Access Starter Grant

The $5 million Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund will support the Queensland tourism industry to elevate the accessible tourism experience.

The Fund is an initiative under the 2023 Year of Accessible Tourism.

The Accessible Tourism Elevate Fund provides two grants – the Access Starter Grant and the Access Project Grant – to enable eligible applicants to apply for what they need, depending on where they are in their accessibility journey.

The Access Starter Grant will support to eligible Queensland tourism operators, not-for-profit organisations and local governments at the start of their accessible tourism journey to help get the basics right.

The key objectives of the Access Starter Grant is to invest in projects that will:

• support Queensland tourism and events operators to develop greater understanding of accessibility opportunities and requirements for their business through undertaking access audits, and developing accessibility plans and statements
• improve the visitor experience through design and planning of accessibility improvements across the travel journey
• increase the number of tourism operators with accessibility information on their websites and improved accessibility in their websites, marketing and communications materials
• improve tourism and events service delivery to visitors with accessibility needs through staff training and awareness.

Grant funding of $5000 (excluding GST) is available with no matched funding requirement.

Project types that may be considered include (but are not limited to):

Priority	Activity examples
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

Projects should align with the 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.

Read the Access Starter Grant guidelines for details about the grant.

Applying for funding

Applications are managed through the SmartyGrants portal.

Key Dates

Activity	Date
Applications open	9.00am, 26 October 2023
Applications close	11:59pm, 6 December 2023 (or earlier if the funding allocation is exhausted prior to the closing date)
Outcome of applications advised	Complete applications are assessed in order of receipt.   Outcomes advised once application is assessed.
Project completion date	By 30 June 2024

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

Please visit this webpage again for further updates.