Outback Academy Australia’s (OAA) lead initiative, Follow the Flowers, is well underway with scaling up national production of honey and Australian Native Wildflowers with First Nations farmers across the country including NSW, VIC, SA, WA and the ACT.
Follow the Flowers connects First Nations and other regenerative farmers that share the same values to expand their national and international supply opportunities. The initiative commenced with honey, food including bush foods, and Australian Native Wildflowers for known buyers.
In partnership with OAA and supporting business development of Follow the Flowers farmers, honey, and wildflowers producers, IBA is working with OAA to further develop farmers and the supply chain opportunity under the national brand.
Neville Atkinson, OAA National Business Development Lead said, “Follow the Flowers farmers are committed to working together as an ethical, authentic and connected supply group, similar to Fairtrade. They are focused on viable supply chain business that will return economic, social and environmental benefits to the communities and regions where they are located.”
Also supported by the Murray Darling Basin Economic Development program (MDBEDP) for Murray Corridor farmers, and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in WA, these farmers are being fast-tracked for capability building and business opportunities in agriculture, horticulture and linked industries such as tourism and environmental management.
Skills development includes shoulder to shoulder learning on farms with industry leaders in agriculture, environmental management, climate change and new technologies for waste, water and energy management.
There are currently 22 farms in the process of scaling up for this business opportunity with some scheduled as capability building bases for youth and others needing a hand-up into this sector.
Kelly Flugge, WA OAA Business Development Lead noted, “Capability building needs to reflect knowledge, including place-based traditional ecological knowledge, skills and technologies for now and a future where the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events are impacting on food sustainability and food security. Past agricultural practices have contributed to the state of the environment now. Our farmers are committed to repairing Country while doing business on their lands.”
We proudly partnered with The Guardian Australia to share a series of articles about Indigenous home ownership and why it benefits everyone.
The articles below all appeared on The Guardian Labs.
New research shows funding Indigenous Australians’ home ownership benefits us all
Supporting home ownership for Indigenous Australians addresses not only the issue of housing but also the financial security, social engagement and wellbeing of the whole community. It can make a difference to many critical issues facing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The ripple effect: How supporting Indigenous home ownership drives a strong economic future for Australia
Indigenous Australians who own their homes feel safer, more positive about the future, and more engaged in work and school, according to recent research from Deloitte. Figures show Indigenous home ownership can create a better and more prosperous Australia for everyone.
Home ownership was a game-changer for these two Indigenous women's families
Meet Kylie and Naomi, who are great examples of how Indigenous home ownership changes lives long after the SOLD sticker goes up. The ability to buy a home and pass it on to the next generation has been shown to greatly enhance pride and empowerment for Indigenous Australians.
First Nations Foundation (FNF) launched a new podcast series, Beyond the Gap, to explore best practice reconciliation and Indigenous engagement for corporate Australia and beyond. The conversations investigate the influences and constructs that should be considered for Reconciliation Action Plans, and what is the best path forward to engage and empower our country’s First Nations people.
The host, Phil Usher, is a proud Wiradjuri man who grew up in the rich culture of the Gamilaroi people. He chats with a variety of guests to dig deep into our country’s history to better our future.
“There was so much out there about the need for corporate Australia to engage First Nations people, without really getting to the meat of how, and what does this even look like, and how organisations can do it meaningfully,” said Phil.
Research done by FNF along with NAB and the Centre of Social Impact in 2019 exposed the harsh truth about the personal wealth and finances of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (see Money Stories). Phil comments about the research and why he created the podcast:
“Most of our life skills are a product of what our parents can work with us on or at least someone from our family. When we don’t have that type of role model, those skills are lacking…It is time for initiatives involving reconciliation and closing any gaps to factor in the unique position of Indigenous Australians; to truly understand who we are, and to build the bridges that we all need to bring our cultures closer together.”
The Beyond the Gap series has 7 episodes already with guests including David Aitkin, Ian Hamm, Karen Mundine, and Minister Ken Wyatt.
IBA are proud to partner with FNF on their mission to better the financial wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We support their initiatives including My Money Dream program, Tomorrow Money website and Big Super Day Out events (this last one kicking off in 2022 again once we can get back on the road).
Listen now to Beyond the Gap podcast.
Love a good podcast? Listen to Black Magic Woman podcast as Mundanara Bayles talks to IBA's business and homes customers about their journeys.
Housing security not only builds generational wealth but the flow-on effects are good for all Australians - the numbers speak for themselves.
