Prosperity
Growing economic prosperity and social wellbeing
Since 2016, the Exploring for the Future program has been working across Australia, building the picture of our continent’s deep geological structures and improving our understanding of potential resources in unexplored and underexplored areas.
The program has already demonstrated benefits for the first 4 years (2016–20), especially in regional Australia, including:
- supporting 310 jobs for contractors and small businesses
- providing vital information to inform agricultural developments and increase the knowledge and understanding of natural resources
- new and increased investment, particularly in regional economies.
Learn more about the benefits of the program from the first 4 years.
Our work supports
- Growing economic prosperity and social well-being through resource development.
- Investment in resource exploration, development and responsible agricultural planning.
- Economic stability for regional communities through new job creation and royalties.
Featured work
Exploring for the Future takes a deeper look at northern Australia
A new electrical conductivity model released by Geoscience Australia’s Exploring for the Future program offers a deeper look at the geology in northern Australia with promising results.
An Isotopic Atlas of Australia: a window into the geological evolution of the Australian continent
Australia as it exists today is a product of geological processes that have occurred over its 4.5 billion year history. Isotopic studies are one approach to understanding the history and evolution of the Australian continent.
AuScope underpins Julimar polymetallic minerals discovery
In November 2021, Chalice Mining Limited released a maiden resource statement for the Julimar polymetallic mineral deposit on Wadjuk Country in Western Australia. This is an exciting milestone for Chalice on the path to delivering palladium, nickel, copper and platinum for clean energy technologies.
Geological setting, age and endowment of major Australian mineral deposits
Results of a national compilation of mineral deposits (available in Excel or CSV format) for Australia. The deposits were selected as they have substantial endowment (ie pre-mining mineral resource) and/or detailed geological information is available.
Case studies
Our case studies showcase our work, community stories, and emerging benefits and impacts of the Exploring for the Future program.
Other impact areas
The economic value of government precompetitive geoscience data and analysis for Australia's Resources Industry
Deloitte Access Economics (2023)
The economic value of government precompetitive geoscience data and analysis for Australia's hydrogen industry
Deloitte Access Economics (2023)
Informed decisions
Effective evidence-based decision-making between landholders, traditional owners, public, government and industry.
Understanding what lies beneath
The Australian Government’s Exploring for the Future program, led by Geoscience Australia, is dedicated to supporting a strong economy, resilient society and sustainable environment for the benefit of Australians through an integrated geoscientific understanding of our mineral, energy and groundwater resource potential.
Launched in 2016, the first 4 years of the program (2016–20) initially focused on northern Australia. Based on the program’s success it was extended (2020–24) and expanded across the whole of Australia.
Drawing together data, science and innovative techniques and technology, the program enables us to map undercover and underexplored areas. This in turn encourages new investment in ‘greenfield’ areas by providing security and certainty to our minerals, energy and agriculture sectors as we transition towards a sustainable, low-emissions future.
The evidence gathered through the program is already translating into real impacts, providing industry and communities with vital information they need to confidently plan, make better informed decisions and invest in new developments.
The Exploring for the Future impact pathway summarises how the program will realise its vision.
Join our community
Get in touch
Have a question about the Exploring for the Future program or need help with using our data? Email us at clientservices@ga.gov.au or call 1800 800 173.
Stay informed
Subscribe to our newsletter to receive regular updates on the Exploring for the Future program, new data releases, publications, latest research, workshops and events.