Has your home or business been impacted by the flooding in North West Qld?
If you have an IBA home loan or a business finance product with us, and have been impacted by the floods, we want to reassure you and your family that IBA is here in times of need.
Our customers impacted by the floods can apply for an emergency natural disaster relief grant – $5,000 for IBA business finance customers and/or $2,000 for IBA home loan customers.
All eligible customers should have received a direct link via SMS or email with information about how to apply. Applications must be received by 16 June 2023 and the relief package may be withdrawn prior to this date if funds are exhausted.
Additional information and resource links are below:
The latest IBA e-newsletter is live! This edition shares inspiring stories about our amazing customers, along with events, workshops and information about how we can help customers in times of financial difficulty.
Check out the stories featuring:
If you’d like a copy direct to your inbox every 2-3 months, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.
Did you know that IBA offers so much more than just providing loans? Even before you put in an Expression of Interest (EOI) for a home loan, we are here for you.
IBA’s Home Ownership program offers a series of workshops which provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who are interested in home ownership, with the information and tools to move forward.
The workshops are an excellent opportunity to ask questions and gain valuable knowledge and confidence to navigate the process.
“Workshop attendees will better understand IBA’s home loan products, the assessment process including timeframes, home loan eligibility criteria and how to identify potential barriers and use the information to get financially ready.” says IBA’s Jenny Pepper, , who runs many of the workshops.
“Completing a home loan application takes time and effort to gather and collate information. By providing the option to find out more information through our workshops, our customers are in a better position to prepare themselves well for home ownership.”
“Thanks heaps for the information,” says recent IBA Home Ownership workshop attendee Catelyn. “This will be helpful in moving forward and planning ahead. It brings me hope that home ownership is possible if I follow the right steps”.
Catelyn is looking forward to learning more, and putting this learning into practice. After the first workshop she also signed up for ‘Create a Budget' and 'Understanding Credit' workshop.
Another attendee Tiffany, agrees. “‘We enjoyed the session and it has given us the confidence and information to continue to work towards home ownership in the next 18 months.”
Workshops are mainly run online, customers are beginning to recognise the benefits these workshops provide and have been attending in droves, with average 30-50 per session. From time-to-time we also offer face-to-face workshops in limited locations.
Workshops include:
Find out about IBA’s workshops
A new summit will bring together over 200 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women (including those who identify as cis, trans and non-binary) into an arena of decision-making with a diverse range of private and public stakeholders.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) joins as a sponsor of the summit and the overall Wiyi Yani U Thangani project to continue to support the strength and impact of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.
The 3-day event, called the Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit, takes place from 9-11 May 2023 at the National Convention Centre on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra ACT).
Wiyi Yani U Thangani means ‘women’s voices’ and builds on the landmark work of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Report (2020) and Implementation Framework (2021) which put a lens across the strength, knowledge and culture of First Nations women and girls.
The theme of the summit is ‘We are the change.’ Discussions will engage delegates in topics spanning women and girls’ self-determination, economic justice, embedding healing practices throughout institutions and policies and combatting climate change.
June Oscar AO, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, notes the importance of forums like this for First Nations women to be heard and create the action forward.
“The Wiyi Yani U Thangani National Summit is the first time that First Nations women from right across Australia will come together in such large numbers to determine how we can take control of our future and deliver safety, justice and prosperity for our families and communities,” said June.
“The summit will bring together First Nations women with decision-makers from across government, community, academia and business, and we’re excited to have partners like Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) working alongside us to progress First Nations gender justice and equality.”
Southern Arrernte woman Stella de Cos is the Director, Community and Customer Experience, at IBA, and part of the driving force behind IBA‘s Strong Women Strong Business network launched in 2018.
“Our First Nations women and girls are often the backbone of our communities,” said Stella. “Creating a safe space for our women to gather elevates their voices to influence transformative change.
“IBA is proud to continue to be a part of the change that needs to happen and build on our strong First Nations network of women who run businesses, share culture, and grow families.”
