GABC Newsletter | 20 August 2025

Today’s

Top Stories

Today’s top news stories and interesting reads of the week.

Storytelling By The Fire

Our recent Storytelling Evening was a huge success, filled with wisdom, encouragement, and connection. Guests were inspired by our speaker, a successful Aboriginal business owner, who shared how persistence and resilience helped them grow from a small business into a thriving company. Their journey reminded us that while there may be failures along the way, every closed door can open new opportunities  and with determination, success is within reach.

The evening was made even more special with a hearty serving of kangaroo stew and the presence of two representatives from the ABC, who joined us to capture the spirit of the night.

A heartfelt thank you to Terry and Ryan from Triodia for generously hosting the event in their Kalgoorlie yard, your support and hospitality made the night possible and truly memorable.

This is just the beginning of many more Storytelling Evenings for GABC. If you missed out, don’t worry our next event promises to be just as inspiring, with more stories, more connection, and more opportunities to learn from those who have walked the path before us.

Information Session SEA Programme

The SEA program is designed to help micro businesses confidently launch, develop business plans, improve systems and marketing, and create action plans to achieve sales targets and sustainable growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to strengthen an existing business, SEA can provide the support you need.

The program offers:

• Introductory online business workshops for people new to business
• Advanced online training for those with prior business experience
• Casual advice sessions and business health checks for tailored support
• Ongoing, 12-month one-on-one Small Business Coaching to help business owners reach financial goals with practical promotional plans

The upcoming information session will cover the eligibility requirements, provide a detailed overview of the services available, and answer any questions about the program. It will also include details on the Self-Employment Allowance for Small Business Coaching, which applies to clients receiving certain government support payments such as jobseeker.

Event Details:
📍 Location: GABC Office, 97 Hannan Street, Kalgoorlie
📅 Date: 21 August 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
💰 Registrations: Free! https://gab.org.au/events
🌏 Who can attend: GABC encourages all Indigenous and non-Indigenous members of the community to attend.

GABC Awards Night

The Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber (GABC) proudly presents its inaugural Awards Evening & Sundowner. A celebration of Indigenous business excellence in the Goldfields. Coinciding with Indigenous Business Month, this event honours Aboriginal entrepreneurs and enterprises that are forging new paths, creating
opportunities, and strengthening our region through innovation, leadership, and cultural pride.

Guests will enjoy an evening of awards, recognition, cultural connection, and community networking, with light refreshments and a welcoming atmosphere that reflects the heart of our people and purpose. Nominations close 8 September 2025

Grants Now Open – Supporting Respect for Older Aboriginal People

We’re pleased to let you know that applications are now open for the Reducing Ageism Grants Program, a one-off initiative proudly administered by the Council of Aboriginal Services WA (CASWA) on behalf of the Department of Communities.

The program aims to address ageism by promoting respectful relationships with older Aboriginal people and highlighting our cultural strengths and knowledge systems.

Two funding streams are available, with grants of up to $10,000 each:

• Stream 1: Develop culturally grounded resources that promote respectful relationships towards older Aboriginal people and Elders.
• Stream 2: Organise intergenerational cultural events on Country to support the passing down of Lore and strengthen intergenerational ties.

This is an opportunity for ACCOs and Aboriginal organisations across Western Australia to lead work that celebrates and uplifts our Elders as custodians of culture.

To view the Guidelines, access the Application and Acquittal form, please visit: Challenge Your Bias – reducing ageism in Western Australia. If you have any difficulties accessing the documents, please email ctg@ahcwa.org.

Applications close 5:00pm, Monday 15 September 2025.

Please refer to the program guidelines for full eligibility and application details.

If you have any questions, please reach out to: ctg@ahcwa.org

Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia (CASWA)

450 Beaufort Street, Highgate, Western Australia, 6003

Website: https://www.caswa.org.au/

Local Capability Fund: Key rounds and dates

Department of Energy and Economic Diversification Local Capability Fund Goldfields-Esperance – Regional Business Round 2025-26 is open. This round provides up to $20,000 in funding and is only open to Goldfields-Esperance businesses. Funding can be used for the following:

•    Consultancy services

•    Training

•    Upgrading or buying capital equipment

•    Improvements to internal business infrastructure/systems

•    Upgrades of facilities/premises

LCF State-wide Rounds 2025-26 are also open:

• Aboriginal Business Round – up to $50,000
• Supplying Key Projects Round – up to $50,000
• Standards Compliance Round – up to $20,000
• Digital Transformation Round – up to $50,000

For more information and to apply, click WA.gov.au | Local Capability Fund key rounds and dates (www.wa.gov.au).  See attached for some grant writing tips. Don’t leave it too late to get quotes etc. Rounds close 4 Sep 25

LCF round names:

Aboriginal Business Round – with Clean Energy Incentive 4 September 2025 Learn more Guidelines

Digital Transformation Round 4 September 2025 Learn more Guidelines

Standards Compliance Round 4 September 2025 or when funding is exhausted Learn more Guidelines

Supplying Key Projects Round 4 September 2025 Learn more Guidelines

Regional Supplier Round 4 September 2025 Learn more Guidelines

Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country Program

The Australian Government has committed $12 million to an inaugural grant program under the Future Drought Fund that supports place-based, First Nations-led initiatives.

The Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country program will deliver this investment through community-driven projects that build resilience to dry times and climate impacts.

Applications open

Applications are now open for the Future Drought Fund Strengthening Drought Resilience on Country Program.

It’s a Program by Mob, for Mob.

• Grant round opening date: 12 August 2025
• Grant round closing date and time: 9:00PM AEDT on 16 December 2025
• Program timeline: from 2025-26 to 2027-28
• Funding available: $12 million (excluding GST)

Up to six First Nations businesses or organisations will be selected as Delivery Partners. They will:

• manage the project
• work with Mob to design local projects that help Mob prepare for dry times and the changing climate
• support Mob to run activities that strengthen their connection to Country.

Delivery Partners won’t deliver the activities themselves. Instead, they will help Mob carry them out.

Each Delivery Partner can apply for:

• Up to $1 million per region to manage the project
• Up to $1 million per region for Mob to rollout the activities.

The Program supports Closing the Gap – Building the Community-Controlled Sector.

To apply for this program and to access the Grant Opportunity Guidelines and other program information including a questions and answers document, please register at Community Grants Hub Homepage

Challenge Your Bias – reducing ageism in Western Australia

As an action of the State Seniors Strategy, the Department of Communities is raising awareness of ageism (or age discrimination) to support the health and wellbeing of older Western Australians.

What is ageism?

Ageism refers to how we think (stereotypes), how we feel (prejudice), and how we act (discrimination) towards people based on their age.

Ageism can be present in different ways:

• Institutionalised ageism. Refers to the laws, policies, and culture of organisations and government that restrict opportunities and disadvantage people based on age.
• Interpersonal ageism. This is generally what people think of when they think ageism. It is ageism directed at other people, for example, ‘that person is too old to dress/act/do things that way’ or age based insults due to stereotypes of older people.
• Self-directed ageism. Where ageism is internalised and directed at oneself. Think of all the times you may have said to yourself ‘I’m too old to take up a new hobby/job/study’.

Age discrimination, in particular self-directed ageism, can have detrimental impacts on a person’s overall health. It can also be associated with poor mental and physical health, social isolation and loneliness, financial insecurity, reduced quality of life and premature death.

As an action of the State Seniors Strategy, the Department of Communities is raising awareness of ageism (or age discrimination) to support the health and wellbeing of older Western Australians.

Over 2,600 people across Western Australia provided their views on how they can live well by participating in face-to-face and online consultation sessions, phone interviews, and online and hardcopy surveys. Feedback showed that older people experienced ageism when accessing services, joining groups and activities, going to the shops, and other day to day interactions. They did not feel valued or respected, experienced rude behaviour or felt excluded because of their age.

What is the State Government doing to reduce ageism?

The Department of Communities is working with Seven West Media to develop a campaign that raises awareness about ageism, including self-directed ageism, positive ageing, and promoting age-positive language and attitudes. Campaign messages will be shown from 7 October 2024 across television, radio and newspapers, and online.

Embracing age diversity: A guide to inclusive language and images

This language and imagery guide, based on similar guidelines, was developed to raise awareness about ageism and how strength-based language and behaviours can reduce the occurrence of ageism.

WA STOLEN GENERATIONS REDRESS SCHEME

On 27 May 2025 the WA Government announced a redress scheme for Stolen Generations survivors in WA (the WA Stolen Generations Redress Scheme).
The Department of Premier and Cabinet (the Department) is the lead Government agency coordinating the implementation of the Scheme. The Department is working with WA’s two peak Stolen Generations organisations, Yokai – Healing Our Spirit and Kimberley Stolen Generations Aboriginal Corporation, to ensure the Scheme is informed by strong Aboriginal voices with lived experience of the Stolen Generations.

The Department has prepared this information pack to help community organisations and government agencies respond to queries from members of the public, and direct people to the Department when needed. More detailed information will be distributed when the Scheme opens later in 2025.

