The national launch of Indigenous Business Month, which was established by the alumni of the Melbourne Business School’s MURRA Indigenous Business Master program, has happened today in Toowoomba.
Minister for Employment and Small Business Di Farmer said the national launch was held at the Highfields Culture Centre and included an exhibition of Queensland Indigenous businesses and a panel discussion on Indigenous innovation and entrepreneurship.
“Now in its 7th year Indigenous Business Month is a celebration of the ingenuity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,” Minister Farmer said
“With this year’s theme of ‘Powering the Indigenous Economy’ it’s an opportunity for Indigenous business owners to showcase themselves and their work in improving their communities while continuing to be positive role models for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
Minister Farmer said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses reinvested revenue in their communities and employed more than 30 times the proportion of First Nations people compared to non-Indigenous businesses.
“Collectively Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses contribute more than $1 billion a year to the national economy, with revenues growing on average at 12.5 per cent annually,” Minister Farmer said.
“Supporting Indigenous businesses means their communities benefit too.
“Backing small business is at the heart of our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan, and indigenous businesses play a vital role in that.”
She said Indigenous Business Month aligned with Palaszczuk Government initiatives supporting First Nations businesses, including the Advance Queensland Deadly Innovation Strategy, designed to create pathways for Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples through participation in the global innovation economy.
Minister for Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Craig Crawford said Queensland’s Path to Treaty recognised the importance of self-determination in boosting local economies and creating jobs to build thriving communities.
“Beyond the economic contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses make to their communities and to the Australian economy as a whole, they also are also a major source of innovation, leadership and mentorship,” Minister Crawford said.
“Like Sobah Beverages on the Gold Coast which specialises in brewing non-alcoholic beer infused with bush tucker ingredients. The company has supply deals with Dan Murphy’s and BWS stores throughout South-East Queensland and northern New South Wales.”
Twenty-two year old Gamilaaray man Lochie Waters from St George said he wanted to own his own butcher’s ever since he was a clean up boy at St George Butchery.
He started his butchery apprenticeship in St George in 2013. In 2017, he started a job at Uniplaza Meats in Toowoomba and finished his apprenticeship in 2018. Last year, he bought Uniplaza Meats.
“I have been able to fulfill my dream of owning my own butcher shop a lot sooner than I thought possible. It takes a lot of hard work and long hours, but it’s well worth the effort to be able to achieve my goal,” he said.
“It was challenging at first doing the paperwork side of things, gaining an understanding of how to run a business, and ensuring wages and invoices are up to date and correct.
“But running your own business is important. It gives you a sense of accomplishment and the ability to realise your dream. It shows you that you can achieve anything and be successful, if you are willing to work hard and believe in yourself.”
To help mark the start of Indigenous Business Month, Black Coffee Australia, an Indigenous business community network with membership across Queensland, will also host a networking event at the launch.