Home ownership is crucial to fostering a safe, healthy and prosperous community. Indigenous Australians remain overrepresented among financially vulnerable Australians, but new research from Deloitte shows that owning a home leads to significantly improved social outcomes.
Supporting home ownership for Indigenous Australians addresses not only the issue of housing but also the financial security, social engagement and wellbeing of the whole community. It can make a difference to many critical issues facing both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
To support their resilience and ingenuity in their aspirations for home ownership, the Indigenous Home Ownership Program (IHOP), facilitated by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), has been helping Indigenous Australians to buy their own homes for more than forty years. The Deloitte report shows the incredible impact home ownership outcomes facilitated by IBA have had on individuals, their families and their communities.
Indigenous Australians have historically faced greater than average barriers to home ownership. Until at least the 1967 referendum, they were deliberately excluded from participating in the economy: they were not legally allowed to move freely, control their own children or own property. Even now, home ownership rates are only 38% for Indigenous households, compared to 66% for the overall population. And this figure drops by around half in regional areas, 18% home ownership rate for indigenous households, compared to 57% for the overall population.
Home ownership plays a critical role in providing stability, security and safety, and is key to building economic independence - through the ability to build wealth over time and freeing up time and resources to focus on other aspects of their lives. And as the Deloitte report shows, becoming a homeowner has a drastic impact on the lives of
Indigenous Australians, providing measurable outcomes in personal wellbeing, education, income and employment.
The vast majority Indigenous Australians surveyed (84%), say home ownership has helped them to feel safer for themselves.
Deloitte’s research found that home ownership resulted in improved physical health in nine out of ten Indigenous homeowners. Most also said their physical comfort, self-esteem and overall happiness have improved. When asked to use their own words to describe their experience, some of the most popular responses were ‘stable’, ‘security’ and ‘safe’.
The Australian Institute of Family Studies shows wealth in the home is a principal way for parents to provide for their children.
Deloitte’s survey also found homeowners feel less reliant on others for help, both on their friends and family and the government. More than half (53%) report their household income has increased since they bought their house.
Gaps in learning, income and employment are improved by home ownership: those surveyed feel more focused at work (68%) and almost half say they have planned, begun or finished further education for themselves since becoming homeowners. Owning a home also sets families up for the future: one-third of those surveyed say their children have become more interested in further education.
People living in their own homes are more likely to engage socially, and 70% now have more confidence in social interactions. An overwhelming 87% say they are more confident about the future.
Across the board, in Australia, home ownership is in decline. It’s expensive, there’s a shortage of suitable dwellings, and it’s tricky to secure finance. Only 66% of us own our own home, and less than a third own it outright – a drop of 10% over the past 20 years. Rising housing costs have amplified the inequality between those on high incomes and those who cannot afford to buy into the property market.
In supporting Indigenous Australians to become homeowners, IBA buoys the economy. In 2017-18, it saved $2 million in government rental assistance and $370k in avoided homelessness.
Since its inception in 1975, the IHOP program has generated an average of 29 full-time equivalent jobs per year, and $483 million in economic activity. Through health, education, employment and community engagement, it has created $895 million in social and economic outcomes for Indigenous homeowners over more than forty years.
Having a secure home is a powerful tool to drive generational wealth and stability. When you are no longer struggling to fund your family’s basic needs it allows you to put your mental and emotional energy into other areas of your life and reap the rewards this provides. It benefits family and community groups alike, whether it’s through better access to education and providing a stable and consistent home environment to raise your kids or by promoting better job outcomes and contributing to the growth of the Australian economy. By supporting Indigenous Australians to become homeowners, IBA generates significant, direct economic and social benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families, and in turn, the wider community.
IBA CEO, Rajiv Viswanathan, says ‘Home ownership should be accessible to all those that are ready and is a critical step in creating equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.’
‘While demand for IBA’s home loan offering continues to grow at unprecedented rates, we are committed to investigating as many ways as possible to grow available funds to assist more people to get into home ownership, building on the tremendous success of the Indigenous Home Ownership Program,’ Viswanathan says.
‘Home ownership is one of the most important things our customers do. We know when we approve a home loan for someone, we change their lives and their children’s lives.’
The power of one simple tool - funding Indigenous home ownership - to solve multiple obstacles to building generational wealth, education, employment, health and wellbeing, is indeed a cause for optimism, for all Australians.Find out more about the IBA Indigenous Home Ownership Program.
Read other articles in this series.
Figures show Indigenous home ownership can create a better and more prosperous Australia for everyone.
Indigenous Australians who own their homes feel safer, more positive about the future, and more engaged in work and school, according to recent research from Deloitte.
