Industry Resources, Support, Training and Grant Opportunities

The Small Business Advice and Financial Guidance Program supports Tasmanian small businesses to be flexible, innovative and efficient. It provides eligible small businesses with access to specialist financial services or business support to assist in their growth, transition, business recovery from unexpected events or application of management strategies. Successful applicants will receive a grant of between $1,000 and $1,500 to obtain financial or business guidance services from a suitably qualified specialist/consultant

New Access for Small Business Owners is a free and confidential mental health coaching program, developed by Beyond Blue to give small business owners, including sole traders the support they need.

The Tasmanian Business Advice Service provides free and independent business advice to Tasmanian small businesses. Experienced advisors can help you with a wide variety of topics.

This grant program aims to support small businesses operating in the Tasmanian hospitality industry to invest in activities that will attract visitors to their regions, and/or assist in business growth, transition, recovery from unexpected events, innovation, or diversification. Opens 13 November 2024. Due to a high level of interest in the program, funds are expected to be allocated quickly, we recommend that you are ready to apply as soon as the program opens.

This scheme provides low interest loans to Tasmanian farm businesses, agri-food businesses and young farmers wanting to progress into their own farm business. It will support projects that advance the government's Agrivision 2050 plan which aims to increase the value of the agriculture and agri-food sectors in Tasmania.

The $50 million Regional Tourism Development Loan Scheme is now open for applications. The scheme is available to promote investment in tourism products and experiences that stimulate regional tourism and dispersal in Tasmania. Loans are available between $100,000 and $3 million. The interest rate is highly concessional, for the first three years, with a commercial rate to apply for the remaining term of up to two years. The current variable interest rate is 3.85%. Applicants must meet eligibility criteria and projects are assessed against priorities of the 2030 Visitor Economy Strategy. The scheme will open for applications until 2pm, 30 June 2026 or until all funding has been utilised, whichever occurs first.

Wine Tourism and Cellar Door Grants are now open for applications Eligible wine and cider producers who encourage visitors to wine regions, thereby, add value to wine tourism are invited to apply. Applications close at 5:00 pm on Monday, 30 September 2024

The Strengthening Rural Communities (SRC) Small & Vital stream gives small remote, rural and regional communities across Australia the opportunity to access funds for a broad range of initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities. Grants up to $10,000 are available for a broad range of grassroots, community-led initiatives that directly and clearly benefit local communities that strengthen local people, places and climate solutions, with a preference for smaller communities (populations under 15,000). • Round 22 is now open. Applications close 5pm VIC time (AEST) 5 September 2024. Funding announced by mid November 2024 • Round 23 opens: 6 September 2024. Closes: 5 December 2024. Funding announced by mid-March 2025

The Program's purpose is to: Invest across Australia in charitable projects that will contribute to the success, vibrancy and wellbeing of remote, rural and regional communities. To deliver projects that have a charitable purpose to broadly benefit their local community, contributing to its strength and creating long-term positive outcomes.

Now in its 22nd year, the ANZ Seeds of Renewal program is again offering a funding pool of $250,000 to community groups in remote, rural and regional locations for projects aligned to four areas: Environmental Sustainability; Wellbeing; Housing Access; Assisting Local Communities to Thrive.

One-off Assistance grants of up to $20 000 are available to promote the number of winter events in regional Tasmania, increasing visitors and local community engagement through the non-peak tourist season, and assisting to grow event expertise skills and capacity in regional Tasmania.

Championship grants of up to $10 000 are available for eligible competitions that bring more than 100 competitors and supporters to Tasmania, who stay in paid commercial accommodation for three nights or more, and are able to promote pre- and post-championship travel within the state as part of their event marketing.

Touring grants of up to $20 000 are available to eligible organisers of auto, motorbike, cycle or walking tours in Tasmania during the winter and shoulder season. Funding is based on the number of interstate or international participants staying in paid commercial accommodation for five nights or more, with 40 percent or more of the tour being held in regional areas.

The $5 million Tasmanian Festival and Support Fund is part of a suite of initiatives announced by the Tasmanian Government to address the impact of delays in the arrival of the new Spirit of Tasmania vessels on the tourism, hospitality and events sectors. This program is designed to boost regional visitation and strengthen the Tasmanian economy during the shoulder and winter months (from March to November 2025 and 2026) by providing funding for events across the following streams: Event development Event sustainability Emerging events Significant events. Applications for the Tasmanian Festival and Event Support Fund are open from 2:00 pm Thursday, 19 December 2024 to 2:00 pm Friday, 30 May 2025.

With the help of the States & Territories, and Tourism partners. Tourism Australia have put together the attached document cover some of the funding opportunities for a sustainable business future. A wide variety of Federal and State Government support, assistance and grants programs are available to allow businesses to plan for a more sustainable future. Although this list is not exhaustive, we hope that it may be of assistance.

Through the support of the Tasmanian Government, the TICT is supporting tourism businesses in reducing their emissions by matching eligible tourism operators with one of two programs over 2023 and 2024.

A how-to-guide to help Australian tourism businesses become more sustainable.

