The Western Australian government has launched a specialist support program to grow new and existing Aboriginal-led bushfood businesses in the state.
Promoted as the first of its kind, the Aboriginal Bushfood Business Base is now operating from the Food Innovation Precinct Western Australia (FIPWA) at Nambeelup in the Peel region.
The state government has co-invested with the federal government to establish the Aboriginal Bushfood Business Support Program, through the Future Drought Fund for Farm Business Resilience.
The Aboriginal Bushfood Business Base provides a ‘one-stop shop’ with space to conduct workshops, client meetings and events to showcase Aboriginal bushfood businesses to the wider food and beverage industry. It’s located adjacent to the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies Centre which allows access to expert advice and specialist equipment to develop and trial new bushfood product lines.
Western Australian Regional Development Minister Don Punch says he was delighted to tour the new site and see first-hand the potential of the unique initiative.
“This program addresses the demand for business support specific to Aboriginal businesses, which builds on their capacity to increase ownership in the bushfood industry,” he says.
Available services will include a combination of state-wide bushfood business workshops, individual client support, industry forums and connection events.
Training and capacity building workshops will be co-designed with business and industry expertise, supported by delivery partners Outback Academy Australia and the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is delivering targeted programs in partnership with Aboriginal organisations bringing international expertise as part of the program.