In addition to the sponsorship, IBA will support a select group of women from regional and remote areas that are part of the Strong Women Strong Business network to attend the summit. The registrations will be processed via the sponsored delegates registration: https://humanrights.gov.au/about/get-involved/events/wiyi-yani-u-thangani-national-summit-we-are-change-9-11-may-2023.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Aleksandra - Alex currently works in the Legal Team at our Sydney Office on beautiful Gadigal Country. 
I was originally born in Croatia and moved to Australia when I was five, I can’t imagine living anywhere else. Later, I studied Law and Science with a major in Biology at Western Sydney University for about six years.
I completed internships and learned about Native Title and Indigenous Rights through Aurora Internships. I was placed in different areas and through my internship experience I learnt the significance of connection and relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and country.
From there I applied to Indigenous Business Australia and started as a paralegal until I got my practicing certificate, now I am where I am today.
I originally started out as a paralegal until I gained my certificate to practice law and then eventually became a lawyer for the Legal team.
As a junior on the team, I am fortunate to work with the incredible team members on complex transactions. I also get to do a variety of tasks like drafting agreements, drafting loans, and doing legal research so every day is different. I particularly enjoy learning about privacy matters. Everyone in the team is so skilled and it is a real privilege to learn from them.
There’s so much to like about IBA, I feel like I’ve won the lottery. Everyone is so warm and welcoming, working at IBA feels like I’m making an impact for the better. The culture here and the variety of work makes me feel lucky to be here.
My guilty pleasure is a show called Kitchen Nightmares. I watch YouTube clips of the show but the person who reposts them uses Gen Z humour for the clip titles.
We sat down with IBA customer, #BossWoman and Networking QUEEN
, to yarn about how the power of networking and a whole lot of hustle has catapulted her cosmetics company into soon becoming a global brand.
They say sometimes it’s ‘who you know, not what you know’ that gets you a seat at the table. For Shahna, she knew that her extensive knowledge and experience in her industry, and a solid five-year business plan when starting her business, would only get her some of the way, it was the networking that really busted open doors.
“I’ve always had an eye for networking. I’ll meet people and business zone them straight away. I’ll be chatting with them and think ‘this person is good at this, or this person is good at that.’
Shahna first reached out to IBA to see what support was on offer, that’s when IBA linked her up with our networks over at the The Difference Incubator (TDi) for business support. The support gave her reassurance that she was on the right track and to keep making moves.
That was just the beginning. Shahna says something that has got her so far is putting herself out there.
“People always feel like they should hide their dream because it’s ‘just an idea’ but I found sharing mine is what attracted the connections that I have.”
“Through my make-up artistry brand, I’ll be doing a clients make-up and having different conversations. I’ll be telling them what’s going on in my world and they’ll be like ‘oh, I have to put you in touch with this person!’”
“When you’re open about who you are and what you’re doing, people want to know more.”
“I always say, ‘just be confident.’ Ask the questions. People can only say no, and then you’re just where you started.”
Through taking the time to build relationships and share her ideas, Shahna has built a strong network of investors and stakeholders which has unlocked huge opportunities for her business.
Shanha has just opened the doors to Amplified Beauty’s first retail space in Glenelg, South Australia, where she’s also created a luxury space for other Indigenous Businesses to showcase their products to further encourage the retail and tourism trade of SA.
In addition to this and with IBA’s support, Amplified Beauty headed to New York Fashion Week this month where she put her networking skills to test with US media and retailers to level up her brand and take it global. We can’t wait to see Amplified Beauty skyrocket! [Watch this space!]
How can you grow your network? Confidence is key! Believe in yourself and your skills, put yourself out there! By using platforms like LinkedIn, going to networking events and even having a yarn with different people in your community. Everybody has something to offer… including you!
Shop the Amplified Beauty Range here https://www.amplifiedbeauty.com.au/ and stay up to date with what’s happening on their socials.
Don’t forget to follow @Shahna Smith on LinkedIn and @Amplifiedbeautyaus on Instagram to follow her NYC adventures.
