Through an IBA partnership with SBS Small Business Secrets, Standley Chasm was featured as part of a NAIDOC Special. The chasm, known traditionally as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’, brings the red/orange rock of Arrernte country to life.
SBS interviewed Arrernte woman Nova Pomare, who was born and raised nearby and now manages the site.
Thousands of visitors have booked in to experience the chasm this season and learn about the cultural background, but it wasn’t the case for the past couple years through lockdown.
Nova said, “And we are living proof here at Standley Chasm, that despite all the challenges we had, we still stood up and kept doing what we are doing and we're still here standing. And I hope we are good role models for the rest of our mob.”
Nova was approved for an IBA COVID Business Relief Package to get the business through the toughest parts of the last few years. IBA also provided a vehicle lease and funding for a communications tower, essential for running a tourist business in remote areas.
“It is an iconic tourist destination rich in traditional Aboriginal heritage and Nova is a fantastic mentor and trainer for young Indigenous workers, IBA’s Rachel Harding said.
Learn how Nova fought hard to keep this site for mob – something all can be proud of.
Read the SBS article, 'Promoting and protecting Australia's iconic Standley Chasm is a passion for Nova Pomare', or view the NAIDOC Special (link below).
When Melbourne-based designer Corina Muir couldn’t find the right sustainable clothing for her baby daughter, she decided to start her own clothing range, Amber Days – and her Indigenous designs are now in demand worldwide.
The Yorta Yorta and Boonwurrung woman talks about the importance of ethical clothing that is a collaborative effort with other Aboriginal women. She's also now started a pop-up store in Melbourne's North till early August (54 Errol Street).
Corina is all about community and wants her business to be a platform for change. She wants to see First Nation's fashion taken to the wider world. Amber Days was seen on the runway during Melbourne Fashion Week earlier this year.
"Corina had an idea and the passion for her business and she looked to IBA for support to build business acumen and financial literacy skills," said David Deo, IBA's Senior Business Development Officer.
Read the SBS article, 'Corina's sustainable clothing range shares Indigenous culture with the world', or view the video segment that featured as part of an SBS NAIDOC Special on 3 July 2022 (linked below).
Watch SBS and NITV over the following two weekends to catch two of our customer stories that will feature as part of a NAIDOC special! Standley Chasm and Amber Days will each have a 5-7 minute segment about their businesses and each one includes an interview with an IBA Business Solutions representative.
Lots of opportunities to catch the episodes on air with all timings listed below (all times are AEST):
The short videos were also translated into Mandarin and Spanish as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is sharing them worldwide through their social channels during NAIDOC week, and it will be screened in the DFAT lobby in Canberra.
This special wraps up our 2022 SBS series and is the third year we have partnered with SBS to feature our outstanding business customers. You can catch all the episodes on our YouTube channel and we’ll be re-sharing content on our socials.
The NAIDOC special includes stories on the beautiful tourist destination in Alice Springs called Standley Chasm (known traditionally as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’) and the ethical clothing designs of Amber Days.
Earlier this year we featured Taungwurrung Kulin man Mick Harding and his art business, Ngarga Warendj (Dancing Wombat), and Yamatji/Noongar woman Sharon Brindley talked about her expanded venture with Cooee Café / JalaJala Treats.
If you want to find out how IBA may be able to support your business idea, find out more.
When speaking with Reece Dumbell and Dean Sardellis, the co-founders of the Cameron Wellness Centre, their organisational values of Family – Community – Trust – Respect shine through in every word.
They started the Cameron Wellness Centre, a progressive and holistic treatment centre, after their wives (who are best friends) introduced them. Over time they realised they had a common motivation: seeing people with disabilities achieve the best outcomes in life.
The Cameron Wellness Centre provides multidisciplinary services to participants on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), ranging from children to adults, covering a large spectrum of disabilities and health issues.
Reece, a proud Minang Jupa Galk man, has been in the fitness industry since 2009 and saw first-hand the powerful link between mind and physical health. This was especially apparent during the Victorian Covid-19 restrictions of 2020 and 2021, when people had to stay at home for long periods of time and their movement and socialisation were restricted. Helping people get back on track after this life disruption has been very rewarding.
