FIRST Nations Economics (FNE) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) have partnered to launch a new national Financial Foundations for Business Program to support First Nations women in building confidence in the business financial basics that underpin economic participation.
Delivered through eight place-based workshops across Australia, the pilot will support up to 80 First Nations women to strengthen their practical understanding of the foundational finance concepts needed to participate in business with greater confidence, clarity and choice.
“Understanding the business financial basics is one of the biggest confidence barriers for many women at the early stages of economic participation. This partnership creates trusted spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can strengthen practical knowledge, ask questions openly and build the confidence to move forward on their own terms,” said Associate Professor Rick Macourt, Managing Director (Foundation and Strategy), FNE.
The workshops are intentionally designed for First Nations women who are exploring enterprise ideas, taking early steps to start a business, participating in community-led economic opportunities, or simply want to build a stronger foundation in the financial basics before deciding what comes next.
Participants will strengthen practical capability in the core business financial foundations that often create uncertainty at the earliest stages of an enterprise. This includes building knowledge of business systems, particularly around ABNs, GST, and tax obligations, understanding cash flow, and how money moves through a business.
The workshops will also focus on separating personal and business finances, and introductory discussions around pricing, profitability, financial discipline, and navigating institutions and systems.
As part of FNE’s broader Nyami Balmuun (Strong Women) program and IBA’s Strong Women Strong Business initiative, this new Financial Foundations for Business Program strengthens the ecosystem supporting First Nations women through financial capability, entrepreneurship, mentoring and leadership pathways.
Workshops will be held across all states and territories, with the Victorian workshop taking place in Geelong on Wednesday, September 2. Registrations are now open to all eight workshops for women ready to take the next step with greater confidence and clarity. For more information, visit https://firstnationseconomics.com/financial-foundations/
