Support for Aboriginal business development in the Wheatbelt
March 27, 2019 at 4:11 PM
The Noongar Enterprise Development Support initiative is led by Regional Development Australia (RDA) Wheatbelt and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services’ Inclusive Communities grants. Designed to help Wheatbelt Aboriginal people start their own businesses/social enterprises, it is currently funded until June 2021 and is free for Aboriginal people to access.
The initiative provides funding for two Project Officers, Robert Miles, based in Northam in Ballardong Country and Stephanie Mippy based in Moora in Yued Country.
On 6 March, the Noongar Enterprise Development Support - Moorditj Yaakiny (Standing Strong) Project was launched at the Bilya Koort Boodja Centre for Nyoongar Culture and Environmental Knowledge in Northam and the Ngala Wele Karla (Our Dream on Fire) Project was launched on 18 March at the Moora Recreation Centre.
Catering at Northam provided by The Hill Catering Company highlighted bush ingredients, with kangaroo meat pies, lemon myrtle tarts, emu eggs used in quiches and damper scones with quandong jam. Catering at Moora was provided by one of the Ngala Wele Karla Project participants.
At Moora, Stephanie Mippy spoke about her passion and desire for taking on the Project Officer role. Representatives from RDA Wheatbelt, including Mandy Walker, Director Regional Development and Terry ‘Tuck’ Waldron, Board Chair spoke in support of the Program and its ‘grass roots’ approach.
At Northam, Robert Miles spoke about helping people reconnect to their culture and language through running a business and the need to identify the cultural assets in a community and turn them into economic assets.
At both launches Brian Matthews, Assistant Director, Department of Social Services noted that both Projects were highly regarded by the Inclusive Communities grants assessment panel and would bring significant economic benefits and job opportunities to the Wheatbelt Region.
The focus of the Projects is talking to people about their ideas, providing information on starting and running a business, mentoring people and connecting them to other programs, resources and funding that can turn their idea into a business. The Project Officers’ role is to inspire, enable and activate Noongar people to develop self-employment options and social enterprises that lead to skills development, employment pathways, income generation and a sense of purpose.
Business opportunities can include arts/craft, bushwalks, tourism and cultural experiences, bushtucker catering/food, floristry, aged care, gardening and home services.
For more information contact:
Robert Miles (pictured below) on 0428 959 084 or email ballardong@moorditjyaakiny.com.au or visit https://moorditjyaakiny.com.au/
Stephanie Mippy on 0419 928 818, at nwk@yuedbusiness.com.au or visit https://ngalawelekarla.com.au/
