Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) today announced that applications are open for an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, girls and sistergirls. Interested female-led Social Enterprises can apply for a partnership under the ‘Social Enterprise Grant’ that will support First Nations female entrepreneurs to innovate and create economic security in their communities.
With support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, IBA will deliver $2.7 million of grant funding in 2023 through partnerships with Australian Social Enterprises who are, or work with First Nations women in business. The goal is to support the economic empowerment of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women, girls and sistergirls.
Opportunities for the grant include business focused programs, building networks, employment readiness or workplace coaching to increase economic empowerment. The grant can also be accessed to support economic security focused initiatives such as financial wellbeing and planning, and selfcare initiatives that support First Nations women to continue to be financially secure while managing family and community obligations.
The grant may be used for establishing innovative platforms and systems that support the delivery of programs or connecting networks, and for the upskilling and training of First Nations staff in partnering enterprises.
Stella de Cos, Southern Arrernte woman and IBA Director of Community and Customer Experience, says the grant program will drive positive change for our women around the country.
“This partnership brings an amazing opportunity for First Nations female entrepreneurs and female-led community organisations to continue to innovate and solve economic issues facing First Nations women and their communities.
“Women are the strongest pillars of many of our First Nations communities. Empowering them builds opportunities to continue the positive impact and change they drive.
“I encourage our First Nations women in business who feel this grant could make a difference to their communities, and improve the economic security of First Nations women, to go to the IBA website and find out more.”
The grants are an initiative of the Early-Stage Social Enterprise Foundation announced in the Women’s Economic Security Package of the 2021-22 Federal Budget.
Applications for the grant open 16 January 2023 and will close 30 August 2023, unless funds are exhausted earlier.
More information and online grant applications at www.iba.gov.au/socialenterprisegrant.
Media contact: Tara Toohill, 0427 011 938 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) launched their 2nd Impact Report at an event in Sydney on 6 October 2022. Joined by the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP, and a panel of customers, IBA celebrates by hearing directly from those impacted through home ownership, business, and investments.
The framework of the report is an innovative initiative designed to provide a baseline for understanding IBA’s external footprint and the ripples of impact from IBA’s activities on the lives of First Nations people in Australia.
The report shows that each of IBA’s core programs (home ownership, business, and investments) had overall significant positive economic, social and cultural impacts on the people IBA serve.
IBA sought to better understand how our customers define “success” and ultimately to confirm if IBA was a key enabler and facilitator of achieving those aspects that make up how a full experience of life is assessed, that is, from economic, social and cultural perspectives.
The report provides five key recommendations that can assist IBA to maximise its positive impact, minimise the negative impacts and help continue to enable and support Indigenous-led economic advancement.
Gija woman Kia Dowell is the Executive Director of Strategy & Innovation at IBA. Kia has been involved from the beginning to create the framework for the impact strategy. She notes the importance of investing in First Nations people to create continuing impact and intergenerational wealth.
“The decisions we make today will impact the lives of generations to come.
“The ability to recover, rebound and continue to have impact that First Nations communities have shown is testament to our resilience and tenacity to overcome hardship and come out stronger.
“IBA are invested in the long-term success of our customers so that positive change can continue to flow on for generations to come.
“This report reveals how IBA provides a doorway to the economy for peoples who have traditionally faced exclusion from such opportunities. But the report recognises that it is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians who walk through the door and make the most of their opportunity. Indeed, they are the stars of the report.”
Natt Smith went through the IBA process and bought her first home in 2002, with an IBA home loan. As her property grew in value, it provided her security and economic independence.
‘Home ownership was the grounding that’s supported me to do all that I do including the confidence to get better jobs.’
‘I came to understand that my home could be a source of equity, that it could create future wealth and options.’
‘It has really started a whole new life cycle for me. And what I didn’t realise is that it’s not just about owning a home, it’s actually about making an investment in bigger things – in a future.’
The Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP, says IBA is one of the key ways for government to deliver business support and improve access to opportunities for First Nations business owners and first home buyers.
IBA has played an important role in helping First Nations people navigate through a difficult few years of COVID, fires and floods.
