This week, eight participants of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Tourism Accelerator program met on Larrakia Country to present at their final showcase and celebrate their achievements.
The showcase marked the end of a six-month program delivered by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) in partnership with the Northern Territory Government. The partnership was part of a commitment to bolster the Northern Territory’s Aboriginal tourism experiences and expand the opportunities for our Aboriginal businesses to share culture and country with the rest of the world.
IBA’s commitment to the Northern Territory also follows our new office opening in Darwin late last year which was officially opened by Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy.
The specialist business program, called the NT Aboriginal Tourism Accelerator Program, was delivered to support Aboriginal entrepreneurs to create and grow strong and sustainable tourism businesses. The program was open to Aboriginal Territorians and NT based Aboriginal businesses and organisations (greater than 50% Aboriginal owned).
“This transformative journey has been nothing short of remarkable,” said Southern Arrernte woman Stella de Cos, Director, Community & Customer Experience, IBA. “The program has empowered our Aboriginal entrepreneurs and allowed them to develop their business ideas and skills.”
“We’re immensely proud of our participants, and the great strides they’ve made in the development of their businesses or business ideas, they have each brought their deep cultural responsibility and connection and infused them into their business models. We are excited to see how they develop over the coming year.”
Minister for Tourism and Hospitality Joel Bowden said the NT Aboriginal Tourism Accelerator Program is another example of the Lawler Labor Government’s commitment to the growth and development of the Aboriginal tourism industry and Aboriginal workforce.
“We’re pleased to have partnered with Indigenous Business Australia who have an excellent track record in delivering successful accelerator programs, and promoting genuine Aboriginal cultural experiences in tourism; we look forward to seeing new and innovative business ideas for the Territory come from the program.”
The entrepreneurs undertook a transformative journey where they immersed themselves in a wealth of knowledge and experiences facilitated by a curated team of business experts and guests.
During their journey, the program participants joined a cross state cultural immersion in Queensland, meeting with QLD Aboriginal tourism operators, exploring and immersing themselves in tourism experiences in both North Queensland (Cairns and Mossman) and Southeast Queensland (Minjerribah Island). These vibrant regions provided fertile ground for learning, connection, and inspiration.
Zoe Fitzpatrick, Yanyuwa Garrwa woman was one of the program participants and noted about the experience: “I am doing this accelerator with my family to start a tourism business on country in Borroloola to generate inter-generational wealth, so our people and culture don’t just survive but we thrive.”
“Our business model isn’t just about establishing a tourism enterprise on country, it is also about educating Australia’s future leaders and improving relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.“We know people want to learn from us and we can see potential to help educate our future teachers, lawyers and decision makers on Aboriginal culture while showcasing our breathtaking Northern Territory.”
Between the in-person learning block sessions, the entrepreneurs undertook intensive one-on-one business coaching. This personalised guidance has equipped them with the tools and strategies needed to propel their ventures forward. But the coaching doesn’t end at the showcase. The graduates are now well-equipped to move onto the next stage of their business, and for the next three months, will receive ongoing coaching, ensuring sustained growth and impact.
“The IBA program provided me with invaluable insights into business planning and development, equipping me with the tools to turn my vision into reality,” said Arian Pearson of Bawaka Yolngu Fishing Tours.
“Through the course, I learned my business strategies, honed my operational plans, and built a solid foundation for offering authentic fishing experiences in the rich cultural landscape of Bawaka. This education not only enhanced my business knowledge but also deepened my commitment to my family and cultural values and has given me hopes for my future career in fishing and tourism.
''My experience has given me insight into my future career. It has given me confidence in one day owning and operating my own fishing guided business in the near future.''
Images and interviews available upon request.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), with support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, delivered $2.7 million of funding to social enterprises run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, with outcomes specifically for women, girls and sistergirls. The partnerships transformed both the small businesses involved and the communities they supported.
Launched in January 2023, IBA established and worked 23 First Nations social enterprises over 16 months.
The partnerships were established to support the delivery of a range of programs including assisting First Nations women and girls prepare for employment preparation or start or grow their own businesses.
Key focus areas for the programs also included business development, financial literacy, wellbeing, and upskilling/training.
Participants overwhelmingly stated that these programs supported their confidence in taking the next step in their journey and empowering them to feel confident and make decisions.
One of the 28 programs delivered provided hope for First Nations women confronted with the impact of lateral violence.
