Effective project planning POTENTIAL SOURCES OF SUPPORT Who are they? How do they work?

1. Effective project planning POTENTIAL SOURCES OF SUPPORT • Who are they? • How do they work? • Is there a workable ‘fit’ with transition plans for CDEP projects and participants?

2. Seeking funds & support – key starting points… • What do you need support for? • Capital costs and/or operational costs? • Feasibility study or development costs? • Training and work experience • Business support & mentoring • An existing project or to create a new social or economic enterprise? • Who is the applicant group? Are they ‘credible, compliant, capable’ • Is there good local interest and buy in to the project and its aims? • Does the project ‘stack up’? Budget, time frame, objectives, outcomes • Are funds for ‘investment’ (business case) vs social investment (transparent subsidy) to facilitate other outcomes? Can you describe the ‘business’ & ‘social investment’ cases? • Partners to support the application? = stronger applications, more effective projects • Do you really need more funds or new partners? Ie to access existing resources

3. Indigenous Entrepreneur Microenterprise Program – IBA & NAB Aboriginal Benefit Account ABA Indigenous Business Australia IBA Indigenous Land Corporation ILC SOURCES OF SUPPORT: FUNDING, MENTORING, TRAINING & WORK EXPERIENCE Corporate & Philanthropic – links & possible support DEEWR Indigenous Employment Program Small Business – Grants & training

4. Indigenous Business Australia - IBA IBA helps Aboriginal & Torres Strait islander people to acquire, establish & develop commercially viable businesses IBA Business Development and Assistance Program • Business support services: • Access to business support & mentoring/adviser services, existing & potential business operators • Funding for projects to increase Indigenous business & economic development (eg. marketing and business training for small business operators) • Business loans: • Small to medium businesses, where clients don’t meet bank lending criteria • Discounted interest rates, IBA variable rate set 2.5% below commercial bank interest rates • Approved loan clients, receive expert business support & advice for at least 6 months post loan • Indigenous Entrepreneur Microenterprise Program (IEMP) – IBA partners with National Australia Bank to deliver this program nationally

5. Indigenous Business Australia cont: Eligibility – Business Development & Assistance Program • Applicants must be over 18 • At least one applicant must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent • At least 50% of ownership of the business must be by a person of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent • Must be evident you don’t have capacity to meet costs of a business consultant from your own financial resources. Key steps • Review IBA product and service information materials online – www.iba.gov.au • See esp. ‘Business Information’, useful checklists & grants, small business. • Speak to IBA office to explore ‘what’ business and/or business support you’re after before investing time in proposals. • Contact – Andrew Plate, IBA Darwin, ph: 08 8936 1082

6. Indigenous Entrepreneur Microenterprise Program – IBA & NAB • The IEMP assists Indigenous entrepreneurs who have a sound business idea, but limited financial resources by providing: • Up to $20 000 microfinance (through the NAB) • Business advice, support and mentoring (through IBA) • IBA business advice & mentoring means new businesses receive assistance during the crucial establishment period of their business, and form an ongoing relationship with a major bank. • IBA provides dedicated staff to help loan applicants update business plans and financials, and work through the loan process Eligibility criteria : NAB Microenterprise Loan under Indigenous Entrepreneurs: • Be 18 years and over, and an Australian Citizen or Permanent Australian Resident. • Not have had bankruptcies in the last 7 years. • Be seeking a business loan of b/t$500 and $20,000 to continue an enterprise with five or fewer people. • Be willing to take part in and complete IBA approved business training which may include developing a business plan and financials. • Be willing to continue to work with a mentor for up to 12 months.

7. Aboriginal Benefit Account Funds – initiatives to benefit Aboriginal people who live in the NT. ABA money can be used to support initiatives that promote: • economic development • small business • land and sea management • community enhancement • education and leadership. Who can apply? • Only orgs est. under a CW, State or Territory law can apply. • These include incorporated associations, cooperatives and companies. How and when to apply? • Can apply anytime, throughout the year.

8. Aboriginal Benefit Account cont: What funding is available? • Grant applications – for funds over $100 000 • Grant applications – for funds up to $100 000 Key steps • See ABA Guidelines for Grant Applicants (online) • See Aboriginal Benefit Account Information (online) • Discuss your proposal with a member of the ABA Advisory Committee elected by the Land Council relevant to the project. ABA funding must be approved by the Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, on advice given by ABA Advisory Committee. Further information see ABA on FaHCSIA website; call James Barlow, ABA Darwin on (08) 8936 6366


9. Indigenous Land Corporation- ILC National statutory authority whose purpose is to assist Indigenous people with land acquisition and land management to achieve economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits. ILC works with Indigenous groups, & collaborates with other orgs. & govt. agencies to develop new projects. • Land Acquisition Program – Annual, applications close 30 April each year 2. Land Management Program – Annual, applications close 30 June each year Criteria/eligibility: • Indigenous owned organisation, lands. • Tenure correct • Applicant group ‘credible, compliant, capable’. • Project stacks up. Program address priority outcomes to improve Indigenous wellbeing: • Socio-economic development • Access to education • Sustainable management of Indigenous-held land • Access to and protection of cultural and environmental values