“IBA is a proven model for generating economic independence by investing in people, places, and ideas – the latest Impact Report shows this.
“I want to see IBA continue to assist with increased home ownership, increased business ownership, and economic growth and independence for Indigenous Australians.”
Find a copy of the report on a website highlighting the key findings: iba.gov.au/impact-report-2021
Images from the launch event are available.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
The SX5 Group will host a special ceremony on Thursday 4 August to welcome a new dozer machine to the country – a first of its kind to be used in Australia. The Cat D10T2 Dozer will be used to rehabilitate mine sites on Aboriginal land.
The ceremony includes important cultural and spiritual significance. Elders from Noongar and Yinhawangka country will welcome all onto their land with a Welcome to Country, smoking ceremony and blessing of the machine.
SX5 is an Aboriginal owned contracting company in Eastern Guruma country in the Pilbara of Western Australia. They provide services to companies in the area such as mine site building, manufacture and installation, mobile concrete batch plant operations and site rehabilitation.
Company directors, Ralph and Cherie Keller of SX5 Group, and Kenzie Smith, of the Eastern Gurama group have earned trust with the local Traditional Owners of the Pilbara region of which Kenzie is a respected senior elder.
The new dozer arrived from the USA and had to be factory fitted to take remote and semi-autonomous dozing systems. This will allow SX5 to fulfill their aspirations, allowing them to enter into the semi-autonomous operations by removing the operator from the machine – reducing the risks of this high-risk mining waste dump re-construction.
This factory fitted equipment to this D10T-2 is the first step followed by the equipment and training in remote dozing operations. SX5 hopes to be in remote operations by the first quarter of 2023.
Mine site rehabilitation is a critical aspect of the business for SX5. Ralph Keller explains the importance of from an Aboriginal perspective.
“We’re making things green again, making Country good again. We’re making Country feel better,” said Ralph.
“We’ve always been a great believer in technology,” he says. “What makes us different is SX5 continues to reinvent itself every day. It’s all about technology. That’s how you achieve excellence and how you mitigate risk – and our journey into the autonomous operation world is one example.”
For businesses to work on large scale contracting projects, they need to have the cashflow and performance bond guarantees. IBA’s Chief Executive Officer Kirsty Moore notes the importance of supporting First Nations businesses with opportunities so they can be part of these large projects.
“Putting the regeneration of Country back in the hands of First Nations companies like SX5 is smart business and we’re so glad to support their efforts,” says Kirsty Moore.
“IBA provides leasing opportunities to First Nations businesses so they can acquire critical capital equipment without tying up large amounts of cash that is needed to cover the operating costs of the business.”
“The new equipment has stepped up the production and quality of work that the business has been able to achieve, by using equipment that is purpose built for the task.”
“SX5 is a great example of a First Nations business transforming their opportunities to work with big business – all while restoring Country and being trained in new technology.”
Background info: iba.gov.au/2021/12/rehabilitating-country
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
About IBA
IBA is a commercially focused organisation. Economic independence for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is at the heart of what we do. Our programs assist Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes, be successful in business, and invest in commercial ventures that provide strong financial returns. IBA is established under the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005 (ATSI Act) and is a corporate Commonwealth entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act). IBA resides in the portfolio of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and is accountable to the Australian Parliament through the Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Linda Burney MP.
About SX5
The SX5 Group is based in Western Australia and provide a vast range of services to the resource industries throughout the Pilbara. The group of companies is 51% Aboriginal owned and has AS/NZS ISO 9001, AS/NZS 4801 and AS/NZS ISO 14001 Certification. With a corporate office in Perth and the Pilbara office/yard/workshop situated in Karratha, the group is well situated to provide exemplary service to the Pilbara region as well as service our clients in Western Australia. The SX5 name comes from the brand applied to the stray cattle that were mustered by Director Kenzie Smith’s family and allowed to sell themselves – which set them up on an entrepreneurial path.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) announce partnership with Black Magic Woman under an arrangement with BlackCard Pty Ltd, a 100% Aboriginal owned business.