Woolwonga and Kukatj woman, raised on Larrakia and Yolngu land, Lateesha Jeffrey, has firsthand experience and knowledge about the devastating impact of lateral violence on First Nations people and communities. Building on her own resilience, Lateesha created the ‘Lateral Empowerment’ program delivered through her business, Wave of Change Consultancy.
From Tennant Creek, and Groote Eylandt to Galiwin’ku, Lateesha and her team successfully worked with women and girls from 14 different remote and very remote locations to give them reflective tools to cut through the dark sides of lateral violence and inspire and uplift one another.
“Participants are provided the safe space to practice reflection, whilst also empowering responsibility and accountability towards changing the negative narrative, instilling principles of lateral empowerment for future generations.”
“The power of this program,” Lateesha said, “is that by capturing what makes the participants feel safe to connect, share and learn, we created a ripple effect because the women understood how to support and uplift others within their community to eventually stop lateral violence altogether.”
Stella de Cos, Southern Arrernte woman and IBA Director of Community and Customer Experience, led the team that oversaw the partnerships and says the program resulted in positive change for our women around the country.
“These partnerships brought an amazing opportunity for First Nations female entrepreneurs and female-led community organisations to continue to innovate and solve economic safety 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 the change they drive.”
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
The next Strong Women Strong Business Lunch and learn will help you and your business get more savvy about security. 
The session will be facilitated by experienced Muruwari woman and Founding Director of Indigenous Technology, Cheryl Bailey.
Join us on zoom for an hour for an interactive lunch & learn session which empowers participants with essential knowledge and tools to counter cyber security attacks effectively. It’s ideal for anyone seeking to bolster their cybersecurity awareness and safeguard their digital identity.
Date: Thursday 11 July
Time: 12.00pm - 1.00pm AEST
Reserve your spot via Eventbrite here.
We're all gearing up for NAIDOC which looks like it will be bigger than ever this year.
It's our favourite time of the year to celebrate blak excellence. So we'll be getting out and about in the local community and soaking up the spirit of NAIDOC.
Here's a list of events across the country that we'll be at. If you're at any of these, please find us and say hello!
Adelaide /Kaurna Country
Alice Springs / Arrernte Country
Brisbane /Turrbal and Yuggera Country
Acacia Ridge NAIDOC Family Fun Day
The Murri School
Friday 5 July
10.00am-2.00pm
Aboriginal & Islander Independent Community School, 1277 Beaudesert Road, Acacia Ridge
Canberra / Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country
Darwin / Larrakia Country
Melbourne / Wurundjeri Country
Sydney / Gadigal Country
Tamworth / Kamilaroi Country
Townsville / Bindal and Wulgurukaba Country
Wagga Wagga / Wiradjuri Country
I am a Wiradjuri woman and live with my two beautiful children, husband and beloved cavoodle, Dodge. My family is at the heart of everything I do. So, when I’m not working, I’m ‘ubering’ the kids around to various sporting activities and events and going on family outdoor adventures with Dodge.
I grew up on Wangal land in Berala. The Wangal people are a part of the Dharug clan and Berala is the Aboriginal word meaning ‘swamp duck’. I now reside on Dharrawal Country in Jannali which is derived from the Aboriginal word ‘moon’. My home is really my sanctuary where I recharge and wind down at the end of the day with a hot chocolate and a gripping TV series.
I am a Parramatta Eels supporter and while I have never seen them win a Premiership, I have hopes that one day they will…
I’m Special Counsel here at IBA. No two days are ever the same in my role. My work covers all sorts of legal tasks ranging from diving into exciting project work, transactional work and reviewing contracts ranging from finance documents, confidentiality agreements to service agreements. I also monitor legal and governance developments that impact IBA.
I studied a Bachelor of Law and Business at UTS. I was initially drawn to the accounting world, thinking I’d end up crunching numbers as an accountant. But after landing an internship and graduate position at a reputable law firm, it turned out the world had other plans for me.
The real game changer came when I made the leap to an in-house legal role at NSW Treasury Corporation (TCorp). I really loved my time there and spent the next 12 years providing legal support on a range of matters related to finance arrangements, debt-capital markets and public policy.
I initially moved to IBA on secondment from another government agency, Export Finance Australia. I enjoyed my secondment so much that I quickly realised that I had found a community where I felt valued and inspired. That is when I made a decision to transition from secondment to a permanent position. I am thankful for the chance to work with such an awesome bunch.
