Connecting to Culture Toolkit

Coming soon to the Quality Tourism Framework

Connecting to Culture – A toolkit guiding respectful engagement with First Nations People (‘Connecting to Culture Toolkit’) has been designed to assist non-First Nations-owned tourism businesses in building and fostering meaningful and collaborative connections with First Nations people and communities.

Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell said that the toolkit will form an integral part of the Quality Tourism Framework (QTF), which provides industry and operators with a suite of online training and accreditation programs maintained by ATIC.

“Helping tourism businesses access resources to build more culturally respectful, inclusive and authentic tourism products, will enrich and enhance the visitor experience for all travellers to our shores,” said Minister Farrell.

“Australia’s First Nations people and communities have a rich and ancient cultural heritage, and the new Connecting to Culture Toolkit will help businesses honour and preserve this.”

Recognising the importance of responsible and inclusive tourism, the Connecting to Culture Toolkit encourages the development of authentic tourism practices that respect cultural, community, and environmental considerations.

While these is plenty of information on engaging with First Nations businesses and communities, there was no clear approach for tourism businesses to follow or obvious contact points to reach out to for guidance. The Toolkit was created to help businesses confidently take the first steps towards respectful and meaningful engagement, with clarity on who to contact and what information is relevant to help them progress.

Within the Connecting to Culture Toolkit, businesses will be led through a a series of questions to identify current gaps in their engagement with First Nations culture and community. They will then be guided on how to close these gaps through a directory of resources so they can progress with confidence and clarity.

“We are proud to introduce the Connecting to Culture Toolkit, which represents a major milestone in supporting Australian tourism businesses to engage with First Nations communities in a respectful and meaningful way,” said Evan Hall, Chair, Australian Tourism Industry Council.

“This toolkit provides businesses with the guidance they need to foster genuine connections and ensure that cultural integrity is at the heart of Australia’s tourism growth.”

“We hope that this enables more tourism businesses to engage with First Nations people and communities, and work towards fostering respectful and meaningful connections that align with cultural values and practices.”

ATIC’s First Nations Reference Group, comprised of First Nations representatives from across Australia, played an integral role in ensuring the toolkit was an accurate reflection of First Nations people and culture.

Desmond Campbell, Chair of the ATIC First Nations Reference Group, shared his thoughts saying, “through this toolkit, we’re helping tourism businesses build genuine, deeper connections with First Nations people and communities, ensuring that our cultures and values are respected.”

“It will open doors for First Nations communities across Australia to share their stories, engage with visitors, and benefit from tourism in ways that are both respectful and sustainable.”

Mr Campbell continued explaining, “the Connecting to Culture Toolkit provides the structure and opportunity for the world’s oldest continuing cultures and languages to be shared and celebrated ensuring their ongoing presence within Australia’s tourism landscape.”

“By providing businesses with the right guidance, we are helping to ensure that First Nations perspectives are truly heard and integrated into key aspects of the tourism journey.”

A key focus of the Toolkit is to prioritise First Nations-led organisations, associations, and consultants – those with the cultural authority to share knowledge and provide meaningful guidance. Additionally, the Toolkit includes links to official government websites and industry associations that have undertaken appropriate engagement and consultation with First Nations communities. This ensures businesses are accessing credible and properly endorsed information.

Ultimately, the Connecting to Culture Toolkit is about fostering genuine, informed, and responsible partnerships in the tourism industry. By using this resource, businesses can take meaningful steps toward respectful engagement with First Nations businesses, contributing to a more inclusive and culturally respectful tourism sector.

More details to come prior to release 

The Connecting to Culture Toolkit is supported by our national partner, Tourism Australia.

Connecting to Culture Toolkit Launch at the Talking Tourism Business Forum 2025 (20 March 2025)