DPIRD's Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) program of work has been designed around the objectives of growing Aboriginal business, increasing Aboriginal employment, and facilitating opportunities for wealth creation and economic empowerment. Each area of work is aimed at unlocking and activating opportunities within WA's primary industries and regions that will lead to lasting improvements to Aboriginal outcomes.
The program is delivered through projects and a range of pre-designed tailored initiatives that are built on relationships and delivered in partnership. Each is a unique combination of supports, focused on capacity building. Supports are tailored to Aboriginal aspirations, their traditions and culture, and the support needed to grow Aboriginal businesses, careers and wealth that is sustainable.
Growing Aboriginal business
AED projects can help Aboriginal people establish new businesses, and enable existing Aboriginal entities to expand, diversify, win procurement contracts, increase profitability, and attract commercial investment.
WA currently has the second lowest level of Aboriginal business ownership in Australia (2021 Census). The AED program recognises that a flourishing Aboriginal business sector is an unrealised source of economic growth for WA's broader economy. Analysis shows that for every additional percentage of increased Aboriginal participation, $300 million is added to the State economy.
At the core of every project is capacity building supports that are focused on the strong governance, leadership, planning and financial management skills needed to create stable and sustainable entities. The program supports a range of business related entities, including both small and large scale regional businesses, large-scale primary industry enterprises, Aboriginal corporations, and Aboriginal owned and operated service providers.
What we do
- Work directly with Aboriginal pastoral, farming and fisheries enterprises to improve management and profitability, which may require engagement of professional services and the negotiation of partnerships.
- Facilitate and coordinate delivery of business development support services, such as mentoring, coaching, training and grants.
- Engage service providers to build the capacity of Aboriginal people and businesses to win Government tenders, and access the Local Content Initiative (buy close to home).
- Unlock and activate opportunites in emerging land and sea-based primary industries that are suited to Aboriginal knowledge and expertise and their desire to work on-Country.
- Provide 'Setting up for Success' guides and fact sheets to support Aboriginal involvement in emerging primary industries through new businesses, and the expansion and diversification of existing businesses. The focus is on industries such as carbon, sandalwood, bushfoods, regenerative agriculture, commercial fishing, and native seeds.
Increasing Aboriginal employment
DPIRD’s AED program activates workforce opportunities for Aboriginal people, with a focus on land and sea-based primary industries that match the aspirations of Aboriginal people.
The program works in partnership with industry to develop targeted training to employment initiatives for Aboriginal people. Training provides Aboriginal people with confidence and motivation to participate in further training and employment, and aspire to primary industry careers and businesses.
In some WA regions almost half of the working age population is Aboriginal. However, Aboriginal people are heavily under-represented in the workforce. With the right skills Aboriginal people can fill acute labour shortages in industries such as agriculture, horticulture and pastoralism. The Aboriginal youth population in WA’s regions have higher levels of education and digital literacy than previous generations, making them education ready for further training.
AED training and employment initiatives are integral to DPIRD’s key role in meeting National Agreement on Closing the Gap Target 8, which relates to creating strong economic participation through increased employment. The target is to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 25-64 who are employed from 45% to 62% by 2031.
What we do
- Facilitate training that can provide Aboriginal people with practical and foundational skills and become ‘job ready'.
- Work in partnership to develop targeted training to employment initiatives in response to current and emerging workforce opportunites.
- Establish partnerships that can help establish training facilities, deliver services, provide extra funding, and create linkages with other programs.
- Leverage partnerships to support long-term initiatives, such as ongoing mentoring to support career development, and the expansion of successful projects.
Unlocking land and sea potential
A key focus of DPIRD’s AED program is to unlock and activate the economic opportunities of land and sea, and build the capacity of Aboriginal people to participate.
A priority for the program is identifying emerging opportunities for Aboriginal businesses in WA's land and sea-based primary industries, with a focus on those suited to Aboriginal aspirations, culture and knowledge. The Unit also supports Aboriginal entities to improve the management and profitability of their pastoral and farming lands, and fisheries.
