Queenslanders To Gather, Together for Indigenous Business Month

• Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses are being showcased throughout the state this month in events and activities as part of Indigenous Business Month which has been officially launched in Cairns at a meeting of Federal, State and Territory Ministers.
• The 2023 theme - To Gather, Together – is a call to action for First Nations businesses and supporters to connect, share ideas and grow opportunities, further strengthening the broader First Nations business sector.
• Queensland is home to more than a quarter (26.6 per cent) of all First Nations business owner-managers in Australia. . 

Indigenous Business Month, launched at the national Small Business Minister’s meeting in Cairns, will feature events across the state including a Business Yarnz event in Palm Island, an Indigenous Business Expo and Forum in Toowoomba, and a Parliamentary Reception at Parliament House in Brisbane.

Now in its ninth year, Indigenous Business Month is a nationwide event held throughout October.

Queenslanders can support Indigenous Business Month by attending an event this October and celebrating local First Nations businesses on social media using the hashtags #IBM2023 #IndigenousBusinessMonth and #IndigBizMonth.

For more information and a list of events and activities visit: www.business.qld.gov.au/IBM

To search for First Nations businesses, use the Supply Nation and Black Business Finder directories. 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development, and Minister for Youth Justice Di Farmer:

“Queensland businesses owned and operated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are growing in number.

“ABS data shows the number of First Nations business owner-managers in Queensland grew from 2,709 in 2016, to 4,584 in 2021 – a 69 per cent rise in five years.

“We want this to grow further. Under the Paving the Way - First Nations Training Strategy, the Palaszczuk Government is actioning a range of initiatives to build the capability of Indigenous businesses and help business owners to establish culturally safe workplaces.

“For example through the new $4M Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program, 10 projects are sharing $1.8M to create training and employment pathways for more than 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Deadly Business 2032 was launched in Cairns in October 2022 and is an action in the Paving the Way – First Nations Training Strategy to comprehensively map Indigenous small business support services available from all levels of government across the FNQ region.

“It provides better support to achieve long-term sustainability, employ people and participate in supply chains leading up to and beyond the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic games.

“We are funding culturally appropriate business mentoring and coaching for Indigenous business owners and operators in the early stages of the business life-cycle through the TAFE Queensland One-Business program.

“We have appointed dedicated Principal Indigenous Program Officers in regional offices to provide the tailored advice and support needed by the community and Indigenous businesses - to link into existing programs and identify training options – including apprenticeships and traineeships and small business.

“The Gateway to Industry Schools program has additional funding to support more than 180 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students in their transition into training and employment.

“All Queenslanders can support the continued growth of First Nations businesses by shopping locally and seeking out businesses that uphold First Nations culture,and employ First Nations peoples.

“By gathering together and creating a sense of prosperity and continuity, we can continue to showcase and celebrate the success of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned businesses."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts
Leeanne Enoch:

“Indigenous Business Month is a chance to recognise and celebrate the many First Nations businesses operating in Queensland, and their contributions to our communities and the economy.

“This year’s theme calls on us to gather together, reflect on our actions today and plan for tomorrow. The Palaszczuk Government is working in partnership with First Nations people to do just that across a broad range of initiatives.

“The Government is also developing a new, whole-of-government First Nations economic strategy to support self-determination and economic empowerment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, peoples and communities in Queensland.

“This will be backed by a $1.4 million investment over four years from 2023-24 to ensure the new strategy is implemented in a partnership approach with First Nations representatives from business, industry and communities.

“This new strategy will align with other key partnership-based reforms and inform and support Queensland’s progress in working to Close the Gap.

“We want First Nations peoples, communities and businesses to be at the forefront in progressing economic development opportunities and pathways to jobs, skills and training, education and business development across a diverse range of current and emerging sectors.”

ENDS

Media contact – Gary Shipway - 0458 090 906