Current grants and support

FINANCIAL SUPPORT
TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY SECTOR HARDSHIP PROGRAM
The $40 million Tourism and Hospitality Sector Hardship Program will provide one-off grants of up to $50,000 to eligible tourism and hospitality businesses facing significant financial hardship as a result of COVID-19 travel restrictions and interstate lockdowns. The program, which is part of the $600 million Australian Government-Queensland Government COVID-19 Business Support Package, is set to open in October 2021. Find out more here.

COVID-19 COMMUNITY & SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF – CITY OF GOLD COAST
City of Gold Coast is implementing initiatives to protect local businesses and local jobs, supporting the Gold Coast’s road to recovery through COVID-19 impacts. Find out more here.

COVID-19 BUSINESS SUPPORT GRANT
You may be eligible to receive a grant of between $1,000 and $30,000 (excluding GST) depending on the size of your business. Under the joint Queensland and Australian Government support package, tiered payments based on payroll size for eligible businesses and not-for-profit organisations across Queensland are available. Eligibility criteria applies, including that the business must have experienced at least a 30% reduction in turnover as a result of the lockdown. Applications for the Grants opened 12pm 16th August and close on 16th November 2021. Find out more here.

COVID-19 NEGOTIATION COMMERCIAL RENT RELIEF
If your business has suffered a reduction in turnover due to the COVID-19 emergency during the response period or extension period, you may be eligible to negotiate rent relief with your landlord under the Regulation. Find out more here.

TOURISM BUSINESS HEALTH CHECK
Understand and improve the resilience of your business so you are ready for anything from loss of key staff, to a pandemic or natural disaster. Take the survey here.

QUEENSLAND TOURISM BUSINESS FINANCIAL COUNSELLING SERVICE
The Queensland Tourism Business Financial Counselling Service provides free financial counselling support to help tourism operators who have been financially impacted as a result of COVID-19 resize or change their business model. A rebate is offered for businesses needing additional expert advice. Program running from March 2021 to June 2022. Find out more here.

COVID-19 CREATIVE ECONOMY SUPPORT PACKAGE – RESTART INVESTMENT TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND (RISE) FUND
This Australian Government program aims to provide capital to help production and event businesses who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic to put on new festivals, concerts, tours and events as social distancing restrictions ease, including through innovative operating and digital delivery models. Closes 31 December 2021. Factsheet here. Find out more here.

TOURISM AUSTRALIA – BUSINESS EVENTS BID FUND PROGRAM (BFP)
This program aims to increase the conversion of new international business events for Australia through the offer of financial support at the critical bidding stage. It is designed to deliver conversion of business in situations where Australia is bidding against international competitors for the right to host the business event. Closes 30 June 2022. Find out more here.

PaTH BUSINESS PLACEMENT PARTNERSHIPS PROGRAM
The Federal Government is partnering with hospitality and tourism industries to connect young job seekers to employment opportunities in tourism and hospitality through the $10 million PaTH Business Placement Partnerships program. Trial runs until June 2022. Find out more here.

BOOSTING APPRENTICESHIP COMMENCEMENTS
The Australian Government’s Boosting Apprenticeship Commencements wage subsidy supports businesses and Group Training Organisations to take on new apprentices and trainees, to build a pipeline of skilled workers to support sustained economic recovery. Running until 31 March 2022. Factsheet here. Find out more here.

QUEENSLAND DESTINATION EVENTS PROGRAM
The Queensland Destination Events Program (QDEP), formerly the Regional Development Program (RDP), seeks to leverage the crucial link between events and the destinations in which they are staged, extending the flow of the economic, marketing and social benefits of events throughout metropolitan and regional Queensland. Funding for Round 20 is currently open and will close on 6 October 2021. Find out more here.

TRAINING AND BUSINESS SUPPORT
TOURISM INDUSTRY BUSINESS CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
QTIC’s Tourism Industry Business Capability Development Program has been extended to 30 September 2021 with eligible businesses now given an additional 3 months to complete their coaching sessions. The program will continue to run as scheduled with Stage 1 Whole of State Webinars on the Business Capability website which can be used as an online resource. Stage 2 Coaching and Stage 3 Additional Coaching will continue to be offered for eligible Queensland tourism businesses. Find out more here.

MENTORING FOR GROWTH PROGRAM
The Queensland Government’s Mentoring for Growth program currently has mentors ready to connect with impacted small businesses. Mentors are available to provide tailored support including financial mentoring and business planning. The experienced mentors volunteer their time to help business owners and build stronger small businesses across Queensland. Find out more here.

AUSTRALIAN SMALL BUSINESS ADVISORY SERVICES (ASBAS) DIGITAL SOLUTIONS PROGRAM – FOR BUSINESSES
This Australian Government program aims to provide services that help small businesses to make the most of digital tools and offers broader advice specific to their business needs. Eligible applicants include small businesses that must have 20 or less full-time equivalent employees. Sole traders can also access services. Register here. Find out more here.

WELLBEING SUPPORT
BEYOND BLUE’S NEWACCESS
Beyond Blue’s NewAccess for Small Business Owners (beyondblue.org.au) is a free, confidential mental health coaching program designed to support small business owners and help get them back on track. Read more here.

LIVIN
LIVIN is all about living your life at the top and breaking the stigma around mental health. Connecting, supporting and encouraging one another to talk about their feelings and challenges because “It Ain’t Weak to Speak”. Through the development of cutting edge education programs, apparel and community awareness initiatives, LIVIN are launching a generational change. Find out more here.

FURTHER SUPPORT
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT BUSINESS ASSISTANCE
You can use the COVID-19 Business Assistance Finder tool to understand the other support that may be available to your business. Answer a series of questions about your business size and type to view the relevant business support packages available and applicable to you. 
Find out more here.