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.
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.
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 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.
Owning a home is the single greatest investment most people will make in their lives. Building your home brings pride and joy, however it is complicated and daunting to most people.
IBA created a 5-part series (20 mins total) called BRICK BY BRICK, with Yawaru woman Justine Kinney and property expert Garrick Smith to provide information and comfort to those thinking about taking the big step to construct.
The videos were filmed by Supply Nation certified company, The Digital Factory.
Check out the full playlist on our YouTube channel.
The launch of two new strategic partnerships – Australian Unity Bank and Bank Australia – supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in their financial success.
The partnership demonstrates an important collaboration with segments of the corporate sector committed to the economic independence of Indigenous Australians.
Australian Unity Bank and Bank Australia will deliver a diverse range of products and services to IBA customers that facilitate financial success and economic independence in a relevant and culturally sensitive way.
Christine Yates, Chief Executive Officer of Retail, Australian Unity, said the partnership reaffirmed Australian Unity’s commitment to building strong and respectful relationships with Indigenous Australia.
“I am proud that Australian Unity Bank has entered into a partnership with IBA to support members of the Indigenous community own a home and support economic empowerment.”
“We know that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people remain overrepresented among financially vulnerable Australians, and that home ownership can lead to significantly improved socio-economic outcomes,” Ms Yates said.
Damien Walsh, Bank Australia Managing Director said that partnering with IBA to provide values-aligned access to finance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is an important step in helping to build a fairer and more inclusive society.
“Working with IBA will help us to better meet the needs of First Nations people on their home ownership journeys, and we hope to continue to learn from IBA to improve our ability to support First Nations people in building their financial independence.”
IBA provided their 20,000th home loan to the Indigenous community in 2020. This bank panel arrangement builds on IBA’s ongoing commitment to Indigenous prosperity, reconciliation and genuine relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their communities and Indigenous businesses.
Peter O’Neill, Acting Chief Executive Officer of IBA, said the partnerships with Australian Unity Bank and Bank Australia would support new and existing customers take ownership of their home and their future.
“We’re always working hard to ensure the best for our customers, and after months of discussion we are delighted to partner with two banks that align with our values to provide new lending options,” Mr O’Neill said.
“These strategic partnerships demonstrate an important collaboration with segments of the corporate sector committed to the economic independence of Indigenous Australians.”
The dedicated teams at both banks have undertaken formal cultural understanding training to ensure a smooth transition for IBA customers and provide them with the guidance and service quality they are accustomed to through their existing relationship.
IBA media contact: Tara Toohill 0427 011 938 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Australian Unity media contact: Ellen Donald, Six O’Clock Advisory, 0400 359 597, www.australianunity.com.au
Bank Australia media contact: Cheyne McKee, 03 9854 4899, www.bankaust.com.au
IBA are excited to announce that we’ve 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.
In the first episode of the partnership series, Black Magic Woman's host Mundanara Bayles sits down to yarn with IBA customer Kantesha Takai.
Kantesha is from the Torres Strait and is the heart and soul behind Lola Digital; a boutique creative and content agency based on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait, that provides tailored marketing strategies and support to government, corporations, NGO's and small business.
Kantesha shares her experiences with IBA from buying her first home, to how IBA supported her through her business journey. We also yarn about her experiences and learnings from the IBA programs Kantesha participated in and how it inspired her to create economic development opportunities in her community. An amazing yarn to kick off the IBA and Black Magic Woman Podcast partnership series!
"I grew up on an island without any electricity or running water. To do my assignments at night, it was either get it done before the genny goes off or do it by using a torch. If I can do it, anybody can!"
- Kantesha Takai, Lola Digital
Listen to the episode here.