The series will produce a set of podcasts and vodcasts featuring women in business that build conversations around economic empowerment, safety and social justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
Influencer Mundanara Bayles is the host and creator of the Black Magic Woman series, produced by BlackCard. Mundanara is connected to the Wonnarua and Bunjalung people on her mother’s (Northern NSW) side and the Birri-Gubba and Gungalu people (Central QLD) on her father’s side.
The 2022-23 series will produce 10 pod- or vodcasts with a focus on First Nations women, their journeys and experience. This follows the successful 2021-22 series which featured inspiring entrepreneurs such as fashion designer Liandra Gaykamangu, sailing tour operator Simon Thornalley, and Australian mother and daughter creatives Miimi & Jiinda owners Lauren Jarrett and Melissa Greenwood.
The Black Magic Woman series provides inspiration and connection to its vast online audience and has delivered 93 episodes with more than 90,000 downloads.
The podcast is produced by Clint Curtis who has worked with First Nations people for over a decade, initially working with Mundanara’s father, Tiga Bayles, producing talk shows and sound design for visual and audio media, including the audio book “River Story” by Uncle Ross Watson.
“It’s an honour to be working with Mundanara and IBA, having an opportunity to contribute to amplifying First Nations voices which help create awareness that leads to much needed change in this country,” says Clint.
The partnership taps into IBA’s Strong Women Strong Business network that supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in business.
“You’ll hear from IBA customers who lead the way in achieving their dreams and embracing the unique opportunity to go on their business journeys,” says Mundanara.
IBA Director of Community and Customer Experience Stella de Cos says the partnership is an important element of continuing to highlight the outstanding work of our First Nations women as entrepreneurs and business owners.
“The Black Magic Woman series feels like you’re sitting around the kitchen table having a yarn. Mundanara connects to her guests with ease so we can hear their true authentic story,” says Stella.
“This partnership supports strong Aboriginal businesses to further share other strong voices to inspire our mob to follow their dreams.
“Encouraging women to share their stories sparks new ways of thinking about financial independence of our women, and promotes the possibilities we’ve generated over thousands of years,” Stella says.
Watch out for the episodes coming out later this year. You can listen to all the past episodes here: iba.gov.au/2021/08/iba-and-black-magic-woman-podcast-partnership-series.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Destination NSW Media Release, 17 Jun 2022:
The National Indigenous Art Fair will return to the Sydney Harbour foreshore July 2-3 to showcase creations from First Nations artists and makers from around Australia for its third annual art market.
The art fair, which launches NAIDOC Week 2022, takes place at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in The Rocks. The event provides Sydneysiders with the opportunity to buy ethical, authentic art directly from the artists, and it includes a two-day festival of Indigenous Australian art, song, dance, communal weaving, smoking ceremonies, bushfood and culture.
“The National Indigenous Art Fair symbolises an incredible gathering of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, with many travelling from the far corners of Australia — places like Haasts Bluff, the Tiwi Islands and Yuendumu. The event presents a rare and exciting opportunity for the broader community to interact directly with the makers and hear their stories,” said Peter Cooley, CEO of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, founders of the event.
He noted the National Indigenous Art Fair is the first Indigenous art show to run live again since COVID struck two years ago. “So, we’re kicking off the live Indigenous art fair scene around Australia to a massive Sydney market who are keen to get out and experience the art and atmosphere.”
From artworks to fashion, from jewellery to homewares, and from native dyed textiles to children’s puzzles, these inventive artisans are exemplars of sustainability, working closely with the resources found in their own environment, and weaving Care for Country and creativity into one.
Officially welcoming these 22 remote art centres to Sydney, local artists, designers and makers from Australia’s leading authentic First Nations marketplace – the Blak Markets – will join them in the Overseas Passenger Terminal. In total there will be 50 stallholders at this ethical marketplace, with all proceeds going directly back to the artist and First Nations communities.
NSW regional and remote Indigenous art collectives join us for the first time
“This year, in addition to inviting remote art centres, the art fair will support seven NSW regional and remote Indigenous collectives and artists to get to Sydney to connect them with the local marketplace,” said Mr Cooley.
