Our latest annual report demonstrates what investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can achieve! Our staff are committed to delivering on our vision of a nation in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are economically independent and an integral part of the economy.
Some of the highlights from the latest report include:
The report also includes stories from inspiring, resilient and determined customers including new homeowner Nikea, entrepreneur Black Arc Industries, and joint venture with Yamatji Fresh Produce, as well as an empowering partnership with Empower Digital.
We strive to make an impact that aligns with our values. For more info and all the details, please check out our IBA Annual Report 2022-23.
We’re wrapping up Indigenous Business Month in a grand way with an article by our Chairperson, Eddie Fry. He featured in Forbes Australia talking about the significant growth of the Indigenous business sector and its positive trend in the economic landscape of Australia.
The article titled, Gathering for prosperity: The thriving Indigenous business sector, covers:
“Returning to the theme, gathering together and seeking connections is at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture,” says Eddie.
“If we continue along this path of collaborating and unifying, the prosperity that lays ahead for us in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business sector, and the rest of Australia, cannot be understated.”
Read the full article here.
I grew up in the Northern Territory in a remote community which shaped my values and provided me with a lot of resilience. I am a very family orientated person and love to spend my spare time with family. I have quite a big family with four children and nine grand kids. I enjoy bush walking, photography, travelling, exploring, and going on adventures.
I am currently the Senior Program Officer for IBA’s Business Solutions Team in Cairns (Yidinji Country). My role involves a continuous improvement approach to identify opportunities and solutions during program/projects lifecycles, provide advice, training and support to internal Business Solutions staff, wider IBA networks and external customers.
For example, First Nations workshop attendees, organisations and facilitators, report on and monitor our KPIs to ensure our targets are on track and review quality standards along with considerable work on the systems and processes that support these projects.
I studied and went to school in Queensland. I attended James Cook University where I did a degree in Business. I have worked in several different places ranging from Federal and State Government to major banks and non-for-profit organisations.
Over the last five years I have been working in the Indigenous non-for-profit sector and was mainly based in Northern Territory and the Cape in far north Queensland. After a while I realised, I wanted to be closer to family and saw a position at IBA in Cairns open. I decided to take the chance and have been here for almost a year now.
I have always had a passion for family especially children, I believe to help children and families we must look at how we can help adults. When I lived in Northern Territory, I witnessed first-hand the impact of poverty, homelessness, and the discrimination against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
My job allows me to support and create an impact within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It is creating and establishing action to encourage impact, physical action will get an outcome.
I grew up riding horses and always thought they were beautiful spirits, especially Arabian horses. They are such a fiery horse, that smell and look nice. They have such healing spirit, that I sometimes prefer them over people.
Has your home or business been impacted by fire in NSW or floods in Victoria?
If you have an IBA home loan or a business finance product with us, and have been impacted by cyclone damage, we want to reassure you and your family that IBA is here in times of need.
Our customers impacted by the recent natural disasters 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.
All eligible customers should have received a direct link via SMS or email with information about how to apply. Applications must be received by 15 December 2023* and the relief package may be withdrawn prior to this date if funds are exhausted.
Additional information and resource links are below:
Apply for disaster relief for your business
Apply for disaster relief for your home
IBA’s communications intern and Wiradjuri woman, Zenae Powell, sat down for a yarn with Indigenous Business Month (IBM) co-founder, Dr Michelle Evans, about all things IBM – a month dedicated to celebrating Indigenous businesses, leaders and people within the sector. Michelle is an Associate Professor at Melbourne University and involved in many community-based actions that encourage and advance the great work of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in business.
IBM is in its ninth year since it was created back in 2015. Now going for nine years strong, IBM has created an impact within the Indigenous community, especially within the business sector, where Indigenous business, employment and leaders continue to grow.
We celebrate and showcase Indigenous business success, excellence, and leadership.
Each year we celebrate and flesh out what the sector values about Indigenous business. This is important because there is very little coverage in the mainstream of the diversity and excellence of the Indigenous business sector. We felt that raising the profile of the sector and telling those stories was so important, not only to raise awareness but also to encourage young people and those who were business hesitant to give it a go.
Next year is 10 years and we’ll be doing bigger and better things for that.
With IBM being held at the same time as the referendum, the inspiration for the theme this year was to recognise the importance of gathering together to support one another during this time. The theme touches on community, especially the community of Indigenous businesses, and the unity and support within First Nations communities.
We thought about how people would be feeling during this time and wanted a theme that would support them. The theme highlights the importance of connection and local safe space gatherings where Indigenous people within the business sector can support, uplift, and celebrate one another. This month showcases many amazing stories from Indigenous businesses and leaders.
The theme encourages people to gather, to seek solace and feedback, and to generate friendships and connections which are at the heart of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, in that relational way of being and doing.
The aspiration of IBM is to continue to encourage Indigenous businesspeople to run their own events and for governments and corporates to cooperate and partner with Indigenous business leaders all over the country to support and showcase the events. It is a very democratic initiative where individuals and organisations can contribute by adding events, supporting local businesses, and staying informed with Indigenous leaders within the business sector.
IBM will continue for as long as we find it exciting and positive, as long as it remains as Indigenous business driven. It is the love of creating.
Dilin Duwa exists because of the Indigenous business sector. We have over 300 Indigenous entrepreneurs who have been through our programs. They are the stakeholders of the sector, to provide education through the Murra program and through our grad certificate in Indigenous business leadership. We also do a lot of research, and we get approached by Indigenous organisations to participate in research regarding Indigenous business.
