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INDIGENOUS BUSINESS AUSTRALIA
IBA acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures, to the Elders past, present, and emerging.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, names and voices of deceased people.

Get on the wild side, the buck wild side, and check out the Black Magic Woman vodcast - Episode #112 featuring Lacey Long a proud Kamilaroi woman and owner of Buck Wild Country. Lacey talked with vodcast host, Mundanara Bayles, about her business journey, family/friends, and words of inspiration to all inspiring entrepreneurs.

Black Magic Woman vodcast with Lacey Long, Buck Wild Country
Lacey Long, Buck Wild Country

Previously working in government agencies and even starting her first business of a clothing boutique at 18, Lacey always knew she would be in business. She transitioned into her current business, Buck Wild Country, after a need for lifestyle change now that she has a daughter – her focus was to merge her inspirations both as a business owner and as a parent.

With a business start-up loan from IBA, Lacey used the funds to purchase stock for the men’s and children’s clothing line of Buck Wild Country.

The business is inspired by BOHO country aesthetic with a variety of clothing to live your ‘buck wild side’. With beautiful hand drawn designs, Lacey’s business goes beyond country and continues to grow.

From what started with one design for men, the business quickly grew to over 20 designs for men, women, and children. Today, Buck Wild Country is proudly an Australian country lifestyle and fashion brand, built with love for the whole family.

As part of our Strong Women Strong Business network, Lacey spoke at a Lunch & Learn session last year that brought together her business experience with the importance of money management.

In the recent Black Magic Woman vodcast, Lacey shared some words of wisdom and reality to aspiring business owners: “Just go for it, start with your friends and family. Don’t give up and keep going, there’s going to be hurdles.”

With these inspiring words, the only thing holding you back, is you.

Watch the vodcast episode or check out Buck Wild Country across socials or on their website, buckwildcountry.com.

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IBA is proud to sponsor a series of strong women in business for this year’s Black Magic Woman pod- and vod-casts. If you would like more info on all the Black Magic Woman yarns, visit the website, blackmagicwoman.com.au/iba-partnership-series/.

To find out more about how you can start or grow a business, visit Starting a business.

On the recent episode (#110) of Black Magic Woman, Mundanara Bayles hosted Priscilla Mason, a proud Worimi woman and one of the directors of Indigeco. Priscilla talked about her passion for promoting employment opportunities for Indigenous individuals and communities.

Click to watch vodcast

Started in 2017 with funding provided by IBA via a start-up loan package, Indigeco is a Supply Nation certified business that specialises in recruitment across both regional and metropolitan areas.

“Money was tight, but IBA took a chance on me. I can’t thank them enough,” says Priscilla.

With a start from humble upbringings and experience in the construction industry, Priscilla and her husband, Todd, saw the opportunity for growth in Aboriginal employment. In the beginning they started off on small construction sites, with only two labours. Now they provide several services ranging from employment, consulting on major construction projects and more.

The business now also has a training side of things with MobReady, which has VET accreditation to skill up Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to find career pathways in the labour hire space.

Indigeco continues their relationship with IBA as they grow. They use our invoice financing, a service that helps our customers whose cash flow can’t keep up with their growth.

“I still use them (IBA) today. They are fantastic,” says Priscilla.

Find out more about Indigeco’s story through the vodcast or visit their website, indigeco.com.au.

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IBA is proud to sponsor a series of strong women in business for this year’s Black Magic Woman pod- and vod-casts. If you would like more info on all the Black Magic Woman yarns, visit the website, blackmagicwoman.com.au/iba-partnership-series/.

To find out more about how you can start or grow a business, visit iba.gov.au/business/.

We recently caught up with South Australian home loan customers, Dylan and Jen. They were delighted to share their positive experience with IBA and what being in their own home means to their family. They wanted a bigger home for their growing family and were weary of the insecurity of renting. Since getting in touch with IBA they haven’t looked back.

