A Guide to Resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women in business
Introduction
Australian Government
Directories of Existing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Businesses
- Department of Families, Housing, Community services and Indigenous Affairs
The Indigenous Leadership Programs are designed to develop personal and community leadership capacity and could provide valuable training opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aspiring to business.
Each year, the Indigenous Women’s Community Leadership Program supports and develops around 70 women who are already making a leadership contribution to their communities. Participants attend residential workshops during which time they take part in individual exercises, group discussions, development activities and tools for self assessment.
Similarly, the Indigenous Women’s Program (a grants program) aims to enhance Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women’s leadership, representation, wellbeing and economic status. Activities conducted under this program help to support more women to undertake leadership, representative and management roles, and strengthen women’s networks and organisations. Applications for Indigenous Women’s Program funding are called for annually.
- Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)
IBA Enterprise - Business Finance aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop and implement their ideas for commercially viable businesses.
Finance is provided in the form of loans and guarantees.
Loans
IBA Business Loans may be used to establish new business ventures, buy existing businesses, buy or set up franchise businesses, or consolidate existing business loans where the business management is sound.
Finance can be provided to: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals or corporations.
IBA Enterprises - Enterprise Support aims to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop and implement their ideas for commercially viable businesses
Enterprise Support provides professional assistance in the development and presentation of a business proposal and application for funds, assists with access to business and management training, and provides on-going access to professional assistance aimed at ensuring continued viability of the enterprise. Further information may be obtained from the website. There are offices of IBA in all states and territories.
Financial Literary Resources
The Women Understanding Money resource consists of fact sheets and contains information on topics from budgeting, saving and investing, to making the most of superannuation.
Your Money is Your Business is specifically targeted to women business owners.
The link to the fact sheets on the Australian Government's Understanding Money website (www.understandingmoney.gov.au)
The Financial Literacy Foundation has developed a handbook "Understanding Money - Good Practices in Developing Financial Literacy Initiatives with Indigenous Australians". (www.understandingmoney.gov.au)
The kits can be ordered by emailing financial.literacy or calling the foundation on 02 6263 2111.