“Australia-wide mobs have done it tough these past two years with the pandemic. And the NSW mob have also been impacted by fires and floods. Through the art fair, we want to come together in Sydney, highlight some of the good stuff that’s come out of these disasters and showcase our resilience. It will be great to have these NSW collectives alongside us for the first time at our art fair,” he added.
As well as all the inspirational art and design stalls, the National Indigenous Art Fair presents an impressive program of live cultural and performance experiences, running from 10am to 5pm each day.
Early arrivals each morning will have the opportunity to participate in poignant Indigenous smoking ceremonies and join a procession into the National Indigenous Art Fair, watching as each stall is blessed and cleansed.
Once inside, attendees will be able to enjoy singing performances by Mi-kaisha, Nadeena Dixon and Djinama Yilaga Choir and performances by Ngaran Ngaran Culture Awareness Aboriginal Dance Group and Wagana Dancers.
Panel discussion to highlight issues impacting Indigenous communities
On Sunday afternoon, there will be a panel discussion to tie in with the NAIDOC Week theme, Get Up, Stand Up, Show Up, with traditional owners, Indigenous leaders and artists talking about issues impacting their remote communities.
“Topics include the importance of protecting homelands with Babbarra artists, how fracking and mining have impacted their remote communities and their work as artists (Juluwarlu and Munupi), and the importance of Indigenous organisations taking charge in times of disaster as we saw at the Koori Mail with the Lismore floods,” said Mr Cooley.
For those wanting to get hands-on, there is a unique opportunity to work alongside local Aboriginal weavers on a communal weaving project. Children’s activities will also be a highlight, with storytelling in the sand circle, and a kids’ dance and craft workshop offered on Sunday.
On the bushfood front, Indigenous chef Matthew Atkins will conduct cooking demonstrations at his food truck at the event, offering up a delicious bushfood feast, and the folks from IndigiGrow nursery will be selling a variety of native bushfood plants and herbs.
“With all of this available for a gold coin donation on entry, the National Indigenous Art Fair has to be the best value day out for Sydneysiders of all ages in history, not to mention an unmissable opportunity to kick off Sydney’s NAIDOC Week celebrations in style,” concluded Peter Cooley.
This third annual event is presented by National Indigenous Art Fair founders, Sydney-based First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, in proud partnership with the following organisations: the Port Authority of NSW, ABC Radio, University of Technology Sydney, the City of Sydney, and support from the federal government’s Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support program and Indigenous Business Australia.
For more information, visit niaf.com.au/Facebook event. The Overseas Passenger Terminal is easily accessible by public transport and on foot from Circular Quay.
-ENDS-
MEDIA: A selection of high-resolution images is available for download here.
For media interviews, call: Kim Carter (0407 771 698).
ABOUT
First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation (FHS) was established in October 2012 with a mission to build empowered, resilient Indigenous communities through cultural reconnection, education, employment and enterprise. FHS combines social innovation, cultural protection, education and social enterprises to close the gap for Indigenous people.
FHS has two arms: a community programs branch and a social enterprise arm where the corporation operates two ventures. The first, IndigiGrow, is a native plant nursery based in Sydney’s East, which provides employment and training to young Aboriginal people in the critically endangered plant species of their community. The second initiative is the Blak Markets, a micro-business hub for Indigenous artists, designers and craftspeople, providing them with the opportunity to earn and learn from the marketplace.
NIAF builds on the Blak Markets’ model by providing remote Indigenous art centres with the chance to participate and learn from the marketplace and collaborate with others nationwide. In the lead up to the art fair, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists from remote communities will travel to Sydney, thanks to support from First Hand Solutions’ Heart in Art program, which provides economic and professional development opportunities to Aboriginal artists working in remote communities. During their time in Sydney, artists will be connected to major art and cultural institutions.
The University of Melbourne media release, dated 12 Aug 2021:
The Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership – the first of its kind in Australia – was launched today at the University of Melbourne and Melbourne Business School.
The centre will be a home for education, engagement and research to support the self-determined growth of Indigenous businesspeople, companies, and communities around the country.