Support for pastoral enterprises is aimed at attracting commercial investment, and providing a platform for the growth of WA’s Aboriginal pastoral estate. The potential of primary industries is further supported through partnered training initiatives for Aboriginal people, aimed at creating career pathways and growing a regional workforce.
Another priority for DPIRD is supporting the owners and of Aboriginal land and sea rights and assets to maximise the economic potential of Native Title agreements and Aboriginal Lands Trust divestments. Land and sea offer a significant opportunity for Aboriginal people to create wealth and economic empowerment:
- 85% of WA is either determined or subject to a Native Title claim.
- 8.7% of WA falls under the Aboriginal Lands Trust estate which is in the process of being returned to Aboriginal people
- Aboriginal pastoral properties account for 31% of WA’s entire pastoral estate.
What we do
- Tailored case management for Aboriginal pastoral, farming and fisheries enterprises that request support.
- Work with Aboriginal pastoral corporation boards and property managers to identify needs and arrange for supports such as coaching, professional services and grant funding.
- Facilitate and coordinate training programs tailored to primary industry employment opportunities.
- Create new market entry points within emerging land and sea-based primary industries.
- Develop resources to increase Aboriginal participation in emerging industries. Setting up for Success guides and fact sheets provide advice on how to establish a business, or expand and diversify.
- Work with Aboriginal people to map, plan and activate the economic opportunities of Native Title and divestments.
Optimising the Aboriginal pastoral estate
DPIRD’s AED Program provides case management services for Aboriginal pastoral enterprises that have requested support.
AED Unit officers work directly with Aboriginal pastoral corporation boards and property managers to provide support that is tailored to specific development needs. The goal is to support enterprises to increase profitability through the adoption of best practice management and innovation, attract commercial investment into infrastructure, and decrease animal welfare risks.
Aboriginal pastoral support provides a platform for the growth of WA’s Aboriginal pastoral estate. Aboriginal owned pastoral leases in WA’s Kimberley and Pilbara regions represent around 31% of WA’s entire pastoral estate, and 15% of WA's pastoral industry workforce identify as Aboriginal. The northern pastoral industry represents 47% of WA’s beef herd, which provides an opportunity for Aboriginal pastoral enterprises to make a significant contribution to WA’s regional economies.
DPIRD’s pastoral case management support is funded through its Aboriginal Pastoral Program (APP), which is comprised of four sub-programs – all working in tandem to improve WA’s Aboriginal pastoral estate.
What we do
- Facilitate and coordinate coaching, funding and professional services to build capacity in business governance and leadership, and pastoral property planning and management.
- Assist enterprises to transition to new business models such as agistment, subleases and grazing licences.
- Support development of partnerships that can provide commercial investment or deliver pastoral training and employment programs.
- Develop resources such as Setting up for Success guides to assist with the adoption of new business models.
- Link pastoral enterprises in need of workforce with new or existing training initiatives.
Native Title
The negotiation of Whole-of-Government Native Title agreements in WA are led by the Department of Premier and Cabinet. DPIRD’s AED Unit represents DPIRD in these negotiations.
Native Title represents a significant opportunity for Aboriginal people to create wealth and economic empowerment. 85% of WA is either determined or subject to a Native Title claim.
What we do
- DPIRD works with WA's Prescribed Bodies Corporate (Native Title representative bodies) throughout negotiations to support their economic aspirations.
- Once agreements are finalised, the Unit continues to work with Native Title holders to activate economic opportunities on their land, providing support such as economic mapping, strategic planning and project development.
Divestment
The Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage is leading the divestment of land that is owned or managed by the Aboriginal Lands Trust (ALT) into the direct control of Aboriginal people and entities.
The ALT estate encompasses about 8.7% of WA’s land mass, accommodating an estimated 12,000 people. DPIRD’s AED Program works with communities across the State whose land has a primary industry focus to prepare for the formal handover of tenure.
What we do
- The AED Unit collaborates with Aboriginal landholders and Native Title holders and claimants to identify future opportunities for divestment and development that are aligned with everyone's needs and aspirations.
- The Unit also works closely with the Department of Planning, Land and Heritage, the ALT and other key agencies involved in the divestment process.