Minister for Indigenous Australians, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, MP, has today launched a new Indigenous Business and Employment Hub, in Liverpool, New South Wales,
The Yarpa Hub is a partnership between the Morrison Government and the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council designed to provide the support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and job seekers need to realise the opportunities created through government and private sector Indigenous procurement policies.
“The Yarpa Hub will help Indigenous businesses across New South Wales grow, professionalise and meet the growing demand for their goods and services,” Minister Wyatt said.
“The Hub is a key initiative of the Morrison Government’s 10-year Indigenous Business Sector Strategy, supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people build sustainable businesses and become an integral part of the broader Australian economy.
“For Indigenous businesses, they will provide business advice, facilitate access to capital, business growth support, tendering assistance, office space to work from, training and seminars, networking events and connections to existing mainstream and Indigenous-specific business support.
“For industry, the Hub will help link their members with larger businesses seeking to engage Indigenous businesses in their supply chains, advice to corporates on how to engage Indigenous jobseekers, and advice on providing culturally inclusive and supportive workplaces.
“The Hubs are delivered in close collaboration with state and territory governments to ensure navigating business support is streamlined and Indigenous businesses can spend more time creating jobs and growing the economy.”
Yarpa Hub Director, Ricky Walford, said the Yarpa Hub gives Indigenous business owners unparalleled support and advice.
“The Yarpa Hub already has a strong membership base and we are proud to be helping Indigenous businesses make the connections they need to grow, offer more employment opportunities, and secure their futures,” Mr Walford said.
“We will leverage our great relationships with organisations such as Indigenous Business Australia, Supply Nation, Many Rivers, University of Wollongong, KPMG and the Australian Tax Office to ensure we continue our ground breaking work. With the final fit out of the new premises complete, we’re ready to start welcoming people into the new office in a COVID-safe manner.
“We’re honoured to take our place in empowering the Indigenous business sector and the broader community.”
The Yarpa Hub is one of three Indigenous Business and Employment Hubs being established around Australia.