Our work provides education, programs, and dialogue to regional communities, which has been in partnership with IBA. To build Indigenous business in regional parts of Australia, it is important to support and engage with Indigenous businesses and leaders on the ground. They’re the ones doing Blak coffees and who government and other partners like IBA or Supply Nation may go to.
Dilin Duwa’s work supports Indigenous businesses and their leaders to feel economically empowered. To create that shared language about what success is, and the role that Indigenous ecosystems and philosophies have in how First Nations people do business.
The impact of the snapshot thus far is about illuminating registered Indigenous businesses, and demonstrating how many people are employed, how much money is being generated and quantifying the significant contribution of Indigenous businesses to our economy each year.
This is the third year doing the snapshot, and it continues to build more insight into the Indigenous business sector as more and more Indigenous business registries participate.
The picture I used for the research was a spider’s web. During the winter, where I live, there are these intricate webs that grow, and then disappear, and new webs need to be built. I love that metaphor from country, which is kind of like the snapshot. This is what it looks like during the years, and it informs how we, and how policy, can help the shift, grow, and supercharge to create a different snapshot next time.
At the moment we have initiatives, programs and education, but there are so many more possibilities. The snapshot allows us to open up those possibilities and lays the foundation for the future development of the sector.
The interest rates for some IBA home loans are changing based on market conditions.
All impacted customers will be notified in writing about the change to their interest rate and loan repayment amount. Interest rate changes will come into effect on 15 November 2023.
We have a range of resources available on our website including workshops to help you manage your loan and build your financial management skills. We also have a video that explains how IBA’s interest rates work.
We’re always here to help. So if you have any concerns about managing your home loan repayments or are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
General inquiries: 1800 107 107 or Financial Hardship: 1800 064 800. Or send us email via this form to arrange for someone to contact you.
I am a proud Kija woman from the Kimberley Region in Western Australia, but I grew up in Hobart Tasmania. I now live in Perth (Boorloo), Western Australia and have been there for over eleven years. I purchased my first Home Loan with IBA 16 years ago in Hobart which set me up to be where I am today. I would never have guessed I would be doing the same for our Mob today
I completed year 11 in Hobart and decided to do a hairdressing TAFE apprenticeship; I was a hairdresser from age 17. When I moved to Perth, I completed an Indigenous Traineeship at Westpac which I really enjoyed and gained some finance experience before I joined IBA in 2018.
I am a Home Lending Officer in Perth (Boorloo), Whadjuk Noongar Country. My role allows me to assess home loan applications and support Aboriginal and Torres Islander people into home ownership.
I have found working with IBA an enjoyable experience. I love speaking to mob and being able to support them on their home ownership journey. Helping mob into home ownership is important to me as I know the dream of owning your own home is something many people would love. By supporting mob on their journey to home ownership, it allows me to build a great connection and rapport with our customers.
Building equity in a home can bring loads of opportunities. Such as mine, I sold my first home which allowed me to move interstate and buy my second home with a mainstream bank. I have been with IBA for six years now and it is such a rewarding job, I love feeling like I make a difference.
Anything made by Jason Derulo, he’s my favourite singer, I listen to him every day!
The interest rates for some of IBA home loans are changing based on market conditions.
All impacted customers have been notified, in writing, about the change to their interest rate and loan repayment amount. Interest rate changes will come into effect on 14 September 2023.
We have a range of resources available on our website including workshops to help you manage your loan and build your financial management skills. We also have a video that explains how IBA’s interest rates work.
We’re always here to help. So if you have any concerns about managing your home loan repayments or are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
General inquiries: 1800 107 107 or Financial Hardship: 1800 064 800. Or send us email via this form to arrange for someone to contact you.
Both our Alice Springs and Darwin offices have moved to new premises. The new addresses are below.
You can also always find up-to-date IBA office locations on our office locations map here.
Darwin / Larrakia Country
Office address:
Unit 4, 21 Parap Road, Parap, NT 0820
Postal address:
PO Box 880, Parap, NT, 0820
Phone: 1800 107 107
Alice Springs /Arrernte Country
Office address:
Level 3, NT Supreme Court Building
14 Parsons Street
Alice Springs NT 0870
Postal address:
PO Box 113, Alice Springs, NT 0871
Phone: 1800 107 107
Our Corporate Plan 2023-24 is now published.
The plan lays out our key activities and pathways to prosperity alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. By growing our net assets to $2.5 billion over the next five years we will be able to support more than 10,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
“Managing, growing, and strengthening our asset base is the cornerstone of our mandate. This enables us to invest in significantly more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over time.”
“Our new strategy and corporate plan will continue to build on this strong foundation by engaging and collaborating with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, businesses, and communities, and investing in sustainable commercial ventures.” Eddie Fry, IBA Chairperson.
IBA drives financial inclusion and economic empowerment with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Our technical capability as a financial services provider coupled with culturally informed customer service have a positive impact on the lives of many. We will continue to foster a diverse, inclusive, and high-performing team grounded in strong values. 
Our 2028 strategy builds on our 30-year history and experience to focus on the financial wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Taking a wellbeing approach shows an understanding of where our target outcomes fit within the broader needs of the people we serve.
The strategy and performance framework has four overarching goals:
Investing in these areas ensures we continue to achieve positive economic, social, environmental and cultural impacts for our customers. Collaboration and partnerships will help us expand our impact.
“We know from our own research and customer feedback that demand for our products and services continues to grow. During the next five years, we will facilitate new investment opportunities and new partnership arrangements that increase wealth and assets for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.” Kirsty Moore, IBA CEO.
You can find our current and previous plans on our website under Corporate Documents.
