Research
Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) commissions, participates in and supports targeted and practical research to grow the evidence base that determines its approach to Indigenous economic development.
IBA also shares its knowledge and expertise with government and industry partners so that they have the best possible information to achieve their objectives to increase Indigenous economic independence. Such partnerships also provide us with opportunities to explore new ideas and strategies to assist Indigenous people to engage with the wider economy.
The direction and focus of our research projects is driven by a research strategy, which is subject to an annual review with program areas and the IBA Executive to identify research priorities and ensure these remain appropriate and relevant to program needs.
The table below lists recent research projects and reports produced under that strategy. For further information about these reports please phone our Research Team on 02 6121 2647.
| Social Returns on Investment (SROI) | IBA has developed a tool to measure the broader social and economic outcomes of its investments. The Social Return on Investments (SROI) tool measures the social and economic value of Indigenous employment and training resulting from our investments. The SROI tool is currently being tested. |
| East Arnhem Land Business Development Approach: An interim review of IBA’s approach to developing small businesses in East Arnhem Land (PDF 1.67MB, new window) | SGS Economics and Planning report reviewing the Indigenous small business development model in Galiwin’ku, Northern Territory and determining the feasibility of implementing the model in other Indigenous communities. The review recommended that the five-step, grassroots Indigenous small business development model be extended to other Indigenous communities in rural and remote areas. The model is currently being evaluated for implementation in locations in the Northern Territory and Queensland. |
| Understanding Indigenous Business | This project studies motivation, success factors and barriers experienced by a group of new Indigenous business owners over the course of three or more years. |
| More Than a Roof Overhead | Australian Research Council Research grant with RMIT University, Bawinanga Aboriginal Corporation, the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, state housing departments, the Centre for Appropriate Technology and Charles Darwin University that aims to ensure that current and future investment in housing can maximise Indigenous outcomes in terms of housing and broader socio-economic circumstances. |
| Perceptions of Home Ownership among IBA Home Loan Clients (PDF 854KB, new window) | Anna Szava and Mark Moran’s report for IBA and the Centre for Appropriate Technology highlights the key economic and social benefits of home ownership as perceived by a selection of IBA’s clients from Queensland and the Northern Territory. |
| A Cost Effectiveness Analysis of the IBA Home Ownership Program (PDF 2MB, new window) | Completed in October 2010, this project examines the cost effectiveness of IBA’s Home Ownership Program. |
| Determining the Factors Influencing the Success of Private and Community-owned Indigenous Businesses across Remote, Regional and Urban Australia | This project will study success factors and key influencers of Indigenous entrepreneurs and business owners, using qualititative and quantitative methods. Partly funded through a linkage grant from the Australian Research Council, IBA – as the industry partner – is working with Charles Sturt University, Newcastle University and the University of Technology, Sydney. |
| Anatomy of the Australian Entrepreneur: Understanding micro, small and medium entrepreneurs in Australia (PDF 2MB, new window) | Fay Rola-Rubzen’s 2011 report documents findings from a survey of business owners that compares Indigenous and non-Indigenous businesses in desert and non-desert Australia. The research was funded through a partnership between Ninti One, IBA and Curtin University of Technology. |