The name Dilin Duwa means “everlasting flow” in the Woi Wurrung language of the Wurundjeri people, on whose lands the Centre is located. It signifies the convergence of three streams of activities - teaching/programs, research and engagement - into impact.
Director, Associate Professor Michelle Evans, said the Centre was committed to the pursuit of equality for Australia’s First Nations people in the economic life of our country.
“The best way for the university sector to improve Indigenous economic inclusion is to offer access to business education, no matter where people are located,” Associate Professor Evans said.
“The Indigenous business sector is a vibrant, diverse sector that spans across all industries and geographic locations of Australia. And it is growing, with Indigenous entrepreneurs and boards deciding where to position in the market and how to give back to Indigenous communities.”
The Centre will become a primary resource for governments and corporations, providing previously unavailable research and data to inform policy and provide insights into procurement and Indigenous engagement activities.
Earlier this year the Centre team, working with Indigenous Business Data Custodians and the Melbourne Institute, delivered Australia’s inaugural Indigenous Business Snapshot and developed the Indigenous Business Longitudinal Analysis Data Environment (I-BLADE) 1.0, a project the Centre will continue developing.
The launch coincides with the announcement of two major partnerships with the Centre: Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), one of Australia’s leading bodies supporting Indigenous businesses, and the Minderoo Foundation.
IBA’s partnership is one of the largest it has signed with an educational institution. IBA’s Director of Community and Customer Experience, Arrernte woman Stella de Cos, said the Centre provided a new level of resourcing to support the rapid
growth of Indigenous businesses.
“Entrepreneurship and building strong business skills provide a clear path to achieving financial success and economic independence for Indigenous Australians and our communities,” she said.
“Since 2014, IBA has supported the MURRA program, so this expansion to partner with regional programs, with a dedicated online platform, is another step towards our commitment for a nation in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
are economically independent and an integral part of the economy.
“By supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs to build on their success, to contribute and grow business on country and within their own eco-systems, we can continue to foster the growth of a vibrant, sustainable Indigenous business sector, and true
economic empowerment.”
Generation One, an initiative of Minderoo Foundation, has a mission to create employment parity with and for Indigenous Australians.
CEO Shelley Cable, a MURRA alumna, said the Dilin Duwa partnership would build on the University’s strong history of backing Indigenous entrepreneurs and increasing support available nationwide.
“The Indigenous business sector contributes billions of dollars to our economy, and demand for Indigenous goods and services continues to grow. Through Australia’s first Centre dedicated to Indigenous businesses and entrepreneurs, the
sector will be supported to reach new heights, resulting in meaningful progress towards Indigenous employment parity, led by self-determining Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses,” Ms. Cable said.
Expanding on the foundations built by the award-winning MURRA Indigenous Business Program and the recent online Graduate Certificate in Indigenous Business Leadership, the Centre will also be guided by an Indigenous Advisory
Group made up of Indigenous business and leaders, including Wurundjeri Elder Aunty Di Kerr, Dr Blaze Kwaymullina and IBA’s Stella de Cos.
The Centre will follow Indigenous terms of reference to ensure cultural priorities and protocols are observed. Staffing and leadership are majority-Indigenous: Associate Professor Evans, Lecturer - Indigenous Communities Ash Francisco, Associate Lecturer – Indigenous Programs Mitchell Hibbens and Centre Manager Steven Clarke.
“My hope is that Dilin Duwa will provide a space where established Indigenous business owners, teachers, aspiring entrepreneurs, corporate organisations, and government can come together to realise the dream of an economically powerful Indigenous Australia,” Associate Professor Evans said.
Kirsty Moore appointed as new CEO at Indigenous Business Australia.The Minister for Indigenous Australians has confirmed the appointment of Kirsty Moore as the next Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) after a competitive recruitment process.
With experience across a broad array of sectors and skills, Kirsty is well equipped to lead the organisation into the next steps of supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to achieve their goals of home ownership, starting or growing a business, and investment opportunities.
