Aboriginal business owners are urged to get their registrations in to attend the next NSW Aboriginal Business Roundtable: Walking Together to Create Cultural Tourism Experiences on 9 October in Port Stephens on Worimi Country.
This is the eighth Aboriginal Business Roundtable and will be held at Murrook Cultural Centre in partnership with Destination NSW.
The event is the rescheduled roundtable that was postponed in July due to severe weather on the day. The free event is specifically designed for Aboriginal business owners and operators, or those with an interest in the industry.
The theme for this roundtable is Aboriginal cultural tourism and the visitor economy.
The NSW Government is committed to supporting and empowering Aboriginal businesses, which has a proven multiplier benefit in helping Aboriginal and broader communities to thrive.
NSW is unique in having a specific Closing the Gap priority reform – Reform 5 – that specifically focuses on Aboriginal economic prosperity, jobs and nurturing business. The roundtable will give business owners opportunities to collaborate, gain valuable insights from other Aboriginal tourism business operators, and discuss procurement with representatives from the public and private sectors.
October is ‘Indigenous Business Month’ and the event aligns well with this month’s theme: ‘strength through collaboration’.
Yuin-Ngarrug man Dwayne Bannon-Harrison, Chair of the NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council, will deliver the keynote address.
Participants will hear from the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris, who will share insights from the NSW Aboriginal Business Taskforce and NSW Roadmap for Aboriginal Business Growth, which are further NSW Government initiatives to highlight and support the Aboriginal business sector.
Phil Lockyer, Head of Indigenous Affairs, Tourism Australia, and Andrew Smith, CEO of Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and Sand Dune Adventures, will also take part in a panel discussion.
A recent report from Tourism Research Australia found that NSW was the state with the highest number of domestic overnight trips that incorporated a First Nations activity, with an average of 242,000 such trips per year.
The roundtable will focus on four key themes: creating new pathways, boosting Aboriginal cultural tourism in NSW, collaborating for a more attractive NSW, and empowering regional Aboriginal businesses.
The event will run from 10am to 3pm at Murrook Cultural Centre at Williamtown. Participants can attend in-person or online via livestream.
Registrations are open now at www.nsw.gov.au/aboriginal-business-roundtable.
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty David Harris said: “We know that tourists and locals in NSW have a strong desire to learn more about Aboriginal cultures and histories by engaging in experiences with Aboriginal businesses and service providers.
“The success of the Aboriginal business sector is a great thing for our state, it delivers prosperity and better outcomes for Aboriginal people, which helps Close the Gap.
“The Minns Labor Government recognises that economic empowerment and business development are critical to the socio-economic growth of Aboriginal communities and the state’s broader prosperity.
“I am looking forward to meeting with Aboriginal business owners and learning how the NSW Government can continue to support the growth and success of the sector.”
NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council Chair Dwayne Bannon-Harrison said: “The NSW Aboriginal Tourism Operators Council is proud to support the upcoming Aboriginal Business Roundtable: Walking Together to Create Cultural Tourism Experiences.
“For over 15 years, we’ve worked to empower Aboriginal communities across NSW to build strong pathways into tourism.
