Program overview:
Through the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program, Victorian First Peoples-owned and operated businesses, Traditional Owners, Traditional Owner Corporations and Registered Aboriginal Parties can apply for grants of up to $125,000 to support tourism business activities.
The Growth Program will be rolled out in 2 stages – expressions of interest (EOI), followed by a targeted invitation to submit a funding application based on outcomes of the expressions of interest stage.
The funding will support Victorian First Peoples businesses in the visitor economy through four funding streams:
- workforce development
- industry excellence and planning
- cultural heritage stewardship
- moderate asset or equipment investment for existing or newly established tourism products.
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.
EOIs for the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program will close at 5pm on Friday 8 August 2025.
EOIs will be competitively assessed to determine suitability. Suitable EOIs will be invited to submit a final grant application for competitive assessment.
Unsuccessful EOI proposals will be notified once the EOI assessment process has been completed.
Program guidelines
First Peoples Tourism - Growth Program - Guidelines WORD (DOCX 742.93 KB) 
First Peoples Tourism - Growth Program - Guidelines PDF (PDF 459.15 KB) 
Frequently asked questions (FAQs):
FAQs First Peoples Tourism Growth Program WORD (DOCX 61.66 KB)
Information sessions:
Information sessions about the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program will be held in July 2025.
To register for these sessions, register here. Info Session Registration
Eligibility criteria:
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.
Project types eligible for funding:
Funding through the workforce development stream will support businesses to undertake accredited and non-accredited tourism training for owners and staff/tourism skills training and membership/certification.
Funding through the industry excellence and planning stream will support businesses undertaking tourism product development and growth, undertaking strategic planning and progressing investment readiness.
Funding through the cultural heritage stewardship stream will support cultural practice projects, language and intergenerational knowledge transfer initiatives, amalgamation of sense of place, history and protocols as they pertain to tourism.
Funding through the asset investment stream will support businesses to purchase or lease fixed assets, plant and equipment to expand or deliver a new tourism product.
Grant amount:
Following the EOI process, applicants who are invited to submit a final grant application have the opportunity* to apply for up to $125,000 (exclusive of GST).
*An invitation to apply for program funding does not guarantee your project will be approved for funding.
Supporting templates:
First Peoples Tourism - Growth Program - Example EOI Pitch WORD (DOCX 57.77 KB)
How to submit an Expression of Interest:
Please read all the information on this page, the program guidelines and the frequently asked questions (FAQs) before applying.
EOIs for all streams will close on Friday 8 August 2025.
If you have further questions regarding the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program, please contact darcy.maine@ecodev.vic.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
The Growth Program is a competitive grant program targeted to Victorian First Peoples-owned and operated businesses, Traditional Owners, Traditional Owner Corporations and Registered Aboriginal Parties and delivered over a 12-month period.
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.
The 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.
Eligible applicants who are invited to apply following the EOI process have the opportunity* to apply for up to $125,000 (exclusive of GST).
*An invitation to apply for program funding does not guarantee your project will be approved for funding.
Four types of activities will be funded through the Growth Program.
A – 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.
B – 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.
C – 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.
D – 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.
This is a targeted program, and funding is only available to recognised Victorian First Peoples-led businesses that are either already operating in the tourism sector or plan to explore opportunities in tourism.
A First Peoples-led business is one where it 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.
Applicants must hold an active Australian Business Number (ABN) registered in Victoria and have held that ABN on and from 1 July 2022 and be registered for GST.
Businesses should complete an online Expression of Interest application using the designated template on the Business Victoria Grants Portal by Friday 8 August 2025.
Program Guidelines, and an example EOI, can also be found on the Business Victoria Website. EOIs will only be accepted via the online template.
Applicants may be required to download a template letter from the EOI template if required to evidence their eligibility. This can then be uploaded as an attachment.
Applicants may be subject to due diligence assessments to enable the Department to assess eligibility and any risks associated with proposed activities.
Applicants will need to include the following details in their EOI:
- applicant details
- opportunity - brief business idea outline
- solution - benefits and impacts
- market analysis - competitive landscape
- business model – to progress the idea
- team – directly related to the project
- investment ask – funding required, need and use
- evidence of eligibility.
Program information sessions about the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program will be held in July 2025.
Potential applicants can register at this link. Registration for Growth Program EOI Info Session.
EOIs will close on Friday 8 August 2025.
Please contact Darcy Maine at darcy.maine@ecodev.vic.gov.au if you have any questions.
The Department aims to notify all applicants of EOI outcomes from October 2025 onwards.
Successful EOI proposals will be invited to submit a grant application to the First Peoples Tourism Growth Program. Applications must be closely aligned to the EOI submitted and under the same entity details.
An invitation to apply for program funding does not guarantee your project will be approved for funding.
All projects and activities must be completed by April 2027.
First Peoples-led experiences is one of the key pillars under the Experience Victoria 2033 strategic plan.
As part of the pillar’s focus, and a commitment in the Visitor Economy Recovery and Reform Plan, we’re developing a First Peoples Tourism Plan.
The primary objectives include:
- Coordinating and advancing First Peoples tourism.
- Leveraging and enhancing participation for economic development.
- Empowering First Peoples within the tourism industry.
Experience Victoria 2033 was released in May 2023 and is the state’s strategic plan to shape the future of Victoria’s visitor economy. The plan will strengthen Victoria’s enviable tourism offering by leveraging the state’s competitive advantages. First Peoples-led experiences is identified as one of five product priorities in Experience Victoria 2033, alongside wellness, arts and culture, food and drink, and nature.
- 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.
The Department reserves the right to determine eligible activities and expenditure in alignment with program objectives and outcomes.
- costs not directly associated with delivering the growth projects
- usual operational expenditure, including existing staff wages that do not relate to or benefit the project
- requests for retrospective project funding, where projects have been completed prior to receiving funding approval
- costs related to preparing the grant application
- any ongoing expenses, leases and other expenses after the program completion date as agreed in the funding agreement
- projects previously funded through the First Peoples Tourism Industry Strengthening Program, unless applicants can demonstrate additional or new outcomes.
The Department reserves the right to determine any other ineligible activities and expenditure.
The EOI template is designed to act as a pitch for your project.
A project plan is not required at EOI stage.