Kirsty joined IBA in 2018 as head of Products and Markets where she increased the program alignment across areas, helped to develop and drive key strategies to find long-term funding solutions for IBA to ultimately benefit our customers and the communities we serve, and supported the growth of the business. She has been in the acting CEO role since 31 May 2021.
Prior to joining IBA, Kirsty was a senior executive with the WA Government where she had responsibility for business development, low deposit home loans, shared equity and asset management of the $14.5bn WA social housing portfolio.
Kirsty’s experience spans outside the public sector with time spent at PricewaterhouseCoopers and National Australia Bank. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, she has a strong background in technical accounting, corporate governance and commercial finance.
Experience matters, and combined with the appreciation for our cause and passion for Indigenous outcomes will support the additional element required to lead IBA’s vision.
With her beginnings in social housing, Kirsty grew up in Lancashire UK before moving to Australia. She was the first in her family to finish year 12. With support from her grandfather and a teacher who saw her potential, she advanced her opportunities. Her passion is to help people who need a bit of belief and support.
“I believe that all people deserve opportunities. That is why I work at IBA and why I want to create opportunities for people who are ready,” said Kirsty.
“It is a great privilege to be trusted to lead this long-standing, highly successful organisation that has helped so many Indigenous Australians achieve their dreams and become contributors to both their communities and Australia as a whole.”
The appointment was welcomed today by IBA’s Chairperson Eddie Fry, who received the correspondence from the Minister of Indigenous Australians Ken Wyatt.
“Kirsty has the full support of the IBA Board and staff to continue the great work underway by the organisation. She is deeply invested in the financial success and economic independence of Indigenous Australians.
“The dedication and experience that Kirsty brings to the organisation is exceptional. She will take IBA further into the future, challenging ideas and engaging across communities, stakeholders and government.
“The trials for the business, our customers, staff and families dealing with the impacts of COVID continue. Under Kirsty’s leadership to date and now in the top job, I know we will be resilient and adapt into the future.
“The IBA Board looks forward to working collaboratively with Kirsty and to greatly increase our achievements in the coming years for the benefit of Indigenous Australians and therefore all of Australia.”
Media contact: Tara Toohill 0427 011 938 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
CSIRO are working with Australia’s first and only Aboriginal owned-and-operated ground station provider to bring data down to Earth.
The ground station, located near Alice Springs and owned by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CfAT), will download the data from the NovaSAR-1 satellite as it passes overhead. This data is then sent to the CSIRO so it can be processed and made available to registered users of their national facility for things like agriculture and natural disaster management.
This will mark the first time Australia has managed its own source of Earth observation data.
IBA provided the funding to construct the ground station at CfAT a couple years ago and it launched last year so this is just the next step in the process.
Peter Renehan, CfAT CEO, said access to NovaSAR-1 has the potential to benefit many Indigenous communities, like Indigenous rangers who look after land and sea and can use imagery from space to help do their jobs. It also puts Aboriginal people at the forefront of Australia’s growing space sector.
“It’s important that we can build and own facilities like this right here in central Australia and feel proud that Aboriginal Australians are making such an important contribution to supporting the development of Australia’s sovereign capability in the space industry,” Mr Renehan said.
Read the CSIRO Media Release or check out their blogpost for more detail about the great work of CfAT and CSIRO’s RAP initiatives.
Tennant Creek’s IGA supermarket is expected to open by November of this year, after an extensive reconstruction and fit-out of the old site.
The IGA had to be relocated to a temporary site after the Paterson Street building, including adjoining retailers, was destroyed by arson in July 2020.
The supermarket and buildings are owned by Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation (JCAC) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), who are each 50% shareholders.
“The rebuild and fit-out was scheduled to be completed in September,” says IBA’s Executive Director, Government and Public Relations, Sean Armistead. “However, our project manager advises that due to a range of issues, including disruptions to the building industry around Australia, we expect the open date to now be November.”
“We are doing everything in our power to get the work finished as fast as possible and to provide a store that meets the expectations and needs of the local community.”
Once construction of the building is complete, the building will be handed over to IBA Retail Asset Management (IRAM), which manages and operates the store, for a comprehensive fit-out.