Dean, who is of Greek and Cypriot heritage, comes from a finance and accounting background. He is driven by a passion to see people from different ethnic backgrounds be able to confidently navigate the NDIS, making sure they get high quality treatment and care. He has a young child with special needs and therefore has first-hand experience of the importance of receiving consistent quality care.
Since its launch, the Cameron Wellness Centre, whose name is inspired by Reece’s great grandfather, Kenneth Cameron who was born on Ramahyuk Mission (Gippsland), has gone from strength to strength. They now have seven occupational therapists and one speech pathologist, all with different areas of specialisations and interests. This allows their clients to have a centralised treatment facility for all their therapeutic needs.
When asked how they have built such a successful business in such a short amount of time, they credited it to their values-based recruitment approach.
“Part of our ethos is making sure the cultural fit of staff is right. When recruiting, we look for people who have buy-in to what we’re trying to build here at the Cameron Wellness Centre,” said Reece.
Reece and Dean say providing ongoing development and career advancement to their staff is critical to keeping their practice at the forefront of best practice when treating patients. To ensure all employees have the knowledge, skills and confidence to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients, they are given opportunities for cultural emersion.
“We don’t just give our new staff online training. We engage with a local Traditional Owner to take them out on Country and show them cultural sites and teach them about the local community, its people and history.”
When asked what advice they would give to other people thinking about starting a business, in addition to linking up with supporting organisations like IBA, they say:
“Make sure your business plan is tight. Make a plan and stick to it.”
IBA supported them to develop their business plans, and gave them a loan which they used to invest in good quality IT systems and office equipment. The IBA Start-Up Finance Package supports businesses to get their idea off the ground with a loan/grant package of up to $100k.
Reece and Dean walk the talk by looking after their own physical and mental well-being. Family time is important to them. They both have young children and making sure they set time aside to spend quality time with their families is of high priority.
After only six months in business, a bright future certainly lies ahead for the Cameron Wellness Centre, and its clients and staff. We’re looking forward to watching their growth – from strength to strength!
Find out more about Cameron Wellness Centre
Learn more about business support from IBA
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.”
Video celebrates the grand opening event for the IGA supermarket in Tennant Creek - the whole community was invited to participate in the celebrations.
Video done by Indigenous production company from Alice Springs NT called, Since 1788.
Mick Harding and his family business, Ngarga Warendj ('dancing wombat') showed over the weekend (10 April) on SBS Small Business Secrets, as part of IBA's 2022 partnership series to showcase Indigenous businesses.
Mick is a Taungwurrung Kulin man who is on a life-long journey to connect with his Indigenous heritage and culture. His authentic designs portray just that and we're lucky to have them in the world.
He started the business because he wanted to create authentic quality artwork that shares his culture with the world. He creates wood pieces like clapsticks and wooden boards as well as commissioned pieces like the four-metre shield he was finishing up in his workshop.
“I started by making Aboriginal artifacts, like boomerangs and shields. And then it grew to drawing and applying the artwork on all kinds of different items as giftware,” said Mick.
Although many of his pieces are hand-made, IBA supported the business recently with a loan/grant that helped him purchase a high-tech laser machine to expand their work. His wife can now take his designs and create manufactured pieces at lower cost to reach an additional market.
Find out more about IBA's Business Start-up Package. or check out the beautiful artwork at https://ngargawarendj.com/.
Read the article or watch the video below: "After rediscovering his Aboriginal heritage, Mick Harding now shares his art and culture worldwide" or watch the video link below.
PLEASE NOTE: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the below video contains images of the deceased. The pictures have been used with permission of the family.
Yamatji/Noongar woman Sharon Brindley shares the story of how her mob and her connection to Country is at the core of everything that she does in a segment with SBS Small Business Secrets . Sharon founded Cooee Café & Catering, then pivoted her business during COVID to launch Jala Jala chocolates with an Indigenous twist.
The segment is part of a partnership series with SBS where IBA showcases stories with strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. Sharon's segment was the first in the 2022 series which featured on Sunday 3 April.
