Print-friendly versionEmerging Business Award finalists
Silver Lining Foundation, for Ironbark Ridge Services
Silver Lining Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation providing work experience and on-the-job training for young Australians, particularly Indigenous Australians. The Foundation achieves its mission by operating small businesses which offer employment and training opportunities to Indigenous youth.
Only twelve months ago, Ironbark Ridge Services began offering services to generate employment and on-the-job training for the young Indigenous people of Cherboug and surrounding districts. The services commenced in the rural industry and now also offer services in forestry management and hospitality, with a plant nursery due to commence later this year.
Kevin O'Brien Architects
Kevin O'Brien Architects are the only private sector architectural practice in Australia to be established and led by an Indigenous architect. The firm works on projects within Indigenous communities throughout Queensland and as such, engages the Traditional Owners as key stakeholders within the architectural process. One of the first completed projects was the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Culture Centre "Dandiiri Maiwar" at the Queensland Museum.
As Queensland's first Indigenous architectural graduate, Kevin O'Brien also offers employment, training and mentoring to Indigenous and non-Indigenous students studying architecture, encouraging and inspiring other Indigenous Queenslanders.
Northern Project Contracting
Northern Project Contracting (NPC) is a rock crushing, Indigenous labour hire and earthmoving business operating out of Zinifex Century Mine 300km north-west of Mount Isa. The business is operated by via a joint venture between Waanyi Mining Services and Exact Mining. The early success of NPC enabled the company to expand and set up a machine hire and a labour hire service, with a predominantly Indigenous workforce.
NPC focuses on producing community wealth for the growth and betterment of the Waanyi community, through innovative initiatives such as the establishment of a language and cultural centre, mobile training centre, Indigenous training scholarships and revival of the Waanyi language.
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd
Torres Strait Heritage Pty Ltd, through its tours and museum, educates visitors about the union of Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples for the defence of Australia during World War II.
The tours highlight how the Torres Strait was home to 8000 troops, airmen and navy and 880 local Torres Strait men who volunteered to defend the front line. The museum is the largest wartime and cultural collection in the Torres Strait, allowing greater insight into the lives of those who served together on the island. The museum and tours have already proven to be a tourist attraction in their own right, attracting over 5000 visitors last year.
Established Business Award finalists
Australia Post
Australia Post successfully delivered an Indigenous literacy project to five remote communities in 2007; Aurukun, Palm Island, Lockhart River, Mornington Island and Doomadgee, encouraging school students to write a letter or make a postcard with the theme, Strong and Smart: Young, Black and Proud.
The project highlighted the talents and potential of children in remote Indigenous communities, as well as the lack of opportunities provided to them, compared to their mainstream counterparts.
The literacy project also generated a new and ongoing Indigenous recruitment partnership between Australia Post and Former Origin Greats in Queensland. 2008 marks 20 years of Australia Post Indigenous employment initiatives.
Sea World Resort
Sea World Resort initiated its Indigenous School Based Traineeship Program in 2006 specifically for rural and remote communities. The program is structured around school holidays over an 18 month period and combines school, work and training. The current Indigenous School Based Traineeship program has 33 trainees who work within the Food and Beverage department of Sea World Theme Park, and across all departments of the resort.
The program has witnessed a number of successes including opportunities out of the normal local prospects, increased retention and education rates for Indigenous youth, developing confidence and morale, providing career pathways and developing community role models.
Tom Kirk Indigenous Consultant
Tom Kirk Indigenous Consultant has been delivering Indigenous and Cross Cultural Awareness Raising programs across Australia since 2000. The programs sensitise participants to the Indigenous cultures and take participants on a journey of attitudinal exploration through history, cultures, cross-cultural behaviour and actions.
Over 500 Indigenous cultural awareness programs have been delivered to approximately 10 000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to create more understanding, better relationships and acceptance. The program has now expanded to Train the Trainer workshops to enable further delivery of programs and greater community impact.
Westpac Banking Corporation
Westpac encourages all staff to live and work in remote Indigenous communities across Cape York for a one month period. Secondees work on specific initiatives developed by Cape York Partnerships and Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation. Since 2001, Westpac has provided 50 months of secondment per annum and four annual fellowships.
Through its Cape York program, Westpac supports a range of initiatives such as Family Income Management workshops, Business Hubs Program and Every Child is Special education program.
Community Organisation Award finalists
Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts, for 'Reflections'
The Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts is an inspirational centre of excellence and innovation in education for Australian Indigenous performing artists through acting, dance, singing and music.