"It was a real achievement to buy a house," says Jen. "And we're not just a number to them (speaking about IBA). They shared in our excitement. I'm happy, we're happy. it's exactly what we wanted."

Zakpage, a First Nations creative agency, produced this lovely video where Dylan and Jen show their home and tell their story.

Check out the gorgeous artwork Dylan stands in front of towards the end of the video. Three paintings were gifted to his parents by Warlpiri artist Aileen Long, which in turn have now been gifted to him and his siblings. So, it was an extra-special moment for Dylan when he was able to hang it in his own family home.

If like Dylan and Jen, you'd like to buy your own home, first check out IBA's free workshops to find out about budgeting and understand what it takes to start the process.

Episode #100 of Black Magic Woman Podcast is out now. On this episode, Mundanara Bayles yarns with our deadly customer Rodney Rankins and we talk about home ownership!

Image showing Rodney Rankins and the Black Magic Woman podcast logo.

IBA  partnered with the Black Magic Woman Podcast to bring you a series of episodes based on a variety of topics including housing, business, youth, women, investing, financial literacy, economic development and COVID-19 recovery.

When Rodney talks about home ownership, his eyes light up with pride. He became the 19,000th home loan that IBA approved for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since inception.
For Rodney, home ownership was always a dream and he encourages others to put the work in to finding your goals.
Watch/stream episode #100 via https://linktr.ee/blackmagicwomanpodcast or wherever you get your podcasts.
Find more IBA customer episodes.

We were lucky enough to recently meet Wiradujri man  Adam, who shared his home ownership experience with us.

A man filming two men on a rooftop terrace.

When he first approached IBA for a home loan, he wasn’t in the right financial position to be successful in his application. But instead, he was given advice on how to improve his financial situation and be in a better position to apply down the track.

After months of hard work, paying off debts and saving hard, he and his partner were able to come back to IBA. This time they were approved and bought their dream home.

Adam says, “When I unlock my door every afternoon coming home from work and I walk in and just look, and say ‘this is mine’. It’s overwhelming sometimes.”

After waiting till the time was right, he was in a much better position to start his home ownership journey. We also have workshops and information sessions to help you prepare for home ownership.

The talented filming and editing team at Indigistream helped us put together a video so Adam could share his story and show us his new home.

Watch Adam's story on YouTube or view below:

 

IBA partnered with SBS Small Business Secrets again this year to feature four First Nations businesses doing what they do best. The segments were featured on SBS and NITV, and this was the third year we have supported the production of the series.

SBS produced a special NAIDOC segment that kicked off the week and wrapped it up with Standley Chasm and Amber Days included. Earlier in the year, we had segments on Cooee Cafe and Ngarga Warendj.

This year’s segments were also translated into Mandarin and Spanish as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) shared them worldwide through their social channels during NAIDOC week and screened in the DFAT lobby in Canberra.

Check out the full playlist on our YouTube channel or view and read the individual stories below:

View 2022 SBS playlist.

Nova Pomare, GM at Standley Chasm
Nova Pomare, GM at Standley Chasm (Image credit: SBS/Scott Cardwell)

Through an IBA partnership with SBS Small Business Secrets, Standley Chasm was featured as part of a NAIDOC Special. The chasm, known traditionally as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’, brings the red/orange rock of Arrernte country to life.

SBS interviewed Arrernte woman Nova Pomare, who was born and raised nearby and now manages the site.

Thousands of visitors have booked in to experience the chasm this season and learn about the cultural background, but it wasn’t the case for the past couple years through lockdown.

Nova said, “And we are living proof here at Standley Chasm, that despite all the challenges we had, we still stood up and kept doing what we are doing and we're still here standing. And I hope we are good role models for the rest of our mob.”

Nova was approved for an IBA COVID Business Relief Package to get the business through the toughest parts of the last few years. IBA also provided a vehicle lease and funding for a communications tower, essential for running a tourist business in remote areas.