"Food is the way to everybody’s heart isn't it," says Sharon. “Cooee means come home, come back, it’s time for lunch or dinner. As a child out in the bush, we'd be off on our own. And we could hear the call from far away, so it really was something close to my heart."
The café was hard hit by COVID but created new opportunities through their online business and expansion into chocolates with an Indigenous flavours like finger lime and lemon myrtle. Sharon also invests in the importance of the wider Indigenous community by selling their wares in her shop.
IBA supported Sharon with business capability and planning resources. She also received a start-up loan/grant combination to help her new ventures with Jala Jala. Find out more about IBA's Start-up Finance Package.
Sharon has sold more than 2.5 tonnes of chocolate so far and is exporting to the Asian region with big plans to grow further. Check out the delicious chocolates from Jala Jala and Indigenous owned and created products on the Cooee Café & Catering website.
Read the article or watch the video below: "Sharon's bush food business shares a taste of native ingredients with the world".
PLEASE NOTE: Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that the below video contains images of the deceased. The pictures have been used with permission of the family.
For Civil Road and Rail (SX5) Pty Ltd, leasing products through IBA and investing in technology is what allows them to not only grow their business but also to ‘make Country feel better’.
SX5 is an Aboriginal owned contracting company in Eastern Guruma country in the Pilbara of Western Australia. Company directors are Ralph and Cherie Keller of SX5 Group, and Kenzie Smith, of the Eastern Gurama group. They’ve earned trust with the majority of the local traditional land-owners of the Pilbara region of which Kenzie Smith is a respected senior elder.
They provide services to companies in the Pilbara and have many offerings such as mine site building, manufacture and installation, mobile concrete batch plant operations and mine site rehabilitation closure.
Mine site rehabilitation is a critical aspect of the business. Co-director Ralph Keller says:
“In years gone by, mining companies could leave the site abandoned. People plunder the lands and many mine sites will never be rehabilitated.”
Ralph explains the importance of mine site rehabilitation from an Aboriginal perspective. “We’re making things green again, making Country good again. We’re making Country feel better.”
While the company had been growing successfully throughout the years, in 2020, after several years of economic downturn, the income of the business dropped. The business needed to invest in a substantial project in order to kick-start its operations. However, it was only able to secure the required contracting opportunities if it was able to provide a performance guarantee and unfortunately the business had no luck obtaining a performance guarantee from the banks.
That’s when SX5 approached IBA.
IBA was able to provide a performance bond of 10 per cent of the contract value, as required. “This gave us great confidence and the ability to grow the business,” says Ralph.
It was then that the business learned about IBA’s leasing solutions. IBA provides tailored leasing solutions by leasing plant, equipment, machinery and/or vehicles, which Indigenous businesses need in order to grow.
IBA’s leasing team was able to help the business by leasing two bulldozers and an excavator via a chattel mortgage. The new equipment has stepped up the production and quality of work that the business has been able to achieve, by using equipment that is purpose built for the task.
“The introduction of this new equipment allowed us to further develop our engineering,” says Ralph. “Which then is delivering greater quality at less cost. And that’s our commitment – better quality at better price.”
“We’re so glad we could support SX5 to grow their business and regenerate Country through leasing with IBA,” says Alex Ferndandez, IBA’s Senior Manager, Cashflow Finance. “Leasing helps businesses to acquire critical capital equipment without tying up a lot of cash that is needed to cover the operating costs of the business, and there are options for ownership at the end of the lease. In SX5’s case, we also helped to improve profit margins, as leasing the equipment is far more cost effective than hiring it.”
Ralph is keen to emphasise the importance of leasing the new equipment to SX5, as an Indigenous business: “It allows SX5 to have continuous improvement and gives the ability for SX5 as Aboriginal people to achieve our goals sooner than later and become leaders in this area of mining business.
“SX5 is a thinking company that looks at where it is, where it would like to be and what that looks like. We’re very fortunate and honoured to be on this journey.”