Growing up, I was not aware of my Indigenous background as it was kept a secret in my family for many years. Discovering this later in life has ignited a journey of self-discovery to understand and honour my Indigenous roots. Working at IBA has allowed me to engage with other people who are mob and share similar stories to mine. It’s been so nice being able to connect and relate to those around me and learn more about myself.
I was also drawn to the type of work IBA does. It’s rewarding to do something greater than yourself, knowing you’re setting future generations up for empowerment and success. I think what also sets my role apart at IBA, it’s this sense of camaraderie that makes coming to work each day not just fulfilling but truly enjoyable.
My aspirational spirit animal is the kangaroo. To me, the kangaroo is a symbol of nurturing and protection, which resonates with my deep sense of responsibility and compassion towards those I care for, whether it’s my family, friends or community. I am also inspired behind the presence of the kangaroo (and emu) on the Australian Coat of Arms. Both these animals can only move forward, never backward, which serves as a powerful symbol of optimism, resilience, and constant growth.
If you’re one of our home lending or business finance customers, keep an eye on your inbox. You may receive an email from us this week inviting you to take a survey to be part of our impact research. 
IBA’s next impact study is led by Yindyamarra Consultancy and Lonergan Research. The results will be used to identify how we can improve our products and services to continue to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The survey invites customers to share your thoughts on the impacts of our activities, and aspects of financial wellbeing. The goal of the impact research is to understand how our products and services support wellbeing at an individual, family, and community level, and to improve our relationships with the communities we serve. It will take approximately ten minutes to complete and closes 7 July 2024.
It builds on studies undertaken in 2020 and 2022 - you can read the latest impact report here.
We really appreciate your participation!
The Strong Women Strong Business Lunch & Learn online sessions are back! Join us online for a lunch hour, and hear from inspiring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The first in the new series is on Thursday 6 June, 12pm AEST - Goal Setting with Natasha Short.
Natasha Short is a descendant of the Jaru people of the Halls Creek community. Natashas work over the past 25 years has been around community development and investment into social change initiatives.
She has past experience in board memberships, and held various leadership roles over the past 20 years, including executive team appointments. In 2018, Natasha launched the business Kimberley Jiyigas (Birds) ‘A Movement of Kimberley Indigenous Women influencing Social Change’ to help create a voice for Indigenous women, promote Indigenous Culture and empower women into business opportunities.
Natasha is the Managing Director of Kimberley Jiyigas and the Club Captain of the Maganda (Tomorrow) Makers initiative where Influencing social change through Indigenous leadership and business development are a focus and passion.
Natasha is committed to Indigenous people succeeding and living purposeful and independent lives and believes that giving people the resources and support they need, can help transform our communities. Kimberley Jiyigas (Birds) and Maganda (Tomorrow) Makers have created an extensive number of strengths-based resources that seek to educate people, resulting in positive impacts within our communities. These valuable resources, and more information can be found on our websites, and can be used freely.
https://kimberleybirds.com.au/
https://magandamakers.business/
Natasha lives in Kununurra, East Kimberley, with her family.
Book your place or find out more via Eventbrite here.
We'll let you know about future Lunch & Learns soon. Watch this space for details!
I was born in Ayr, North Queensland and grew up on a sugar cane farm on Bindal and Juru country. My family are mainly of Scottish and Swiss German heritage. Since I grew up on a farm on either side of a large creek/lagoon (big enough for waterskiing), I always loved being outdoors especially near the water. Like many farmers of the region, my father was a keen fisherman, so many weekends and holidays were spent either on the water or near it, both fresh and salt water. I love music, and I love to travel. My current travel fixation is Yaegl country of northern New South Wales. Very much like where I grew up. Lots of water, fishing; and of course, sugar cane. 
Nowadays I reside in Brisbane on Turrbal and Yuggera Country, where I live with my husband Vernon, and my two beautiful daughters, Lara and Sasha. I also can’t forget our Jack Russell Foxies Eddie and Frankie, and the ruler of the house our cat Manola.
I currently work as Manager, Compliance and Process Improvement. The role involves improving compliance outcomes for mandatory processes and finding efficiencies in how we deliver our products and services to our business finance customers. Prior to this, my role was supporting the process of customer repayments and defaults.
After high school I attended James Cook University in Townsville and completed a Bachelor of Commerce. I then accepted an entry-level position at Australian Government Solicitor. I assisted with matters relating to the housing and business lending programs for ATSIC, amongst other paralegal responsibilities for various government departments and agencies, including the ATO, the Child Support Agency, Centrelink, Department of Defence, and the ACCC.
