The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership

This Partnership supports greater participation and economic opportunities for First Nations people and businesses in Australia’s tourism industry.

THRIVE 2030 is committed to supporting greater participation of First Nations cultures, interpretation, and businesses into the visitor economy. In 2023 and 2024, Austrade facilitated a co-design process bringing First Nations tourism leaders together with state, territory and Australian Government to form a Partnership to lead this change.

The National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership is comprised of First Nations tourism industry representatives from every state and territory. It will support greater participation and economic opportunities for First Nations people and businesses in Australia’s tourism industry.

The Partnership will be funded for an initial 2 years through the National Indigenous Australians Agency’s Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

Domestic and International visitors have expressed their interest in experiencing First Nations culture more than ever before. The Partnership will provide industry-led leadership and guidance on respectfully embedding Australia’s rich cultural heritage in tourism offerings.

Roles and responsibilities

The National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership (the Partnership) will support greater First Nations participation and economic opportunities. It aims to respectfully embed First Nations culture within the visitor economy.

The Partnership will meet up to 4 times a year or as required to:

  1. investigate and establish a permanent National First Nations Tourism Body
  2. provide input and advice on Australian government policies and programs
  3. represent the First Nations tourism sector at national activities and forum
  4. share information with First Nations tourism businesses and stakeholders (including via state/territory bodies where they exist)
  5. engage and collaborate with other national and international First Nations bodies including Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and Trade’s First Nations Trade and Investment Advisory Group
  6. undertake activities that are determined by the Partnership, within its budget, and where not duplicating work already being done by other entities.

Austrade is the secretariat.

Read the National First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership Terms of Reference. 

Membership

The Partnership currently has 14 members and is chaired by Robert Taylor, CEO of WAITOC (Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council).

Members were selected for their industry expertise. They are based across Australia and the Torres Strait and listed below (in alphabetical order by jurisdiction):

  • Robert Taylor, Chair, Western Australia (CEO, Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council)
  • Cameron Costello, Deputy Chair, Queensland (Chair, Queensland First Nations Tourism Council)
  • Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, New South Wales Chair, NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council 
  • Paul Ah Chee, Northern Territory Chair, Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Committee 
  • Angela Huston, Queensland Board member, Independent Indigenous Tourism Operators of Queensland 
  • Haydyn Bromley, South Australia Chair, South Australian Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council
  • Soraya Rankine, South Australia Board member, South Australian Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council 
  • Nunami Sculthorpe-Green, Tasmania Tourism and Cultural Development Officer, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre. Founder, Blak Led Tours
  • Melissa West,Tasmania Wukalina Walk 
  • Fraser Nai, Torres Strait Islands Founder, Strait Experience 
  • Annie Mari, Torres Strait Islands Member for Warraber/Portfolio Member for Economic Development, Torres Strait Regional Authority
  • Johani Mamad, Western Australia Board Member, Western Australia Indigenous Tourism Operators Council

Membership for Victoria and the ACT is still being finalised.

Austrade, the National Indigenous Australians Agency and Tourism Australia are ex-officio members.

Members of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership at their first meeting on 18 March 2025 in Sydney.

Members of the First Nations Visitor Economy Partnership gather for their first meeting in Gadigal / Sydney on 18 March 2025

Contact us

Email: FNVEPSecretariat@austrade.gov.au

More information

THRIVE 2030 Strategy.

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