The Western Australian Government is funding $250,000 towards its Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative, which seeks to expand the capacity of Aboriginal-led businesses in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.
Through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission, the government intends on employing an Aboriginal service provider to deliver the 2025-26 program.
Since first implemented in 2017, the initiative has supported 72 Aboriginal start-ups across regions including the Mid West, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West, and Gascoyne.
Regional Development Stephen Dawson says this initiative offers a tailored learning and development program for the Aboriginal community to build leadership skills.
“There is strong demand for the program model given its flexibility to deliver bespoke regional models and the unique inclusion of six months ongoing personal leadership and business development mentorship for participants,” Dawson says.
Talking to Mining.com.au last month, Minerals Council of Australia’s Principal Advisor of Indigenous Partnerships and Communities Matt Denyer says previously the word “engagement” has been thrown around as a means of satisfying diversity calls in business, though often not benefiting the Indigenous community.
“It’s not taking a one-size-fits-all approach to a community in Pilbara versus a community in Central West New South Wales is going. They are two totally different communities, so it’s having to understand what the local community requires,” Denyer tells Mining.com.au.
In his role, Denyer works to support co-design principles between Indigenous communities and resources sector, aiding the development of Indigenous leadership in business for a more collaborative future.
Mining.com.au reports Indigenous participation in the Western Australian resources industry has seen an increase of 0.4% since 2021, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people participation now withholding 5.6% of the sector.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CME) diversity and inclusion report notes that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold 3% of management roles, marking a 2.1% increase since previously reported in 2021.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Unsplash
