Research permits

Parks Victoria supports universities, other research institutions and individuals to do research in parks, reserves, ports, waterways and on piers. We encourage research identified by us as important in published strategies and plans and support research projects if they add to scientific knowledge and:

help conserve and protect natural and cultural features and processes of parks
directly benefit park planning and management, and/ or
cannot be undertaken outside a park.

Before applying for a Parks Victoria Research Permit on ParkConnect, you will need to ensure you have completed the correct permit(s) as outline below.

What Research Permits do I need?

A Parks Victoria Research Permit is required for all research conducted on Parks Victoria managed estate. Firstly, you must complete an Application for a Scientific Permit to Conduct Research in Areas Managed Under The National Parks Act 1975 Form through the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP).

Many research activities require additional permits that must be obtained from the responsible authority before applying for a Parks Victoria research permit.

What additional permits may I need?

Use this table to identify any additional permits you need before applying for a Parks Victoria Permit.

If you are...	Permit issued under...	Contact...
researching in a State Forest	Forests Act 1958	DELWP
researching in Reference Areas Note: These are areas of high conservation value with restricted access. Only projects of minimal impact on biodiversity are considered. Allow extra time for the Reference Areas Advisory Council approval.	Reference Areas Act 1978	DELWP
removing an object for research uncovering Aboriginal cultural heritage researching an Aboriginal place or object likely to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage rehabilitating land at an Aboriginal place, including burial grounds	Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006	Aboriginal Victoria
growing, breeding or selling fish or bait commercially obtaining prohibited/ out of season fish carrying out an activity in a fishery taking fish for any reason	Fisheries Act 1995	Victorian Fisheries Authority
taking protected flora specimens, samples, seed or propagation material researching in protected communities, and/or capturing, handling, releasing, marking or displaying of any fish, or invertebrates listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988	Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988	DELWP
researching any of the following: historic archaeological sites and artefacts historic buildings, structures and precincts gardens, trees and cemeteries cultural landscapes shipwrecks and relics significant objects	Heritage Act 1995	DELWP
capturing, collecting or interfering with wildlife including: fauna surveys or live capture and release bird/bat banding (ABBBS), marking, radio tracking tissue samples or dead specimens Note: Invasive procedures with wildlife require Animal Ethics Approval from the institution managing the research. Bird or bat banding requires approval from the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Scheme. Important: Include Action Statements and Translocation Plans, consistent with Threatened Species concerns, in your application.	Wildlife Act 1975	DELWP

Completing your Parks Victoria application

When you have the correct permit(s) as listed in the table, apply for your Parks Victoria permit with your collected documentation and permit(s).

All research permits managed by Parks Victoria have standard conditions. If any of these conditions are problematic for your research then indicate how and why in the risk assessment questionnaire. Parks Victoria will review and negotiate your requirements with you.

Apply through ParkConnect at https://www.parkconnect.vic.gov.au/scientific-research-permit/