“Our partnership board has approved the design, our architect has ordered all the specialist fittings, including refrigeration and shelving, and we have awarded tenders for the fit out,” IRAM CEO John Kop said.
“The reconstruction project gave us a chance to modernise the store lay out and facilities, so we’re keen to get on with it and re-open our doors,” Mr Kop said.
IRAM has operated a temporary store co-located with the town’s BP Service Station since August 2020.
“We were able to get up and running relatively quickly, as we could share computer systems and facilities, such as the BP kitchen and storage shed,” Mr Kop said.
“With the help of our owners, the Julalikari and IBA partnership, we have invested in substantial upgrades to the facility over the past year, which has enabled us to trade as normally as possible,” he said.
“We now stock nearly our full range of goods and have maintained competitive supermarket prices at both the temporary supermarket and BP Service Station, with weekly specials,” Mr Kop said.
Mr Kop said the current tourist season had increased trade at the supermarket and BP service station but supplies from Adelaide were holding up well.
“Tennant Creek is booked out and we expect to be busy in coming weeks, with events such as the Finke Desert Race,” he said.
Media contacts
Tara Toohill, for IBA on 0427 011 938
Jane Munday, True North Strategic Communication, for IRAM on 0427 880 083
A singing collaboration in the Northern Territory has shown how music can unify communities.
The Barkly Voices Project, sponsored by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA)’s subsidiary IBA Retail Asset Management (IRAM), saw 160 schoolchildren, Traditional Owners and community members from the Barkly Region contribute their voices.
The resulting four and a half-minute video clip of ‘Keep My Culture Strong’ was released today.
The Barkly Voices Project arranged and remixed a song composed and recorded by Barkly musician Brian Morton and Australian musician and songwriter Neil Murray.
“We wanted to show the Barkly Region in a positive light,” says Julianne Croft, a musician and artistic director who coordinated the project via her role at Barkly Regional Arts.
The idea for the online singing collaboration came from IRAM CEO John Kop during COVID-19 lockdowns after seeing the diverse virtual choirs popping up around the world. He arranged sponsorship from IRAM, a subsidiary of IBA, which manages the Tennant Creek supermarket.
Barkly Voices participants were invited to use their smart phones to simultaneously listen to Brian Morton’s backing track and record audio-visual files, which were posted on an interactive website for editing. This was balanced by participants recorded either on site or at the Winanjjikari Music Centre studio at Barkly Regional Arts.
Four schools took part in the collaboration including Tennant Creek Primary School, the Munkarta Homelands, Murray Downs (Imangarra) Primary School and Elliott Public School (with singer Ray Dimakarri Dixon). Other organisations contributing their voices included Catholic Care, Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre and Papulu Apparr-Kari Language Centre.
“The kids were great,” says Julianne Croft. “It was a really positive experience for them.”
Sean Armistead, Executive Director of Government & Public Relations at IBA, notes that contributing to local Indigenous communities for positive economic outcomes is core to IBA’s purpose.
“Projects like the Barkly Voices shine a positive light on Australia’s Indigenous culture – and something we should all be proud to promote.
“The theme of Reconciliation Week 2021 is ‘More than a word, reconciliation takes action’ and this video shows what action can look like.”
Barkly Regional Arts also receives sponsorship from the Northern Territory and Australian Governments.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 0427 011 938 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Sitting by the firelight,
The moon is shining bright.
Listening to all the people
Telling the Dream Time story.
I’m thinking very deeply,
About that dreaming.
How it is the backbone to this land.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
Culture is the main thing.
It’s our identity and meaning.
It’s the way to survive.
We can’t forget our ancestors.
We gotta keep it all alive,
And pass it on to our children.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
And carry on.
[Bridge] (spoken in different First Nations’ languages and Chinese, Indonesian and French languages of Barkly singers: “Keep our culture strong, keep our children strong, keep our country strong”)
Well, I’m standing in my country.
I feel the power in the ground.
It’s what the old people said.
When my time is done and I no longer walk this earth,
My spirit will return to the place I love.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
And carry on.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
Keep my culture strong.
And carry on.