“It is an iconic tourist destination rich in traditional Aboriginal heritage and Nova is a fantastic mentor and trainer for young Indigenous workers, IBA’s Rachel Harding said.

Learn how Nova fought hard to keep this site for mob – something all can be proud of.

Read the SBS article, 'Promoting and protecting Australia's iconic Standley Chasm is a passion for Nova Pomare', or view the NAIDOC Special (link below).

Corina Muir at Amber Days (Image credit: SBS/Scott Cardwell)
Corina Muir, founder of Amber Days, with her daughter (Image credit: SBS/Scott Cardwell)

When Melbourne-based designer Corina Muir couldn’t find the right sustainable clothing for her baby daughter, she decided to start her own clothing range, Amber Days – and her Indigenous designs are now in demand worldwide.

The Yorta Yorta and Boonwurrung woman talks about the importance of ethical clothing that is a collaborative effort with other Aboriginal women. She's also now started a pop-up store in Melbourne's North till early August (54 Errol Street).

Corina is all about community and wants her business to be a platform for change. She wants to see First Nation's fashion taken to the wider world. Amber Days was seen on the runway during Melbourne Fashion Week earlier this year.

"Corina had an idea and the passion for her business and she looked to IBA for support to build business acumen and financial literacy skills," said David Deo, IBA's Senior Business Development Officer.

“She is an inspiration to women who want to make a difference...In Corina's case, we see someone who's always trying to grow, so at the end of the day, her success is our success as well.”

Read the SBS article, 'Corina's sustainable clothing range shares Indigenous culture with the world', or view the video segment that featured as part of an SBS NAIDOC Special on 3 July 2022 (linked below).

Nova Pomare, GM at Standley Chasm
Nova Pomare, General Manager, Standley Chasm (Image source: SBS, Scott Cardwell)

Watch SBS and NITV over the following two weekends to catch two of our customer stories that will feature as part of a NAIDOC special! Standley Chasm and Amber Days will each have a 5-7 minute segment about their businesses and each one includes an interview with an IBA Business Solutions representative.

Lots of opportunities to catch the episodes on air with all timings listed below (all times are AEST):

The short videos were also translated into Mandarin and Spanish as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is sharing them worldwide through their social channels during NAIDOC week, and it will be screened in the DFAT lobby in Canberra.

This special wraps up our 2022 SBS series and is the third year we have partnered with SBS to feature our outstanding business customers. You can catch all the episodes on our YouTube channel and we’ll be re-sharing content on our socials.

Amber Days
Organic muslin wraps by Amber Days

The NAIDOC special includes stories on the beautiful tourist destination in Alice Springs called Standley Chasm (known traditionally as Angkerle Atwatye, meaning ‘Gap of Water’) and the ethical clothing designs of Amber Days.

Earlier this year we featured Taungwurrung Kulin man Mick Harding and his art business, Ngarga Warendj (Dancing Wombat), and Yamatji/Noongar woman Sharon Brindley talked about her expanded venture with Cooee Café / JalaJala Treats.

If you want to find out how IBA may be able to support your business idea, find out more.

Video celebrates the grand opening event for the IGA supermarket in Tennant Creek - the whole community was invited to participate in the celebrations.

Julalikari Council Aboriginal Corporation and IBA co-own the IGA supermarket and BP Service Station in Tennant Creek. The supermarket and service station are operated by IBA subsidiary, IBA Retail Asset Management (IRAM).

After a fire destroyed the supermarket in 2020, a temporary pop-up store was housed in the BP to ensure community had a consistent food supply during the rebuild process. A grand opening event was held in March 2022 to celebrate the refurbished store and thank the community for its patience.

Chair of Julalikari Linda Turner said the reopening of the store was an exciting day. She said, “This building, this business and the services and goods to be provided, represents our future as a town."

Video done by Indigenous production company from Alice Springs NT called, Since 1788.