SX5 made an application to IBA for another performance bond so they could project manage Rio Tinto’s build of transit facilities for miners to help their health and wellbeing. The new facilities will mean that miners can shower and rest after coming off the mine, before they travel home.
Ralph is passionate about growing the business and creating opportunities for improvement. “We’ve always been a great believer in technology,” he says. “What makes us different is SX5 continues to reinvent itself every day. It’s all about technology. That’s how you achieve excellence and how you mitigate risk.”
The company is deeply committed to being a leader in Aboriginal business, and to the local community. In 2022 Ralph predicts the business will employ more than 60 people, 30% of them Indigenous.
“The most important words to us, is promote and foster development,” says Ralph. “The more business we have, the more work and employment we can give.
“This has been a great opportunity for SX5 to undertake and deliver these large-size projects.
“And making Country feel better is so beautiful and special to the Traditional Owners.”
Learn more about Leasing with IBA
When Adam Wooding, a proud Yorta Yorta man, and his wife Carmel reached out to IBA, they were ready to bring their new business idea to life. After participating in the Accelerate with IBA program, they decided to take a completely different road and created something better than they first imagined.
Accelerate with IBA is designed for Indigenous entrepreneurs to take their business to next level. It combines formal training and practical skills development with highly respected advisors and connected mentors to transform businesses into the most effective version it can be.
Adam and Carmel are the owners of Empower Digital, a business specialising in e-commerce on the Shopify platform. Adam & Carmel's key focus is empowering small and micro businesses to take control of their digital presence by giving them the skills to build and manage their online stores.
When they signed up for the program in 2019, they were in the early stages of planning their first business venture. They came into the program planning to build an app, but after the first week of workshops, they discovered there might be a better direction to go in.
All participants were faced with some challenging questions that got them thinking about what was at the core of what they wanted their business to be and what they wanted to achieve.
Challenged to think about the bigger picture, Adam and Carmel realised that their business idea wasn’t aligning with their end goal and their values, so they took this as an opportunity to pivot in a different direction.
“We went into this thinking ‘we know this is the right business, this is what we’re doing’ and but it turns out it wasn’t, and that was a challenge.”
“We thought that changing our business idea to something completely different might be a problem, but our mentors were really supportive. They said, ‘if this is what is right for your business, then go for it.’”
“So, we put in the extra hours to get back on track with the program and created a business idea that was true to our hearts,” said Adam.
“But adding to that, even though we’re now doing what we love, and it all worked out, I think it’s important for future participants to know that the process was confronting. It’s uncomfortable to question your business idea, but in doing so, you’ll create something more aligned with your values,” Carmel added.
Adam and Carmel say that Accelerate with IBA gave them the confidence they needed and that their business is thriving since finishing the program.
“IBA customised the program to each participant, so we were able to focus our individual needs, which was really valuable.”
“One of the most valuable things we took away from the program was the networks that we made. We became really close with everyone else in the program. We still all catch up regularly to yarn about our businesses and share ideas.”
“That also gave us the confidence to network beyond that. One of the reasons our business has done so well is that now, we are confident enough to go to networking events and talk about our business. We’re not doubting ourselves, or who are or what we do.”
Since the program, Empower Digital have continued their relationship with IBA. They’ve accessed a busines start-up loan, participated in several business skills workshops and grown their network with other IBA customers.
Empower Digital has now moved on to a new phase of their business after experiencing substantial growth over the past year.
“We’re now able to be selective in the work that we take on, we’ve found that balance of having enough work that we can only take on jobs that are true to the service that we offer. We’re doing things that really excite us.”
When asked if they’d recommend Accelerate with IBA to other Indigenous entrepreneurs considering it, Carmel had no hesitation saying, “do it! We are huge advocates of the program. Don’t question whether you are good enough. If you want your business to happen… it’s just worth doing.”
Are you tuning in to the Black Magic Woman Podcast Series?
Adam and Carmel recently had a yarn with Mundanara Bayles on the Black Magic Woman podcast as part of our partnership series based on a variety of topics including housing, business, youth, women, investing, financial literacy, economic development and COVID-19 recovery.
Listen to the podcast episode here.