10. ILC Land Management Program ILC assists Indigenous people to achieve ongoing economic, environmental, social and cultural benefits by funding land management projects on Indigenous-held land. Projects supported under this program vary and include: • development of property plans • implementation of training programs • property works and large-scale regional projects. • Training and Planning Projects - Key Requirement: Projects that aim to build the capacity of Indigenous groups to sustainably manage and add value to their land. ILC assists with funding training programs or property management plans. • Property-based Projects - Key Requirement: Projects to assist with infrastructure works and land management projects on Indigenous owned land. Benefits must be demonstrated

11. ILC Land Acquisition Program ILC acquires and grants land to Indigenous corporations that can demonstrate the capacity and commitment required to manage the property and achieve continuing benefits such as training and employment. Properties purchased by ILC vary, from small urban blocks to large outback cattle stations and properties of Indigenous cultural and environmental significance. ILC provides land acquisition assistance to Indigenous organisations in two ways: • Indigenous organisations throughout Australia can apply for acquisition of a property. • After acquisition, the ILC leases the property to the organisation and grants the property once the Indigenous organisation has demonstrated capacity to successfully manage the property and achieve sustainable Indigenous benefits. Key Requirements for acquisition: • Socio-economic development: The acquisition must provide significant Indigenous socio-economic benefits, in particular training and employment outcomes, OR • Cultural and environmental values: The acquisition of the land is required to provide access to and protect its significant cultural and/or environmental values. (* can apply at any time for C&E value projects) CONTACTS: see www.ilc.gov.au, email: ilcinfo@ilc.gov.au, Freecall: 1800 818 490

12. Small business - grants & support… • Australian government’s business information resource site – go to www.business.gov.au. • Many useful resources & links. Especially See Popular Topics, Grants & Assistance – GRANTS & ASSISTANCE FINDER – online search tool to find business-related government grants & assistance, search nationally, by State and Territory – eg. EnvironmentNT • NT Department of Housing, Local Govt, & Regional Services – hosts Indigenous Economic Development & Indigenous Business Development, and related grants (up to $30 000, for businesses not projects). Go to their Regional Development page, www.dhlgrs.nt.gov.au/rd • NT Department of Business & Employment, general information for small business – www.nt.gov.au/dbe • Business Enterprise Centre, Darwin Region – training & other resources for those who want to start, expand or buy a business – www.becnt.com.au

13. DEEWR - Indigenous Employment Program Reformed IEP provides support for activities that increase employment opportunities and participation for Indigenous Australians. DEEWR reforms of IEP & CDEP (July 2010) - more flexible, less red tape, simplified contracting, support broader range of activities that include new elements – eg. voluntary mobility assistance, language, literacy & numeracy. Individuals, communities & organisations can access assistance directly from DEEWR, or indirectly from the two panels established to help provide services under reformed IEP. These panels of providers are: • Panel of Employment Services • Panel of Economic Development & Business Support • Info re CDEP – ask your CDEP organisation • Info re IEP, www.deewr.gov.au/Indigenous, Indigenous Employment Line ph: 1802 102

14. DEEWR – IEP cont. Egs of activities that can IEP can support: • Support employers to provide employment opportunities • Prepare/support Indigenous people to take up training/employment opportunities • Help Indigenous communities, industry bodies & groups of employers to: • develop Indigenous workforce & economic development strategies that support local & regional economic growth • Build business & employment opps that are sustainable in urban, regional & remote locations Support via new IEP include: • Business support panel - Emerging entrepreneurs initiatives • Indigenous Cadetship Support • Employment support panel – structured training & employment projects • Indigenous Wage subsidy to employers Plus reformed IEP: • Encourages the corporate and philanthropic sector to support Indigenous businesses and social enterprises by building business-to-business connections for jobs, industry specific training & mentoring. • Eg. Australian Employment Covenant – AEC (see www.fiftythousandjobs.com.au) • Lots of options: Steps? Talk to your CDEP provider, and to DEEWR in Darwin… • What industry links might this workshop help create with IEP support?!

15. Corporate & philanthropic • Australian Employment Covenant & Generation One supporters • Indigenous Stock Exchange – www.isx.org.au • Organisations who have Reconciliation Action Plans • Comprehensive Primary Health Care Services – NT & CW Health links • Your local Woolworths & Coles, Outback Stores & ALPA • Industry bodies and groups – eg. NTHA & members • Non-government organisations who may be able to partner or advise you: Fred Hollows Foundation, Red Cross, JL Foundation • Preferential procurement opportunities: • Local businesses, major industry developments & government projects in your area • Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council

16. Where Now? Where To? “We have a great CDEP garden project that’s only been going for a year. We just need the time and resources to build momentum and participation for another 2-3 years – then we expect to spin off one or two small businesses, and support some of the local guys who want to do their own thing”. A local CDO “A ‘viable’ business is defined as one which over the long term, after allowing for the replacement of assets, is cash breakeven or better, provides significant social outcomes in terms of employment and training, and is environmentally and culturally sustainable.”   ILC Agricultural Businesses Strategic Plan 2007-2012

17. Where Now? Where To? “A commercially viable business is one that operates with a rate of return on funds invested at a margin above prevailing interest rates that justifies both the risk and the work expended”. The general idea of a mainstream business “Social enterprises are businesses that trade to fulfil a social mission. They have explicit social aims and socially inclusive values but also a commercial orientation so that profits can be created and used for community benefit. Called the fourth sector (1-3: public, private, not-for-profit sectors) there are three principal motivations for developing a social enterprise: 1. Income generation, 2. To create or retain service delivery, 3. Employment and engagement of marginalized groups, eg. the intermediate labour market model”. CAT, Social Enterprise Project, Alice Springs