The Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) approach is an interdisciplinary policy-orientated process. It uses multiple tools to combine, interpret and communicate knowledge from diverse knowledge systems (i.e., multiple scientific disciplines, traditional and local knowledge, and experiential knowledge from industries). The resulting information is used to inform and enhance decision-making pertaining to the use of marine and coastal areas. The process involves 8 steps: ongoing stake- and rightsholder engagement, scoping of the assessment’s scale, indicator identification, an assessment of the status of the system, assessment of relevant systemic risks, evaluation of both the assessment uncertainties and management and use options, as well as ongoing monitoring as part of (adaptive) management. Experience overseas has shown that while the specific individual tools used to complete these steps may change through time as technologies turnover (similarly policy context may shift), the underlying process remains stable; providing a systemic view on the interactions, needs and concerns across different parts of the system. This information enables regulatory bodies, investors and other key stakeholders to evaluate development and environmental futures in terms of risks and benefits posed for a region’s collective environmental, economic, social or cultural values. To date IEAs have primarily been undertaken in Europe and North America and there are questions over how readily it could be applied in full in an Australian context. This study reports on the extent to which various Australian initiatives have already implemented components of an IEA and the opportunities available for seeing the process through for Australian systems.