material, cross-portfolio value to Australian government functions;
- Fragmented institutional responsibility for Australia’s marine domain creates a persistent coordination gap;
- It faces increasing expectations without a corresponding mandate;
- The Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity Initiative (RAPi) introduces a structural alignment issue between AusSeabed and Geoscience Australia’s funded marine obligations;
- Geoscience Australia’s evolving marine role presents an opportunity to clarify and strengthen institutional ownership;
- Its effectiveness depends on sustained contributions from core delivery partners; and
- Its current funding and governance arrangements are no longer fit-for-purpose.
Smooth sailing for AusSeaBed
Dr Worby considered three different, new governance arrangements that could be applied to AusSeaBed, concluding that formally moving it into Geoscience Australia’s remit is the best way to go.
He notes that this, along with addressing the key findings, will “provide a pragmatic and proportionate pathway to secure AusSeabed’s future as nationally significant data infrastructure while retaining the collaborative strengths that have underpinned its success to date”.
AusSeaBed’s Smith has thanked all those who contributed to Dr Worby’s review through interviews, workshops, submissions and discussions.
“Your insights and perspectives played a critical role in shaping the review’s findings and recommendations,” she said. “More broadly, thank you for your dedication and hard work over the years in establishing, growing and sustaining AusSeabed as a nationally recognised capability.”
“Over the coming months, we will begin work on implementing the recommendations, including the development of new governance arrangements,” she added.
“We look forward to engaging with the AusSeabed community as this work progresses.”
Relating reading:
