Fact Sheet – Round 2 – Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund (TIRF) Grants Program.
The Tourism Industry Regional Development Fund (TIRF) was announced in June 2012 with funding
over four years to assist the tourism industry to reach Tourism 2020 goals. The TIRF Grants Program
is a competitive grants process to increase the quality and range of visitor experiences in regional
Australia.
Grants from $50,000–$250,000 (GST exclusive) are offered on a matched dollar-for-dollar funding
basis for projects across three separate streams; quality improvement of existing tourism products
or services, development of innovative new tourism experiences or increasing tourism labour supply
and quality through Labour & Skills Enhance. Funding of $7.5 million is available for Round 2 quality
improvement and innovation projects, with a further $2.1 million in Round 2 for Labour & Skills
Enhance projects.
Applications for Round 2 of the TIRF Grants Program will be conducted online, and will close on 7
August 2013. There is a strict requirement to prove you have the matching cash (GST inclusive)
available when you apply. Previous applicants should note there are changes in the Program
Guidelines and the Application process from Round 1.
Outcomes from the Round are expected to be announced in October 2013 and Funding Agreements
implemented from December 2013. Projects cannot start until a Funding Agreement is in place and
will be required to be completed by March 2016.
The TIRF Grants Program supports investment in tourism industry related accommodation,
infrastructure, experiences and facilities. This is a grants program designed for tourism businesses in
regional Australia and to be eligible an applicant business must be registered for GST, have an ABN
and be an eligible entity type as described in the Program Guidelines. Individuals, partnerships and
unincorporated associations are not eligible to apply for this funding.
Eligible projects must be located in Australia, in regions outside the Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane
Tourism Regions as defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Detailed information on activities and project types eligible for funding is available in the Program
Guidelines. Applicants should note marketing and promotional activities are not eligible.
Labour and Skills Enhance
Labour & Skills Enhance is a new funding stream in Round 2 of the TIRF Grants Program, designed to
improve the capacity of regional Australia to increase tourism labour supply and lift service quality.
As a guide only, projects that could be supported through Labour & Skills Enhance may include:
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Development of labour and skills-related infrastructure, such as tourism training centres of
excellence, staff accommodation, or transportation services to move workers to and from
the workplace.
Development and/ or implementation of a regional Tourism Employment Plan, to deliver
targeted and practical measures to address labour and skills needs in regions.
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Innovative labour and skills initiatives that may address the need for greater mobility of the
workforce, up-skilling workers, supporting Indigenous employment and expansion of the
traditional workforce, and building more productive workplaces.
Labour & Skills Enhance aims to be inclusive and open to allow industry to best identify its needs.
Applicants may wish to combine a number of initiatives as a ‘package’ to address labour and skills
needs, to service an individual business or to service a region/s more broadly.
Quality Improvement or Upgrade Projects
As a guide only, examples of Quality Improvement or Upgrade Projects may include (but are not
limited to):
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A measurable quality improvement of existing product (for example, accommodation or
attraction) perhaps using external experts such as historians, interior designers, landscape
architects or similar to add a layer of interpretation or sophistication
Infrastructure or access solutions which protect or enhance the asset or environment or
promote increased visitation
Enhancing existing Indigenous products or experiences
Innovative New Projects
As a guide only, examples of Innovative New Projects may include (but are not limited to):
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Niche product development such as themed cycling / walking / riding or driving trails
Unique exhibitions, attractions, festivals, events or interactive experiences
Value-adding to existing experiences with additional activities e.g. high quality interpretative
or interactive signage or guided tours (particularly in languages other than English)
Development of ‘soft’ tourism infrastructure such as tourism networks and Destination
Management Plans or feasibility studies
Assessment criteria include the project’s alignment with Tourism 2020 goals, the business’ capacity
to deliver the project, how the project improves the quality and range of visitor experiences and
how the project will generate value for the tourism region.
Successful grant recipients will be expected to already be working closely with regional industry
partners, tourism organisations and local authorities, especially where development approval is
anticipated.
This is a competitive, merit-based grants program and meeting the eligibility and assessment criteria
does not guarantee an offer of funding will be made.
The TIRF Grants Program is managed and administered by the Australian Government Department
of Resources, Energy and Tourism.
The Program Guidelines, summary YouTube presentations, a draft Funding Agreement, Frequently
Asked Questions, details of the successful applicants from Round 1 and a link to the online
application are available on www.ret.gov.au/tirfgrants.
For further information, call the Tourism Grants Information Line on 02 6243 7604.