We provide a merit-based, open access platform for Australian researchers to implement a suite of models in climate, weather and Earth Systems research across all time scales, from paleo-climate simulations to daily and seasonal weather forecasting, to multi-decadal future climate simulations. We are enabled by the Australian Government through the National Collaborative Research Infrastructure Strategy (NCRIS) to transform and make available the family of models known as as the Australian Community Climate Earth System Simulator (ACCESS). ACCESS currently supports critical modelling and research that contributes to IPCC reports, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) seasonal forecasting, and climate adaptation policy among many other uses. ACCESS-NRI brings together the weather and climate observations, research and modelling capabilities of the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM), CSIRO and the Australian university sector, in collaboration with key international partners. Five Australian universities – ANU, Monash University, the University of Tasmania, University of New South Wales and the University of Melbourne are founding collaborators. ACCESS-NRI works closely with the National Computational Facility (NCI), located at ANU and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes (CLEX).