Three new programs have been announced to support the uptake of electric vehicles and reduce transport emissions in Tasmania, these include interest free loans for electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

The Energy Saver Loan Scheme provides no-interest loans to eligible applicants to fund the purchase price and installation of energy efficient products. Energy Saver Loans are interest-free, have no establishment fee, and no account-keeping fee - although fees for late repayments do apply. Loans may be issued for amounts between $500 and $10,000. Loans may be issued for terms of one (1) to three (3) years. Loans require fortnightly or monthly repayments (with the entire sum to be paid off by the end of the loan-term).

Inclusive tourism enables people with access requirements, such as mobility, vision, hearing and cognitive dimensions of access, to function independently with equity and dignity through the delivery of universally designed tourism products, services and environments.

These webinars are part of Austrade's Sustainable Tourism Toolkit offering a practical guide for Australian Tourism Businesses.

How can tourism operators attract visitors of all abilities? The WELCOME Framework sets out easy-to-follow guidance for tourism businesses to: reduce barriers to participation and to start their accessible tourism journey. Accessibility is about making sure all people of all abilities have the tools to enjoy the same products and services as everyone else. Inclusion is about ensuring everyone gets a chance to take part. It is focused on cultural practices and shifting social norms, so that everyone can enjoy themselves while participating.

The FNTMP is a new, free mentoring program for First Nations tourism businesses across Australia. We can support First Nations tourism businesses to grow and achieve their goals by connecting them with skilled, experienced and culturally respectful industry specialists who can provide one-on-one advice and support.

This grant program aims to help Aboriginal people in tourism and hospitality participate in professional development opportunities, including conferences, workshops, training courses and trade shows. Grants of up to $3,000 per person are available to go towards costs associated with participating in a professional development opportunity. This may include conference registration fees, trade show fees, travel and accommodation expenses. This program is open to businesses or organisations operating in, or providing services to the tourism or hospitality industry in Tasmania. Funding can be requested for up to four (4) Aboriginal employees or organisation members to participate in development opportunities. These opportunities must take place between 1 August 2024 and 30 June 2025.

Believed to the be the first website of its kind within Australia, Aboriginal Launceston shares the the Indigenous history of Launceston and the Stoney Creek people who lived in the Tamar Valley for a thousand generations.

Austrade have compiled a list of programs, initiatives and tools to help businesses uplift management capability. The information highlights government and industry resources available to businesses operating in the visitor economy.

Visit Tourism Australia's Industry Resources to access guides for tourism operators, business support, and content resources.

The Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre (ASD’s ACSC) has released a new publication, Engaging with Artificial Intelligence (AI). The new guidance, co-sealed with the international intelligence community, includes important advice to help medium businesses to large organisations interact with AI securely.

Brand Tasmania is a government initiative with a mission to support and celebrate Tasmanians. Brand Tasmania’s focus extends to assisting tourism operators by offering workshops to refine storytelling skills and providing access to a toolkit with royalty-free images and videos to showcase businesses more effectively.

The Tasmanian Hospitality Association (THA) is the peak industry body for hotels, accommodation, restaurants, cafes, caterers, community, sporting and RSL clubs in Tasmania. The THA runs the Great Customer Experience Program (GCE) which provides operators with opportunities and guidance that result in elevated customer experiences Tasmania-wide. The program is tailored to meet the needs of individual Tourism and Hospitality businesses and courtesy of government funding is no cost to the business.

Supporting the workforce development and training needs of our hospitality and tourism industries.

Off Season 2025 Industry Workshops (free) will be held in Launceston and Ross during November. Register to attend and learn how to help elevate your winter offering and drive bookings during Tasmania's quieter months.

The scheme provides small, interest-free loans of up to $3 000 to people on low incomes who want to start their own business or grow an existing one.

Cripps 'Dough for the People' Community Grants are now open for applications for 2024/25 Financial Year. Each request for a monetary donation is considered on a case-by-case basis and in conjunction with spend already allocated to the existing requests/sponsorships.

The Tourism Industry Council Tasmania (TICT) is the peak body for Tasmania's tourism industry, representing over 1,100 Tasmanian tourism operators. The TICT offers a quality tourism accreditation program that assists businesses in exceeding industry standards across various aspects, including planning, customer service, operations, risk management, and compliance. Additionally, TICT runs the Tourism Ambassador program and coordinates the Tasmanian Tourism Awards, the Tasmanian tourism conference, and other industry events.

Tourism signs are designed to let people know how to get to features and facilities of interest.If you want to install a tourism sign, you must meet a range of criteria to show provision of a substantive visitor experience.

Business Tasmania supports Tasmanians to start, run and grow a business by offering personalised, consultative, first contact resolution assistance. They provide targeted information, and access to a range of services and programs to help businesses succeed. They also provide a business events calendar that lists workshops, networking events, webinars etc. across the state.

There are lots of layers to the cruise industry and it can be confusing if you have not worked with the sector before. A guide has been prepared for Tasmanian tourism operators looking to offer tourism products to the cruise shipping market. It provides information on how to deliver shore experiences to passengers, who to work with, and how the cruise distribution system works. The guide also provides information on different cruise lines and their passenger demographics as well as key contacts and useful links to further information.