First People’s Tourism Plan – Community Engagement and Facilitation

⁠⁠⁠First Peoples Tourism Plan

The development of a First Peoples Tourism Plan is a commitment under the VERRP. The VERRP is underpinned by an investment of $633 million, with $4.8 million to support strategic tourism planning.

The VERRP outlined the need for statewide strategic planning for cultural tourism to meet growing visitor demand for First Peoples-led products and experiences. It follows recommendation 1A of the Regional Tourism Review, commissioned in 2019 by the Victorian Government, to inform future tourism policy and development opportunities.

The First Peoples Tourism Plan will be a five-year self-determined plan to showcase Victoria as a leader in First Peoples-led tourism experiences. It will showcase Victoria as the place to experience diverse First Peoples offerings and culture beyond the ‘red dirt’. The plan will also consider and put forward recommendations for the establishment of a First Peoples Tourism Industry Body, as determined in consultation with First Peoples communities, businesses and RAPs and in line with the principles of self-determination.

The primary objectives of the First Peoples Tourism Plan are to:

(1) Coordinate and advance First Peoples tourism

(2) Leverage and elevate First Peoples tourism participation and economic development

(3) Empower First Peoples within Toursim

Engagement activities with First Peoples, including Registered Aboriginal Parties, Traditional Owner Corporations, and First Peoples owned and operated businesses, is crucial to inform the content of the Plan such as: a shared vision, objectives, tourism product opportunities, challenges and long-term industry development priorities, and inform development of the policy framework to support establishment of a First Peoples Tourism Industry Body.

The successful candidate will provide engagement and facilitation services including:

1. Initial research

• Background research into the current state of First Peoples tourism in Victoria, including economic data and a comparative analysis of other Australian jurisdictions.

• existing community sentiment towards the visitor economy.

• Profiling the needs, history and future of the visitor economy in collaboration with participants.

• Benchmarking for monitoring and evaluation, using tools such as surveys and focus groups, in collaboration with participants.

2. Development of an engagement plan and activity schedule

• Engagement Plan underpinned by best practice stakeholder engagement and co-design principles, including the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) spectrum for public participation designed to support government decision making 

• Comprehensive stakeholder mapping informed by existing STE contacts (to be provided) as well as additional stakeholders identified in collaboration

• Stakeholder prioritisation matrix for effective and efficient engagement activities 

• Run a regional roadshow and focus group meetings

• Availability for regular progress meetings with the project team and occasional presentations to STE as required 

3. Stakeholder engagement and facilitation services  

• Lead stakeholder coordination and invitations to participate in engagement activities  

• Lead and/or facilitate stakeholder engagements over the duration of the project period 

• Engagement meeting minute taking or equivalent to capture outcomes 

• Develop presentations or engagement collateral as required in collaboration with the Destination Planning team 

• Facilitate feedback between engagement activity participants and TESR

4. Monitoring, evaluation and reporting

• Produce a draft report for project team feedback capturing the engagement methodology and activities undertaken, synthesis of stakeholder feedback, themes, key outcomes, opportunities, challenges and areas requiring further consultation and/or analysis by TESR

• Draft report submitted within one week of the final engagement Final report submitted within three week of receipt of Draft 1.