The Allan Labor Government has announced locations for five new business and cultural hubs across Victoria, supporting Victorian Aboriginal businesses, students and artists to flourish and bringing even more economic opportunities to local communities.
Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman said the new hubs will help Aboriginal businesses to connect, access support and showcase their work.
The hubs are culturally safe spaces where Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs and students can network, collaborate and access professional and cultural resources. Local Aboriginal artists can also use the spaces to exhibit and sell their artwork.
Gunditj Mirring Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation will setup a hub in Heywood and Eastern Maar Aboriginal Corporation will establish a hub in Warrnambool.
Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation will develop a hub in Frankston, while the Yorta Yorta Nations Aboriginal Corporation hub will be in Shepparton.
Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation will create an economic hub in their existing Abbotsford location to support businesses in Melbourne.
The facilities at each hub and the services they offer will be designed and delivered by Traditional Owners to meet the needs of their local communities, ranging from tourism and hospitality initiatives to mentoring, leadership training, networking opportunities and community workshops.
The economic hubs have been successful in Victoria, with three across the state recently passing the one-year milestone. The hubs help Aboriginal communities to focus on connection to culture and Country and build on the Labor Government's commitment to self-determination and economic inclusion and prosperity.
Four hubs are currently open, including Murran in Geelong led by Ngarrimili, the DUMAWUL Hub in Bendigo created by Traditional Owner group DJAARA, the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) Community Economic Hub in Morwell, and the Wadawurrung Aboriginal Economic Hub in the centre of Ballarat.
The three hubs celebrating the one-year milestone are providing several programs and initiatives including business mentoring and networking, cultural tours, arts galleries, hot desk spaces and more.
Supporting Aboriginal businesses is aligned to the Yuma Yirramboi (Invest in Tomorrow) Strategy and key for achieving economic parity for Aboriginal Victorians within a generation.
As stated by Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman
"These hubs are culturally safe spaces that are supporting Aboriginal businesses, artists and students to grow and succeed long term in their local communities."
As stated by Minister for Treaty and First Peoples Natalie Hutchins
"Aboriginal people know what is best for their communities and these hubs have proven to be a powerful way to support Aboriginal self-determination."
