The World Indigenous Tourism Summit 2023 (WITS) is an international forum that helps to advance opportunities for First Nations people in the tourism sector. The event will be in Perth this year from 12-16 March, and IBA are proud to sponsor 5 delegates to attend.
This year the World Indigenous Tourism Alliance is co-hosting the forum with the Western Australian Indigenous Tourism Operators Council on country of the Whadjuk Noongar people.
EOIs for the sponsored tickets are now closed but First Nations tourism businesses interested in attending the forum can still register for their own ticket.
The theme for this year's summit, "Tourism and Indigenous Earth Wisdom Weaving the Future that Benefits All," revolves around the significant role Indigenous values and wisdom play in building a more sustainable First Nations tourism sector.
The goal is to equip First Nations businesses to survive the future, asserting Indigenous rights on Homeland, and nurturing a growing awareness of the need to unite and engage in the equitable development of First Nations economies.
The summit brings together Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples and organisations from diverse parts of the tourism industry, offering participants an opportunity to impart and gain knowledge of the vital interdependence among tourism, community, and earth stewardship. It will also showcase Australia's thriving tourism industry to the nation and the world, with many international delegates expected to attend.
Our final lunch and learn session for the year is coming up on Thursday 1 December. This month’s theme is 'nurturing mind, body & soul', and will be hosted by IBA's Government and Public Relations Manager, Mishalia Birch. 
We are very fortunate and excited to be joined by special guest Allira Potter. Allira is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, author, podcast host, intuitive reader, energy healer, and an empowerment mindset coach. Her practice is fully immersed around culture, cultural awareness, and education, with a focus on debunking the wellness narrative to ensure diverse representation and decolonisation of white-dominated wellness space.
Allira’s socially broadcasted messaging empowers women to embrace their bodies, curves and all, and to love themselves for who they are. Allira has recently worked with both international and national clients including The Body Shop, Kathmandu, Instagram, Libra, Cotton On, Schwarzkopf, LuluLemon, MECCA, Bioderma, Kmart, Spell, Wella, Target, Bumble, and many more.
In December 2021, Allira released her first book, ‘Wild & Witchy’ - a handbook for millennials about life, loss, spirituality, and women’s intuition.
Partnerships can be translated many ways, but the general consensus is that they should support your business to be better, otherwise what’s the point.
As part of Indigenous Business Month, IBA hosted a panel discussion with a few of our own partners to hear about the impacts that partnerships have for them and what we can learn from picking the right one.
Stella de Cos, Director, Community & Customer Experience, IBA, led a discussion with our partners including Mundanara Bayles, BlackCard (Black Magic Woman podcast); Phil Usher, First Nations Foundation; and Dr Ash Francisco, Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership.
View full write-up with insights to storytelling, activating partnerships and honouring place in LinkedIn article: Power in Partnerships.
IBA’s Annual Report for 2021-22 has been tabled in Parliament on 3 November. You can access the Annual Report here and read about IBA’s performance outcomes and achievements across our programs. 
Through 2021-22, IBA and our customers continued to navigate a challenging environment with the COVID-19 pandemic, the added complexities of geo-political stability, the impacts of climate change with repeated floods down the east coast of Australia, and the consequences of these events on market conditions and affordability. Through it all, IBA maintained its focus, inspired and propelled by the strength and resilience of our customers and the commitment and dedication of our staff.
The report details our performance and impact and celebrates the incredible achievements of our customers. Highlights include:
In 2021-22:
At 30 June 2022:
Over the past 5 financial years:
Thank you to everyone involved in putting this report together and achieving the outcomes included.
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 19 November 2022.
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.
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.
The Victorian Homebuyer Fund, a Victorian Government shared equity scheme, has partnered with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) to give extra assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria looking to buy their own home.
Through the scheme, the Victorian Government co-invests with participants in residential property, in exchange for an equivalent equity share. Eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants can receive a 35% government contribution towards their home. A minimal 3.5% deposit is required, and participants must be able to cover any acquisition costs, such as stamp duty and conveyancing costs.
The remainder of the purchase price is facilitated through partner lenders, like IBA. The Victorian Government does not receive interest on its investment but will share in any capital gains or losses proportionate to its share in the property. This means the value of its share goes up or down proportionate to changes in the property’s value.
Participants are required to buy back the government’s share in their property over time through refinancing, using savings, or upon sale of the property.
IBA’s Executive Director, Government & Public Relations, Sean Armistead, notes the partnership with the Victorian Government supports more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria to become homeowners.
“We’re always looking for new ways to support our First Nations customers to become an integral part of the Australian economy – whether that be owning a home, starting or growing a business, or investing in their future.
“Home ownership can create a positive impact on one’s life in many ways, including health, stability and general wellbeing. But the current housing market is affected by the added uncertainty of rising interest rates and housing stock availability, which makes the opportunity more difficult.
“This new fund provides support for First Nations home buyers who might not otherwise be able to access their first home.
“We’re deeply invested in the financial success of First Nations people and providing viable opportunities for home ownership, and welcome the partnership with the Victorian Government to further those opportunities.”
Treasurer of Victoria Tim Pallas said, “The Victorian Homebuyer Fund has been popular for a reason – it helps people get into their own homes quicker with help from a secure partner.”
“Thousands more Victorians will now be able to realise their dreams with this new injection. Combined with the First Home Owner Grant and first home buyer stamp duty relief, it can make a massive difference.”
More information can be found on IBA’s website at iba.gov.au/vhf.
Media contact: Tara Toohill 02 9207 6362 or tara.toohill@iba.gov.au
Has your home or business been impacted by the recent floods?
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 flood 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 30 November 2022 and the relief package may be withdrawn prior to this date if funds are exhausted.
Additional information and resource links are below:
Strong Women Strong Business (SWSB) are hosting our next monthly Strong Women Strong Business Lunch & Learn, Thursday 3 November 2022, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm AEDT.
On the first Thursday of every month, we gather for a lunch time session to hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women. This month we are exploring Connecting to Country for Strong Business.
Emma Stewart, founder Jirribitti Dreaming, will feature on the upcoming segment. Emma is a proud Bidjigal & Gweagal woman with kinship to Eora, Dharawal, Dharug, Yuin and Gundangara Nations. She is a cultural connector, intuitive healer, artist, jewellery designer, cultural consultant and yarning circle facilitator.
Emma’s intention is to walk and work with all people to create a better understanding and connection with First Nations ways of knowing, doing, being and healing.
Coming from a background working in community engagement and education, Emma has a wealth of knowledge in how to respectfully and successfully deliver Aboriginal healing-based projects, workshops and consultancy services.
Emma has developed Aboriginal healing workshops, resources and activities that incorporate scientific evidence to ensure we are respecting and combining two knowledge systems – western and Aboriginal. Their inclusive approach allows all participants to feel connected to our ways of teaching and healing.
Register for this event today and mark your calendar for the final SWSB Lunch & Learn of the year with the theme, "Nurturing mind, body & soul" (1 December).
Any questions to be directed to womeninbusiness@iba.gov.au.