Once ATSIC was dissolved, several Australian Government Solicitor staff transitioned to IBA to assist the housing and business programs. I was invited to have a chat with IBA through a colleague and later applied for a role. That was over 17 years ago, and I’ve never looked back. I cannot believe it has been this long!
I have always had a strong sense of justice and equality. What we aspire to achieve at IBA aligns with my values. Growing up, I was always intrigued by ancient cultures and especially admire, the strength, courage and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
I want to make a difference for the better, and IBA provides an opportunity to do that. It’s great to work where everyone collectively shares your hopes for a better future.
Frasier is a show I have watched religiously; it’s definitely one of my favourite shows. It’s witty, funny and I just love the comedic timing. If there was a quiz or trivia based on Frasier, I would definitely be giving everyone a run for their money.
Has your home or business been impacted by the recent floods to parts of the East Coast of New South Wales?
If you have an IBA home loan or business finance product and have been impacted by this weather event, we want to reassure you and your family that IBA is here in times of need.
Customers impacted by the recent natural disaster can apply for an emergency natural disaster relief grant – $5,000 for IBA business finance customers and/or $2,000 for IBA home loan customers.
Applications accepted until midnight 15 June 2024, or until funds are exhausted (whichever comes first).
Apply via the forms below
IBA business finance customers Disaster Relief form
IBA home loan customers Disaster Relief form
Additional information and resource links are below:
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) launched their 3rd Impact Report at an event on Whadjuk Noongar boodja in Boorloo (Perth WA) on 17 April 2024.
The report was a deep dive into the intergenerational impacts of home ownership as reported by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander single carer and single parent families.
Joined by IBA’s Chair Eddie Fry, Senator Louise Pratt and an honoured panel of customers who shared their personal stories, IBA celebrated the reported social, cultural, and economic impacts highlighted by homeowners.
The launch event held at the State Theatre Centre of WA was opened by musician and Bibbulmun Noongar man Kobi Arthur Morrison and a heartfelt Welcome to Country by Aunty Robyn Collard with a special performance by her grandson, Tryse Rioli, showing how intergenerational impact is not limited to home ownership alone.
This new report is the third in a series of groundbreaking studies looking at the impact of IBA’s activities from the perspective of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The latest results focus on the experiences and impacts of home ownership as reported by First Nations single carer and single parent families.
First Nations single carer and single parent families care for 44% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in Australia. 84% of those households are headed by a female. Just over 1 in 5 IBA home loans is with a single carer family.
IBA strive to understand and encourage positive change by investing with First Nations people across business, home ownership, investments and capability development. This report highlights not only the success of First Nations single carer homeowners, but lessons for the broader financial services sector.
Gija woman Kia Dowell is the Executive Director of Strategy & Impact at IBA. From creating the framework and carrying out each of IBA’s previous reports, Kia understands what impact means.
“This report is another critical step in the right direction. IBA seeks to deliver on our purpose and 2028 strategy informed and guided by the lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Importantly we must take action and learn from those stories to improve the way products are designed and services delivered.
“We’ve been on our journey with the launch of the framework in 2019 and our first report in 2021. This is not simply about understanding the impacts generated as a result of home ownership, it goes to the heart of intergenerational change.
“Inclusion and prosperity are two of IBA’s strategic goals and when home ownership is realised, it provides further evidence of the positive impact that can be created.
“The demand for home ownership amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people continues to increase and this report serves as a reminder to all levels of government and the sector that access to affordable, stable and appropriate housing is a basic human right.
“The next in our impact series is already underway with research kicking off this month to find out how IBA’s activities support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s financial wellbeing. We’re talking directly to community in yarning sessions as well as our more traditional quantitative research.”
Stories shared directly by the inspiring panel of speakers at the launch event highlighted the impacts they experienced to their own wellbeing, aspirations, and determination.
Renarta Coyne is a proud Minang Noongar Yorga woman from the Great Southern Regions of Albany and Mt Barker, Western Australia. As a single mother of 4 children and 12 grandchildren, she talked about both the success and struggles of gaining home ownership.
“Besides my children and grandchildren, I am proud to say I have achieved the ultimate goal of being a ‘Home Owner’ and paving the way for my family.
“As a single mum the journey along the way hasn’t been without challenge although the support and love of my family and friends has seen me through these difficult times.”
Images from the launch event are available.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
