A number of Marine Discovery Centres have been established across Australia. A Marine Discovery Centre is a centre-based entity that utilises hands-on environmental education to inspire and facilitate changes in visitor attitudes and actions, in order to achieve its primary mission of conservation of the marine and coastal environment.
The genesis for each centre differs, with some being located as part of schools and others being community or government funded ventures.
In 2005 these centres got together to discuss key issues and a collaborative group called Marine Discovery Centres Australia (MDCA) was formed. MDCA comprises:
- Woodbridge Marine Discovery Centre in Tasmania
- Queenscliff Marine Discovery Centre in Victoria
- Henley Beach Marine Discovery Centre in South Australia
- Dolphin Discovery Centre in Bunbury, Western Australia
- Naturaliste Marine Discovery Centre in Western Australia
- Bondi Beach Marine Discovery in New South Wales
- Ballina Marine Discovery Centre in New South Wales
- Hastings Point Marine Environments Field Study and Resource Centre in New South Wales
- Sapphire Coast Marine Discovery Centre in Eden, New South Wales
- Thursday Island Marine Discovery Centre in Queensland