Check out the second installment of the new vodcast series that we're partnering on with Black Magic Woman! In this episode, host Mundanara Bayles yarns with educator and community leader Tanyah Nasir on beautiful Larrakia country.
Black Magic Woman explores issues of importance to First Nations people and communities. and we've partnered on a number of episodes with topics from housing, business, youth, women, investing, financial literacy, economic development and COVID-19 recovery.
Episode 106 features Tanyah Nasir, a Darwin woman with connections to the Garrawa, Djugun, and Tiwi language groups. Tanyah is an educator with over 25 years’ experience, and prides herself on understanding the approach and methodology required to achieve success as Indigenous people.
Her program - 'Rise Up' provides a unique opportunity for First Nations people to reflect on their distinctive lived reality and the issues they encounter on a daily basis. The Rise Up program also facilitates critical thinking and self-reflection to encourage and support personal change and social transformation to create the life they want.
Black Magic Woman is accessible on all major platforms including YouTube, Instagram, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
The interest rates for IBA home loans are changing. Rates will increase in response to changes made by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) and based on market conditions.
All impacted customers will be notified, in writing, about the change to their interest rate and loan repayment amount. Interest rate changes will come into effect on 6 February 2023.
We have a range of resources available on our website including workshops to help you manage your loan and build your financial management skills. We also have a video that explains how IBA’s interest rates work.
We’re always here to help. So if you have any concerns about managing your home loan repayments or are experiencing financial difficulty, please contact us to discuss your circumstances.
General inquiries: 1800 107 107 or Financial Hardship: 1800 064 800. Or send us email via this form to arrange for someone to contact you.
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) today announced that applications are open for an exciting opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, girls and sistergirls. Interested female-led Social Enterprises can apply for a partnership under the ‘Social Enterprise Grant’ that will support First Nations female entrepreneurs to innovate and create economic security in their communities.
With support from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, IBA will deliver $2.7 million of grant funding in 2023 through partnerships with Australian Social Enterprises who are, or work with First Nations women in business. The goal is to support the economic empowerment of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women, girls and sistergirls.
Opportunities for the grant include business focused programs, building networks, employment readiness or workplace coaching to increase economic empowerment. The grant can also be accessed to support economic security focused initiatives such as financial wellbeing and planning, and selfcare initiatives that support First Nations women to continue to be financially secure while managing family and community obligations.
The grant may be used for establishing innovative platforms and systems that support the delivery of programs or connecting networks, and for the upskilling and training of First Nations staff in partnering enterprises.
Stella de Cos, Southern Arrernte woman and IBA Director of Community and Customer Experience, says the grant program will drive positive change for our women around the country.
“This partnership brings an amazing opportunity for First Nations female entrepreneurs and female-led community organisations to continue to innovate and solve economic issues facing First Nations women and their communities.
“Women are the strongest pillars of many of our First Nations communities. Empowering them builds opportunities to continue the positive impact and change they drive.
“I encourage our First Nations women in business who feel this grant could make a difference to their communities, and improve the economic security of First Nations women, to go to the IBA website and find out more.”
The grants are an initiative of the Early-Stage Social Enterprise Foundation announced in the Women’s Economic Security Package of the 2021-22 Federal Budget.
Applications for the grant open 16 January 2023 and will close 30 August 2023, unless funds are exhausted earlier.
More information and online grant applications at www.iba.gov.au/socialenterprisegrant.
Media contact: Tara Toohill, 0427 011 938 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Has your home or business been impacted by the flooding in WA, SA and the NT?
If you have an IBA home loan or a business finance product with us, and have been impacted by the floods, we want to reassure you and your family that IBA is here in times of need.
Our customers impacted by the floods can apply for an emergency natural disaster relief grant – $5,000 for IBA business finance customers and/or $2,000 for IBA home loan customers.
All eligible customers should have received a direct link via SMS or email with information about how to apply. Applications must be received by 16 June 2023 and the relief package may be withdrawn prior to this date if funds are exhausted.
Additional information and resource links are below:
