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Indigenous communities are choosing to create microenterprises (small businesses) rather than rely on government intervention, academics and community leaders told yesterday's Indigenous Business, Corporations and Entrepreneurship Conference 2011 at The University of Western Australia.

Speaking at the inaugural annual conference hosted by The UWA Business School's Centre for Social Impact, representatives of Tjungu: Learning Country said the innovative project sought out the most important issues as identified by the Indigenous communities from South Australia's Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara lands, and then put in place community-led solutions.

Tjungu: Learning Country is a partnership between Anangu elders, the University of South Australia and UnitingCare Wesley.  It is creating a social enterprise hub and microfinance enterprise fund, supporting local enterprises such as a homelands hand-made soaps and body creams venture, a car parts recycling initiative, a community based second-hand clothing store and homeland cultural tourism enterprises.

Deirdre Tedmanson, Lecturer, University of South Australia, is working on Tjungu: Learning Country (APY Lands).  The feedback from Indigenous communities shows microenterprise is about more than making a profit, she said.

"They [Indigenous community members] talked about wanting to do microenterprise and the importance of people being able to do small things for themselves.  These small activities that people do are incredibly meaningful," said Tedmanson.

"What has been so important about entrepreneurship is people say, "I have a dream."  So there's quite a lot happening that has been inspiring."

Tedmanson recounted stories of university professors and students visiting Indigenous communities. "It was one of the most fabulous things I've ever been on," she said, describing to conference delegates the joy of watching academics change a tyre without an instruction manual, and live without mobile phones and internet access.

Tedmanson said the project aimed to avoid common post-colonial problems of "ripping off the agency from under people" through interventionist measures.

Other speakers at the conference session included Reverend Peter McDonald, Tjungu: Learning Country (APY Lands), The Australian Centre for Social Innovation; and Christian-Paul Stenta, Lead Venture Support, Tjungu:  Learning Country (APY Lands), The Australian Centre for Social Innovation.

The Centre for Social Impact (UWA) is a joint venture between The University of Western Australia's Business School and the national Centre for Social Impact .

Media references

Sonia Nolan , Community Engagement and  (+61 8)  6488 8562  /  (+61 4) 01 034 103
Corporate Affairs Manager, Centre for Social Impact
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783