What this announcement means

• Vozi has been selected for the CivVic Labs Experience Victoria Challenge
• The program focuses on technology solutions for tourism, hospitality and events in Victoria
• This partnership with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions positions Vozi as the only Voice AI platform in Australia backed by a Victorian Government startup program
• We will be working on solutions to help Victorian tourism and hospitality businesses

This article shares our excitement about this opportunity and what it means for Voice AI in the Victorian tourism sector.

Experience our Voice AI technology firsthand

About the CivVic Experience Victoria Challenge

The CivVic Labs Experience Victoria Challenge is a program run by LaunchVic in partnership with the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions (DJSIR). The challenge asks Victorian innovators a simple but important question:

"How might technology transform Victoria's tourism, hospitality and events experiences?"

The program is seeking technology solutions that can make a real difference for Victorian businesses and visitors. Areas of focus include:

Challenge Focus Areas

• Creating new visitor experiences or improving existing attractions
• Helping operators manage their business and engage customers more effectively
• Increasing accessibility and safety for people of all identities, cultures and abilities
• Supporting operators to prepare for and manage crises
• Using data to better understand, manage and grow visitation
• Making it easier for visitors to discover and travel to attractions, venues and regions

Through a six-week bootcamp experience, selected teams work with industry experts, policy makers and Victorian citizens to test and refine their solutions.

Why We Are Excited About This Opportunity

Being selected for this challenge is a significant milestone for Vozi. It validates our belief that Voice AI has a meaningful role to play in supporting Australian businesses, particularly in sectors that rely heavily on customer communication.

Working with Industry Experts

The program connects us with tourism and hospitality operators who understand the real challenges of running visitor-focused businesses in Victoria. Their insights will help shape how Vozi can best serve this sector.

Government Partnership

Working alongside DJSIR means contributing to broader efforts to support Victorian tourism and hospitality. This is technology development with genuine public benefit in mind.

What This Selection Means to Us

We have always believed that Voice AI should be practical and accessible for Australian businesses of all sizes. Being selected for this challenge:

• Confirms that our approach resonates with experienced evaluators
• Opens doors to work directly with the tourism and hospitality sector
• Gives us the opportunity to prove our technology in real-world Victorian contexts
• Positions us to contribute meaningfully to regional Victorian economies

Voice AI for Victorian Tourism and Hospitality

Tourism and hospitality businesses face unique communication challenges. Visitors call at all hours, often from different time zones. They have questions about availability, directions, accessibility, and local recommendations. Many regional operators are small teams juggling multiple responsibilities.

How Voice AI Can Help

Hospitality

• Handle booking enquiries 24/7
• Answer questions about menus and dietary requirements
• Manage reservation changes
• Provide directions and parking information

Tourism and Attractions

• Share opening hours and ticket availability
• Explain accessibility options
• Provide directions to regional destinations
• Answer questions in multiple languages

Events

Events create temporary spikes in phone enquiries that are difficult to staff for. Voice AI can:

• Scale instantly to handle high call volumes during event promotion
• Provide consistent information about schedules, venues and ticketing
• Answer accessibility and transport questions
• Capture enquiries for follow-up by event organisers

Regional Victoria has incredible tourism assets, but many operators are small businesses without the resources for dedicated reception staff. Voice AI can help level the playing field, ensuring visitors get prompt, helpful responses regardless of business size.

The Only Government-Backed Voice AI Platform in Australia

With this selection, Vozi becomes the only Voice AI platform in Australia backed by a Victorian Government startup program. This is a distinction we take seriously.

What Government Backing Means

Validation: Our technology and approach have been evaluated by experienced program assessors and found worthy of support
Accountability: We are working alongside government partners, which means maintaining high standards of service and transparency
Local focus: Our development is shaped by the needs of Australian businesses, not imported wholesale from overseas markets
Long-term commitment: This partnership demonstrates our commitment to serving Australian businesses for the long term

For businesses considering Voice AI, this backing provides additional confidence. You are working with a platform that has been vetted and supported by organisations with a stake in Victoria's economic success.

What This Means for Australian Businesses

Our participation in the CivVic Experience Victoria Challenge will directly benefit the businesses we serve. The insights we gain from working with tourism and hospitality operators, policy makers and Victorian citizens will flow into our platform.

What You Can Expect

• Continued development focused on Australian business needs
• Features refined through real-world testing with Victorian operators
• A platform built with input from industry experts and policy makers
• Ongoing commitment to supporting regional and metropolitan businesses alike

We are grateful for this opportunity and excited to contribute to Victoria's tourism, hospitality and events sectors. This is exactly the kind of meaningful work we set out to do when we founded Vozi.

For more on how Vozi works with Australian businesses, see our article on voice AI use cases for Australian businesses.

Experience government-backed Voice AI

Vozi is the only Voice AI platform in Australia backed by a Victorian Government startup program. We are building technology that works for Australian businesses, shaped by local needs and validated by experienced evaluators.

Try a live call to experience our technology, or book a demo to discuss how Vozi can help your business.

About This Announcement

Written by: Nick Davenport, Founder, Vozi

Nick founded Vozi to bring practical Voice AI solutions to Australian businesses, with a focus on accessibility and local relevance.

Published: 13 January 2026

Last reviewed: 13 January 2026

Vozi is an Australian Voice AI platform backed by LaunchVic and delivered in partnership with the Victorian Government's Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions. Read the official announcement.

Vozi Selected for LaunchVic CivVic Experience Victoria Challenge