And the benefits are far-reaching. Work undertaken by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into home ownership has a positive economic impact on the economy and all Australians, the research shows.
Reduced pressure on the wider economy
Nicki Hutley, a partner at Deloitte and leader of Deloitte Access Economics’ Urban Advisory practice, says the benefits of home ownership are multidimensional. “Social policymakers understand that a housing-first approach to dealing with social issues is so important,” she says.
Hutley has driven research on IBA’s Indigenous Home Ownership Program (IHOP), a government initiative offering financial assistance for Indigenous home ownership. In 2017-18, it reduced reliance on rental assistance by $2m, and saved $370k in avoided homelessness.
The avoided costs of homelessness is valued at $7 million in total for the period of 1975-76 to 2017-18, and $370,000 for 2017-18.
Source: Deloitte Access Economics.
The avoided costs of homelessness due to the IHOP program is valued at $7 million in total for the period of 1975-76 to 2017-18, and $370,000 for 2017-18. Source: Deloitte Access Economics.
These statistics are impressive, but the real impact of IBA’s work is much broader. IBA’s work not only reduces government expenditure, but also helps free up social housing, making it accessible for others who would otherwise be facing homelessness, making a better life for more families, and their communities.
Watch video: Why Indigenous Home Ownership Makes a Difference to us all
Economic injections that would not otherwise happen
IBA chair, Eddie Fry, says economies are flatlining as people become more nervous about how they use their money. But that makes people think less about themselves and more about how we can all do better.
“I think when we get into the same boat, people tend to think more broadly about the wider community,” he says.
Supporting home ownership for people who would otherwise not have access stimulates financial activity. Hutley says it injects new funds into the economy, both at a federal and local levels.
“As a result of more stable employment and better education outcomes, the next generation gets to have better employment opportunities,” she says. “That doesn’t only help avoid social transfer payments to people who are unemployed; it actually generates greater taxation revenues to government.”
These revenues come from income tax, payroll tax, and higher GST collections because people with higher incomes are spending more. This increased government revenue can be used for the benefit of all Australians.
“This [IBA] program enables investment in housing that wouldn’t otherwise occur and actually adds to the amount of economic activity that’s happening,” Hutley says.
Improved overall wellbeing
IBA’s work supporting Indigenous home ownership outcomes generates further ripple effects that benefit all Australians and the broader economy. Deloitte’s research shows Indigenous homeowners feel less reliant on others for help. That feeling of agency is reflected in general wellness: those surveyed said they felt more motivated about work, were earning more and encouraging their children to further their education. All these factors stimulate local economic activity.
“But then it also generates additional benefits in terms of better social outcomes, including health, education, employment, safety and self-esteem,” Hutley says. Financially, Hutley says, IHOP has delivered almost $895m in social and economic benefits over its lifetime.
Home ownership is an important economic indicator of wealth and saving, and is positively related to employment and income indicators.
Home ownership is an important economic indicator of wealth and saving, and is positively related to
employment and income indicators.
Fry agrees that the combination of outcomes is significant. “The focus on Indigenous home ownership is so important for the nation,” he says. “Home ownership leads to sub-text outcomes that make up the wellbeing of a family unit.”
It also improves the wellbeing of the wider family network, he says. “And that extends into the non-Indigenous sector.”
Home ownership creates long-term generational wealth
In Australia, home ownership is critical to creating long-term wealth. The Grattan Institute reports that, in an ageing population, property contributes the majority of total net wealth, while the figures from the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute show those of us who inherit property wealth will be able to invest more, and in areas with greater capital growth.
Hutley says: “We know that Australians use home ownership as a primary means of generating wealth. We also know increasingly that if you retire without owning your own home, you are much more likely to be living in poverty.”
Indigenous Australians have faced decades of intergenerational disadvantage, which Hutley says is among the most difficult challenges they face. But programs such as IHOP help to break that cycle. “You’re not only taking the current generation potentially out of poverty by building an asset for them,” she says. “You’re then able to pass it on to future generations.”
In addition, as Fry explains, the program supports lateral wealth generation. As Indigenous home ownership grows, loan repayments are used to support further loans for other families.
As a program that is financially sustainable in its own right, Fry hopes support for it will continue to grow, commensurate with the overwhelming demand that IBA experiences from customers who are locked out of accessing mainstream lending options for home ownership because of lower incomes, lower savings, lack of credit history and limited experience with loans.
“Acceptance by society is when society realises everyone’s pulling in the one direction,” he says.