The 2007 graduate production 'Reflections', directed by Leah Purcell and supported by Queensland Performing Arts Centre, was a sell out, receiving high critical acclaim for the work of its 31 strong cast. 'Reflections' told a series of stories from Indigenous peoples viewpoints on the significance of the 1967 referendum from the perspective of 40 years on.
Benarrawa Community Development Association Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group
The Benarrawa Community Development Association Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Solidarity Group (Benarrawa) is comprised of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal members who have come together to work in partnership.
The group seeks to inform its members and the wider community about issues affecting the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to promote justice and understanding between all peoples.
The group is involved in organising and/or promoting participation in annual ceremonies and activities including Invasion Day, National Sorry Day, Mabo Day, Reconciliation Week, National Aboriginal and Islander Day of Celebration (NAIDOC) Week, the Elders Lunch, Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Workshops, as well as maintaining a"Back to Country" (funeral assistance) fund.
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc
Brisbane Indigenous Media Association Inc (BIMA) operates 98.9fm, a 24 hour radio station playing country and Indigenous music, and Triple A Training, delivering culturally appropriate radio and multimedia training.
BIMA also manages a wide range of community development and communications projects that address issues such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, land and sea management, legal rights, rural issues, parenting, and youth health and wellbeing. Most of these radio programs are broadcast nationally via the National Indigenous Radio Service, with audio and print resources delivered to local community radio stations.
Queensland Folk Federation Inc, for 'The Dreaming'
The Dreaming - Australia's International Indigenous Festival is a four day, three night festival showcasing the diversity and excellence of some of the world's Indigenous cultures and their artistic production, through a uniquely Australian perspective.
The Queensland Folk Federation (QFF) and representatives of the Traditional Custodians, the Jinibara people, have signed a memorandum of understanding to working together. The QFF is committed to mentoring, secondments and training across all arts industry areas. The festival encourages youth to create networks within and between communities and provides opportunities for Indigenous artists to be discovered and perform at other festivals.
The QFF, through The Dreaming, contract over 250 Indigenous custodians and performers annually.
Partnership Award finalists
Ghungalu and Duaringa Community, Keeping Place and Cultural Centre
The Ghungalu and Duaringa Community Keeping Place and Cultural Centre is becoming a reality for the Ghungalu people and the Duaringa community.
The centre (still to be completed) will provide a tourist destination and a medium for the Ghungalu Aboriginal community and the local community to collect and protect documents, photographs, stories and exhibit cultural artefacts. It will provide visitors to Duaringa shire with the knowledge and understanding of local histories, and allow them to return home with a truly positive experience.
Higher Expectations Program: Macquarie Group Foundation and Cape York Institute
The Higher Expectations Program (HEP) is a partnership between Cape York Institute, the Macquarie Group Foundation, Griffith University and a number of Queensland's most academically successful boarding schools.
HEP gives academically gifted students in Cape York the opportunity to attend Queensland's top-tier boarding schools and pursue tertiary education. Now in its third year, the program has 34 Indigenous students across seven Queensland boarding schools.
In a region where as few as 6% of students complete Year 12, this innovative education program provides the financial assistance, tutors, mentors, role models, weekend home stay families and counsellors to students as they transition from remote community life to a boarding school environment.
The Pelican Hope Vale Project: ANZ Bank and Pelican Expeditions
Hope Vale Life Promotion is a collaborative project between the Hope Vale community, Pelican Expeditions and the ANZ Bank.
Each year 'Pelican 1', a 62ft catamaran, and crew arrive from Melbourne to spend three weeks with the local community sailing, engaging, learning about turtle and dugong conservation, digital story telling, healing and leadership workshops. The project exposes the community, especially young people, to a range of people, ideas and opportunities upon which to develop a positive future for themselves and their community.
Its aim is ultimately to reduce youth suicide and crime, whilst bringing hope to the community. It also enlightens and educates business participants about Aboriginal culture, the challenges of remote community living, the history of Australia and the impact of alcohol and welfare dependency.
Queensland Health (Northern Area Health Service) and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Directorate
The Northern Area Health Service (NAHS) Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health Directorate has been established to work in partnership with Queensland Health and external groups to address the priority health and wellbeing challenges faced by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in Northern Queensland.
This partnership ensures that appropriate and effective measures are implemented to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health by working collaboratively with key partners. Formal agreements are developed with groups such as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Control Sector of Wuchopperen Aboriginal Medical Services Cairns, Gurriny Yealamucka Aboriginal Health Service Yarrabah, Mamu Aboriginal Medical Service Innisfail and Ravenshoe, Mulungu Aboriginal Medical Service Mareeba, Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service and Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Mount Isa Aboriginal and Islander Health Service and Mackay Aboriginal and Islander Health Service.