ANZ today announced a $1 million partnership with Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership at the University of Melbourne, supercharging ANZ's First Nations customers with entrepreneurial tools and opportunities to drive business growth and economic leadership.
Through the partnership, First Nations businesses - including the bank's business customers - will benefit from business education scholarships, targeted networking events and regional workshops, designed to help grow their businesses and entrepreneurial success.
This four-year investment is a core part of ANZ's Australian First Nations Strategy, Fuelling the Fire, reflecting the bank's commitment to strengthening the First Nations economy and its entrepreneurs.
Dilin Duwa supports First Nations economic development through Indigenous-led business education, research and sector engagement. The organisation delivers accredited leadership programs, conducts research on Indigenous business and procurement, and facilitates national networks of Indigenous entrepreneurs and leaders to inform policy and practice.
Together, ANZ and Dilin Duwa share a vision of economic empowerment and self-determination for First Nations and are partnering to provide practical support.
ANZ Head of First Nations Business Banking and proud Yankunytjatjara woman, Simone Kenmore, said: "ANZ's impact grows when we support the ecosystem to thrive. We recognise the importance of self-determination for First Nations businesses in achieving sustainable impact both within their communities and across the broader Australian economy. By combining ANZ's capabilities with Dilin Duwa's expertise and networks, we are creating meaningful, sustainable opportunities for business owners to build long-term growth, investment and leadership.
Dilin Duwa Director, Professor Michelle Evans, said: "We are delighted that ANZ has chosen to support Indigenous entrepreneurship through a partnership with our Centre. The Indigenous business ecosystem contributes significantly to the Australian economy. ANZ's support will contribute to our research and educational initiatives which are designed to support Indigenous businesses to develop and grow in ways that matters to the community."
Key commitments under the partnership include:
- MURRA Indigenous Business Masterclass Program
- ANZ will fund scholarships each year to the Centre's flagship business program giving First Nations entrepreneurs the opportunity to build business knowledge and leadership skills.
- Premier Sponsor of the Dilin Duwa Dialogues
- The Dilin Duwa Dialogues are an Indigenous-led, global forum for co-creating research, policy and practice that strengthen Indigenous business and economic futures, coupled with seed funding to turn ideas into action.
- Annual Regional Business Series
- ANZ's partnership will enable Dilin Duwa to deliver a national series of business education workshops, bringing practical guidance, networking, and resources to a different regional community each year to help First Nations businesses grow.
The partnership underpins Fuelling the Fire, ANZ's 10-year Australian First Nations Strategy, supporting one of Australia's fastest-growing sectors, the First Nations economy, which is projected to generate $50 billion annually over the next decade.
