VIC First Peoples Tourism Growth Program

  • Grants up to $125,000 to support tourism business activities for Victorian First-Peoples-owned and operated businesses, Traditional Owners, Traditional Owner Corporations and Registered Aboriginal Parties
  • No co-contribution required
  • Closes on August 8th, 2025

This program aims to empower First Peoples within the tourism sector by increasing the capacity of businesses to pursue economic development activities as they relate to tourism.

Key Requirements

The Growth Program will be rolled out in 2 stages – expressions of interest (EOI), followed by a targeted invitation to apply based on outcomes of the EOI stage.

To apply for grants, operators will need to submit an EOI. These will need to include a “concept pitch”, along with a simple eligibility checklist.

What is eligible for funding?

The funding will support Victorian First Peoples businesses in the visitor economy through four funding streams:

  1. Workforce Development

This will support accredited and non-accredited tourism training for owners and staff/tourism skills training and membership/certification to expand or grow existing tourism offerings or capture a new market segment. This may include:

  • micro-credentials, accredited and non-accredited training
  • tourism certification e.g. Quality Tourism Framework, Ecotourism or Strive4Sustainability
  • tourism and/or business Memberships e.g. Kinaway, Supply Nation or Victoria Tourism Industry Council
  • other.
  1. Industry Excellence and Planning

This will support tourism product development and growth, undertaking strategic planning and progressing investment readiness. This may include:

  • meeting, gathering place and cultural centre concept design
  • product development
  • business case development
  • funding strategy development
  • pre-feasibility and operational viability studies
  • tourism asset and equipment requirement assessments
  • relevant technical investigations, plans and reports to progress initiatives
  • strategic asset management plans
  • tourism marketing plans and website development.
  1. Cultural Heritage Stewardship

This will support cultural practice projects, language and intergenerational knowledge transfer initiatives, amalgamation of sense of place, history and protocols as they pertain to tourism. It may include:

  • digitising and archiving of knowledge
  • legal costs for ICIP strategies
  • placemaking, including wayfinding and interpretive signage
  • video production and cultural practice recording and documentation of traditional songs, dances, and ceremonies
  • cultural mentorship programs
  • initiatives that preserve significant cultural sites and artifacts including revitalisation of Indigenous languages, oral histories, and cultural practices.
  1. Asset Investment

This will support the purchase or lease of fixed assets, plant and equipment to expand or deliver a new tourism product. It may include:

  • commercial leases for the term and purpose of the project
  • purchase of assets and equipment for the purpose of the project e.g. vehicles, watercraft, boats and kayaks, outdoor equipment for hiking and camping**
  • traditional instruments and artifacts
  • craft workshop tools, supplies and equipment
  • hospitality plant, equipment and fit out
  • display cabinets and shopfitting
  • furnishings and lighting.

Funding received under this program may be expended on the following project costs:

  • costs directly associated with delivering the growth projects
  • reasonable administration and overhead costs up to 10% of the total budget that relate to and/or benefit the project which have been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the department
  • external professional services/consultant fees directly associated with delivering the project

What companies are eligible for funding?

Applicants to this program must meet the following criteria:

  • be an Aboriginal owned and operated business that is majority Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander-owned and operated. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people must own and operate at least 51% of the business
  • be based in Victoria
  • hold a current Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • be registered for GST
  • be registered with the responsible federal or state regulator
  • comply with applicable child safety requirements.

 

Is this grant competitive or entitlement based?

Competitive. Your application will be assessed among other applications by a judging panel.

How can I increase my chances of winning this grant?

By engaging an accredited government grants consultant, such as Avant Group.

Competitive grants often require significant business case development and project analysis to support the application, this may include detailed presentations supporting the project’s merit, projected sales, cost-benefit analysis and more.

As part of your engagement with Avant Group, your account manager will assess the required documents and will provide the following as needed to support your grant submission.

Grant application writeup including a detailed presentation illustrating how the grant funding will contribute to your project, how the funding will contribute to the project’s budget, a project milestone plan, delivery timeline, impact on employment if applicable and a breakdown of the management and leadership team for the project

  • Industry analysis presentation
  • Competitor Analysis Presentation
  • Marketing and Sales Analysis Presentation
  • 3-5 year Cashflow Forecast
  • 3-5 year Balance Sheet Forecast
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis of Grant Funding
  • End-to-end grant application including information collating, analysis and application writing
  • CAPEX (Capital Expenditure) cost-benefit analysis
  • Stakeholder relations and Risk Mitigation Plans
  • Any other relevant forecasting that will support your application

How can I get help with my application? Or know if I’m likely to win funding?

Avant Group offers a no-obligation assessment of your eligibility for funding and will assess your likelihood of a successful grant application.