- Cook Government commits $250,000 to deliver the Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative for the Goldfields-Esperance region
- The successful initiative is aimed at boosting the capacity of Aboriginal businesses and business leaders
The Cook Government will take its successful Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative to the Goldfields-Esperance region in 2025-26, committing $250,000 to build the capacity of Aboriginal businesses.
The initiative aims to increase Aboriginal leadership capacity and grow sustainable businesses in regional Western Australia, in a way that reflects the vision and desires of regional communities.
Since 2017, the program has been delivered in the Mid West, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West and Gascoyne regions, collectively supporting 72 Aboriginal start-up businesses.
The initiative was previously delivered in the Goldfields-Esperance region in 2018-19.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Goldfields-Esperance Development Commission will lead the procurement process for a qualified and experienced Aboriginal service provider to deliver the 2025-26 program.
As stated by Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative is a tailored learning and development program targeting Aboriginal community and business leaders, focused on building personal 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."
As stated by Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch:
"We are keen to support the development of emerging and existing local Aboriginal businesses in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
"The Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative has been successful in helping to build Aboriginal business leaders' skills, knowledge and networks."
As stated by Goldfields-Esperance Minister David Michael:
"The Cook Labor Government is proud to support this important initiative that seeks to expand leadership skills within sustainable Indigenous businesses.
"It is great to see this program returning to the Goldfields-Esperance region given its ongoing success."
