The Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway is delivered in partnership by Destination NSW and the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council (NATOC).

Delivered as part of the NSW First Program, the Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway aims to build relationships, connect on Country and provide aspiring Aboriginal operators with a greater understanding of tourism and access to services to further develop their experiences.

The 2025 Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway will take place in three destinations located in Destination Sydney Surrounds South, Destination Riverina Murray and Destination Country and Outback NSW.

Please note: participation is free of charge

Applications are only open for businesses located in Destination Sydney Surrounds South NSW, Destination Riverina Murray NSW and Destination Country and Outback NSW.

Unsure which Destination Network your business is located? Please check the Destination Network Map.

If you are outside these Destination Networks, please register your interest via the application link and select ‘I am not in one of these regions, but would like to express and interest in future Pathways’

Who can apply?

The Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway will suit aspiring and operating Aboriginal-owned or –led tourism businesses, including accommodation providers, tour and activity providers, and visitor attractions including museums, galleries, wineries, distilleries, breweries and farm gates.

What is included?

The Pathway includes the following for each participating business:

  • Introduction session led by Destination NSW and NATOC
  • A one-on-one meeting at their business or on Country
  • Invitation to take part in an Aboriginal experience familarisation with an existing NSW Aboriginal experience provider. Familiarisations must take place before 30 June 2025.

A familiarisation (famil) is a visit to allow people to understand your product by experiencing it firsthand, to improve their product knowledge and help them promote or sell your product. In this instance participants will be undertaking another Aboriginal experience to learn from them and expand their knowledge on what is a great Aboriginal visitor experience.

Attendees will be responsible for their own flights, transfers, accommodation, meals, insurance and other costs associated with to and from their chosen Aboriginal experience familiarisation.

In addition, participation in the Pathway will provide Aboriginal businesses with access to:

  • Other relevant programs and resources for their businesses, including mainstream NSW First program initiatives, First Nations Tourism Mentoring Program (FNTMP) and support from Service NSW and YARPA.
  • Introductions to key contacts within your region e.g. Destination Networks, National Parks and Wildlife Services, Forestry, Crown Lands, Aboriginal Business Initiative Advisors and Regional NSW.

How to apply

Registration deadlines and one-on-one meeting dates:

  • Destination Sydney Surrounds South NSW: 10-12 March 2025 (Application deadline: 5pm AEST, 1 March 2025)
  • Destination Riverina Murray NSW: 14-16 April 2025 (Application deadline: 5pm AEST, 5 April 2025)
  • Destination Country and Outback NSW: 12-14 May 2025 (Application deadline: 5pm AEST, 2 May 2025)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered:

  • Must be an Aboriginal-owned and -operated tourism business, or a non-Aboriginal tourism business offering an Aboriginal-led experience.
  • Must demonstrate through their application, a commitment to the Aboriginal Experience Development Pathway activities.
  • Participants must be committed to attending the familiarisation as part of the Pathway before 30 June 2025.

Selection process

A maximum of 10 spots are available for NSW tourism businesses for each of the three Pathway destinations. Applications will be evaluated based on how well they meet the criteria, and preference will be given to Aboriginal owned and operated businesses.

If the number of companies meeting the selection criteria exceeds supply for each of the Pathway destinations, Destination NSW and the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council has the right to prioritise based on geographical basis and/or apply a ‘first come, first served’ limit based on the date an application is submitted prior to the deadline for the registration.

LEARN MORE HERE