Contact Details For The Implementation Team

For more information, please contact the Implementation Team:
📞 Phone: 08 6552 5050 (business hours)
📧 Email: WASG@dpc.wa.gov.au

Further updates will be added to the WA.gov Stolen Generations Redress Scheme homepage as they become available:
www.wa.gov.au/organisation/department-of-the-premier-and-cabinet/stolen-generations-redress-scheme

Aboriginal Talent Academy

The Aboriginal Talent Academy is designed to support and develop young Aboriginal cricketers (aged under 24), both male and female, who are committed to improving their skills and taking their game to the next level. Each year, WA Cricket selects 12–14 participants to join a Specialist Training Program led by High Performance coaches and ATA Head Coach, Zoe Goss, with the assistance of Alex Stewart as Assistant Coach. The program focuses on enhancing skill development, game awareness, tactical knowledge, and physical conditioning.

The Aboriginal State Representative Cricket Team is a key part of WA Cricket’s commitment to showcasing Aboriginal talent and creating meaningful pathways for players to compete at higher levels. This program provides selected players with the opportunity to represent Western Australia in national Aboriginal cricket competitions. Players can be selected for this team by trialling through the program, which also serves as a progression into open-age Aboriginal cricket. Many participants have previously been selected from the Aboriginal Talent Academy, demonstrating the strength and success of this pathway.

As part of the Talent Academy program there will be selection process to receive the Hayward Scholarship, which provides financial support to assist with purchasing additional cricket equipment, accessing extra training sessions, and covering club registration fees. This will be selected after the Academy is finalised.

ATA Trials – Elite Cricket Training (Indoor Centre):

• Wednesday 10 September | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
  2x Bowling Machine Nets + 1x Run-Up Net
• Wednesday 17 September | 7:00pm – 9:00pm
  2x Bowling Machine Nets + 1x Run-Up Net

We understand that for regional players, attending these trials may be a big ask. If this applies to you, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. We’ve set up a process that allows you to still showcase your skills and be considered by our coaching staff. If selected, you’ll remain actively involved in the program. For some of the regional areas we have been to thank you for participating.

To register click on the link or through the QR Code

👉 https://forms.office.com/r/LDzxKRFRdp

Business of The Month – Triodia ✨🥇🏆

RAIL | MINING | CIVIL | MECHANICAL | ELECTRICAL | SCANNING

Triodia is committed to supporting community development in the areas in which we operate. This includes a successful trainee and apprenticeship program in the Great Victorian Desert and Goldfields regions, providing work experience opportunities for local Aboriginal communities. Triodia has proven experience in providing civil and rail infrastructure maintenance, project works, and construction services for the past 17 years. Every client and every project is unique, so to discuss a tailored solution for your next project, let’s talk.

We own and operate plant and equipment, ensuring reliability, availability and the highest standards of quality control.

And we employ strict maintenance plans with regular inspections recorded.

Even more, as a specialised Labour Hire provider, we supply a wide range of motivated employees suitable for Rail Construction, Civil Construction, Rail Maintenance, and Civil Maintenance, plus highly experienced Plant & Equipment Operators and Project Administrators.

General Enquiries:
E: admin@triodia.com.au
T: 1300 TRIODIA
(1300 8746 342)

POSITION AVAILABLE:

Stronger Business Program Coordinator

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Organisation: Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber

Location: Kalgoorlie

Type: Part-time, Permanent (with potential to grow into Full-time)

Salary: Above award wages – negotiable for the right candidate

The Aboriginal Business Chamber is seeking a dedicated and culturally aware individual to lead the delivery of our Stronger Business Program — A key initiative that supports Aboriginal business growth and economic development across the Goldfields-Esperance region. As the Stronger Business Program Coordinator, you will play a central role in strengthening Aboriginal business capacity and supporting culturally appropriate economic development.

📅 Applications close: Friday the 22nd August COB 5pm

📧 To apply send cover letter and resume with 2 current referees addressing your experience OR for a position description, contact:  email: Gm@gab.org.au 0488 386 391

Ignite Collaborative

Ignite Collaborative Sessions Continue in August

GABC will be holding another Ignite Collaborative Walk-in Session this September date TBA.

These informal sessions held at GABC office are designed to support Aboriginal business owners by providing a space to connect with GABC, government agencies, and other business support services. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, get advice on business growth, funding, tenders, and learn about training opportunities.

No registrations required, just come in.

Want to become a GABC Member? 

GABC membership offers a diverse range of services across the mining, industrial, commercial, and civil sectors, and with new members joining regularly, our capabilities continue to expand. We currently have approximately 101 business members, including 73 Aboriginal owned businesses, with 39 operating specifically in the Goldfields Esperance region. Plus, your membership could potentially be free for the first 12 months

Please e-mail enquiries@gab.org.au to receive the membership information and form.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY

The Goldfields Aboriginal Business Chamber (GABC) acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where we work, travel and live. We celebrate the diversity of all Aboriginal people and their ongoing culture and connection to country. We pay our respects to Elders, past, present and emerging and acknowledge those that are members of the chamber.