“We don’t want to forget the past, but we want to be looking out the front window. That’s where the demand is, and that’s where we need to be putting all of our strategic thinking.”
Find out more about the IBA Indigenous Home Ownership Program.
Read other articles in this series.
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
The thought of owning a stable home for a blended family of seven seemed like a distant dream for Palawa couple Brianna and James. That was until a family member introduced them to IBA.
With their goal in mind and the support of IBA, they started their journey to home ownership. Now they are proof that anything is possible with the right plan.
When Brianna left her previous relationship, she ended up with mountains of debt and a bad credit rating. James had owned a home in the past, but the couple thought owning a home together was out of reach.
After hearing about IBA, they took the first step in their home ownership journey. They jumped onto the IBA website to start exploring the requirements. They were able to identify what areas they needed to improve on before applying for a home loan and worked out achievable steps to get there.
Brianna and James attended IBA’s workshops on budgeting and preparing for home ownership which encouraged them to create a two-year plan. Cutting their expenses and sticking to a budget were top priorities. They also started paying down their smaller debts and then moved on to tackling their bigger debts.
“We buckled down and started saving money and cutting costs everywhere we could,” says Brianna.
“We would call our utility providers regularly to make sure we were getting the best rate. We’d do up and sell old furniture; wherever we could make or save money we would.”
After two years of getting their finances back on track, their dream of owning their own home was becoming a reality, and they reached back out to IBA and applied for a home loan.
“The day we were approved, we found the perfect block of land. We rang the agent to enquire the next day and we bought. Everything just fell into place perfectly.”
Brianna says that cutting costs and living on a strict budget has all been worth it.
“Owning our own home brings a new chapter. It provides a stable roof over our kids’ heads and somewhere they know they can always call home. It also teaches them that anything is possible if you put your mind to it,” says Brianna.
“With everything that has happened in our past, we never thought this would be possible. We thought we’d be renting for the next six years. We wouldn’t be here without the help of IBA.”
June couldn’t come quick enough for the family of seven as they get the keys to their brand new, freshly built home that has room for the whole family.
Find out more about IBA’s regional construction loan package to build your perfect family home like Brianna and James did!
Keep an eye out on our website for our upcoming home ownership workshops, (info session, budgeting and understanding credit) and register to find out more.
IBA have partnered with the Black Magic Woman Podcast to bring you a series of episodes that will be based on a variety of topics including housing, business, youth, women, investing, financial literacy, economic development and COVID-19 recovery.
On episode 67 of the podcast, Mundanara yarns with her fourth guest of the IBA partnership series - proud Yugara woman Lynda Maybanks, from Ipswich. Lynda is passionate about improving social outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through reviving Yugara culture and restoring Yugara country with her business, Wirrinyah Conservation Services.
“Wirrinyah” means coming back in Yugara language. It represents the ongoing revival of Yugara ways of caring for country. Wirrinyah focuses on working with businesses, Government and landowners in Southeast Queensland to restore our natural areas, conserve our native species and protect Aboriginal cultural heritage sites for the enjoyment of all Australians.
We find out how Wirrinyah Conservation Services came about, what role IBA played in that and how IBA supported Lynda on her business journey. A really good listen that ties in perfectly with the 2021 NAIDOC theme ‘Heal Country’.
"It wasn’t until I went on the IBA Futures Forum [that] I realised what the possibilities could be. I never really thought about business ownership as an option in my career. I always thought ‘oh yeah, you know I’ll probably work my way up in the public service and try to become a decision-maker that way’ but I think after a couple of years in the public service and seeing through IBA the options in business ownership – I thought ‘oh, you can probably reach your goals through business ownership a lot faster and under your own terms.’"
"Heal Country to me means, reconnecting with Mother Earth, reconnecting with culture, reconnecting with your ancestors. I’m a big believer that if Country is well then your people are well. It is important for you to just go out and be on Country and be where you feel like you can belong and where you can feel like you can contribute to a healthier world and a healthier future for our next generation." - Lynda Maybanks, Wirrinyah Conservation Services
A very inspirational yarn you don't want to miss!
Listen to the episode here.
IBA created a series of videos and fact sheets for those interested in building their own home. This is to support our regional construction home loans but applies to anyone wanting to review building their own home.
The 5-part video series (20 mins total), called BRICK BY BRICK, includes a discussion between Yawaru woman Justine Kinney and property expert Garrick Smith on how to think through the big steps of construction. The videos were filmed by Supply Nation certified company, The Digital Factory.
Now we have a 3-part fact sheet series of frequently asked questions for:
Check out all the details from our regional construction loan page.
