Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund

Supporting Queensland’s transformation to an accessible tourism destination.

The $5 million Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund will support Queensland’s tourism industry to enhance their accessible tourism experiences.

The Fund is an initiative as part of the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism, and will support activities like improved communication and information sharing, digital and website accessibility, staff training and education, adaptive equipment, technology and infrastructure.

The Fund provides two grants for eligible applicants to apply for what they need, depending on where they are in their accessibility journey.

Eligible Queensland tourism and events businesses and not-for-profit organisations, local governments and regional and local tourism organisations will have the opportunity to apply.

The Access Starter Grants provide $5,000 in funding to eligible applicants at the start of their journey to get the basics right through access audits, development of accessibility plans and statements, improved communication and information sharing, digital and website accessibility, staff training and education.

The Access Project Grants provide funding of between $50,000 and $250,000 (excluding GST) to eligible applicants who have already identified accessibility improvements and are ready to implement best practice accessibility projects. These projects will need to be co-designed with people with disability and deliver tangible, high-impact accessibility improvements.

No matched funding is required, however priority may be given to applications demonstrating co-investment by the applicant.

The types of projects that may be considered include (but are not limited to):

Grant	Priority	Activity examples
Access Starter Grant	Access audits, plans and statements	Access audit or assessment of tourism experience / businesses Development of disability action plans Development of accessibility statements for publishing on applicant’s website
	Experience design and planning	Product and experience testing to improve accessibility
	Digital and communication accessibility, including accessibility content	Digital accessibility audit Implementation of website/product or experience accessibility improvements Development of content and marketing materials to improve accessibility, including audio and visual
	Training and awareness	Disability awareness and inclusion training and coaching for staff
Access Project Grant	Access improvements (where those upgrades are not an existing mandatory legislative or planning requirement for the existing infrastructure)	Accessibility upgrades to bathrooms, entryways, pathways Stair lifts Hoists
	Accessible transport	Modification or purchase of purpose-designed accessible vehicles, vessels, pontoons or other transportation
	Adaptive equipment and technology	All terrain wheelchairs and mountain trikes and trail riders Aquatic/beach access wheelchairs Access matting Augmented reality, virtual reality or extended reality to improve accessibility Assistive listening devices technology incorporated into speakers/sound systems Sensor/voice/movement-controlled technology Accessible paddling equipment (universal paddling seat, outriggers, kayaks, transfer benches, adaptive paddles, stand-up paddle boards)
	Communication, signage and digital accessibility	Accessible audio description and sensory audio guides Braille descriptions, signage, Easy English picture communication symbols, stories Interpretative and/or interactive tourism signage Improvements to websites, traditional and digital marketing materials to be more accessible and/or showcase accessibility information
	Sensory-friendly spaces and resources	Creation of sensory-friendly spaces including resources Development of sensory maps and stories

Projects should also align with Queensland’s Disability Plan and Towards Tourism 2032.

The Accessible Tourism Toolkit provides a range of resources and links that may assist in the development of an application including links to organisations and service providers that specialise in accessibility.

Eligible applicants may apply for both the Access Project Grant and the Access Starter Grant, however it must be for different projects.

Key dates for both grants

Activity	Date
Guidelines available	12 October 2023
Applications open	26 October 2023

Please note these dates are indicative only and may be subject to change.

More information

For more information, email the Tourism Division team at GrowingTI@dtis.qld.gov.au.

Last updated: 26 Oct 2023