Boosting First Nations entrepreneurs

Organisation:

White Box Enterprises

Amount:

$300,000

Project:

Strengthening Futures through social enterprise

Year of grant:

2022-2024

Co-funders

Private anonymous co-funder $400,000 (over two years)

The John Villiers Trust is providing funding to boost Indigenous enterprises and bring new income sources into country communities.

To support indigenous enterprises and entrepreneurs to build social businesses and bring new income sources and jobs into the community, The John Villiers Trust (JVT) is partnering with White Box Enterprises (WBE), an organisation dedicated to helping create jobs for overlooked Australians through social enterprise.

Lea-Anne Bradley, JVT CEO, said the potential for indigenous enterprises to provide meaningful jobs was huge. 

“White Box Enterprises expect their support for Indigenous enterprises will assist the creation of meaningful jobs for Indigenous Australians in North Queensland and assist in countering the urban drift that saps the vitality of country communities,” Ms Bradley said.

“This project is forecast to create new jobs, potentially across eco-tourism, agriculture, environmental services, citizen science, food and beverage, and data analytics.

“We are really pleased to be supporting Indigenous job creation in North Queensland through White Box Enterprises”.

JVT’s grant has multiple and deep impacts as it:

  • Supports employment in rural and regional communities
  • Promotes diverse economic opportunities and income, and
  • Responds to a lack of capability building and capacity support for First Nations enterprises and entrepreneurs.

WBE has the potential to make a significant difference to the region due to their expertise in this area.


Creating jobs where they’re needed most – August 2023

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and former refugees are getting training and job opportunities thanks to an initiative focused on creating jobs for communities with high unemployment. 

WBE works with social enterprises, government, investors and philanthropists to build, support and advocate for large-scale jobs-focused social enterprises, so that every individual can access meaningful and inclusive employment.

They have collaborated with Ventia – who provide essential services like infrastructure – on the Civik initiative in Cairns, in a great example of what can be achieved when you align business with a clear social purpose. 

Social enterprises have a great opportunity to help alleviate social and economic challenges in communities. Civik, a new people-centered social enterprise incubated by White Box Enterprises, aims to create 250 jobs for people who face barriers to employment, while also addressing labour shortages.

The organisation will train and employ individuals in regional Australia, giving them the skills and confidence to pursue careers in construction, engineering and telecommunications. The first crew are already working on NBN Co’s fibre upgrade program.

Read more


First Nations Business Coordinator role – 2022

JVT’s support helped co-fund a First Nations Business Coordinator at White Box Enterprises. 

Darryl French-Majid, was appointed to the role, and brought experience in digital marketing and early stage business planning and development. Darryl’s primary responsibility was to lead engagement with White Box’s growing portfolio of First Nations business partners. 

While Darryl moved on from the role during the period of the grant, JVT is pleased that he continues to provide capacity building support to First Nations enterprises through his own organisation which specialises in these services. 

WBE has adapted its approach to First Nations support by partnering with Gulf Regional Economic Aboriginal Trust (GREAT) – one of Australia’s largest Aboriginal based social enterprises. This collaboration allows WBE to bring wrap-around support, capability and connections to GREAT while building a better understanding of the issues faced by First Nations enterprises, to support work in the future. 


Read more about JVT and White Box Enterprises

About White Box Enterprises

White Box works with social enterprises, government, investors and philanthropists to build, replicate and support large-scale social enterprises, employing overlooked and underserved people. By 2030, their goal is to enable 5,000 jobs through social enterprises.

Click here to learn more.