Indigenous Business Month commences on 1 October 2024 with four weeks of events.
Indigenous Business Month celebrates and showcases the diversity and excellence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses across Australia.
The event was co-founded in 2015 by three First Nations women, Dr Michelle Evans, Leesa Watego and Mayrah Sonter.
Since then, the economic landscape has continued to evolve, with Indigenous business numbers growing by almost 75 per cent in that time.
In its 10th year, the event is celebrating a decade of demonstrating the impact of Indigenous businesses and calling on the Indigenous business sector to reflect on the theme 'Made Our Mark'.
The organisers said: "In 2024, we pause to consider our collective achievements and impact. This year it is time to mark out those stories, those business models, those ideas that reveal our way of doing business.
"This year we invite Indigenous business owners across the country to share how they make their mark – in and through their business and leadership."
Among the events during Indigenous Business Month are:
- Aboriginal procurement policy for Aboriginal suppliers (Rutherford) - 1 October 2024, 1-4pm. Register here.
- Aboriginal procurement policy for Aboriginal suppliers (Gosford) - 10 October 2024, 1-4pm. Register here.
- Aboriginal procurement policy for Aboriginal suppliers (Redfern) - 15 October 2024, 1-4pm. Register here.
- Networking and collaboration for Aboriginal businesses (online) - 17 October 2024, 2-3:30pm. Register here.
- Aboriginal procurement policy for Aboriginal suppliers (Parramatta) - 24 October 2024, 2-4pm. Register here.
- Aboriginal procurement policy for Aboriginal suppliers (Orange) - 29 October 2024, 2-4pm. Register here.
The winners of the Indigenous Business Month Awards will also be announced on 28 October 2024.
The Award categories seek to highlight Indigenous businesses making a mark, they are:
- I2I Award – Indigenous businesses buying from and/or supplying to fellow Indigenous businesses build an interconnected and strong Indigenous business sector by supporting each other.
- Indigenous Digital Inventiveness Award – Indigenous business connecting through digital enterprise and supporting cultural creativity, business nous and technology.
- Indigenous Ingenuity Award – Indigenous business using business models to confront challenging community issues.
- Regional Indigenous Business Award – Indigenous business contributing to regional economies in impactful ways.
Learn more about Indigeous Business Month here.