Start-up grant

Miss Emily Aboriginal Art commenced as a CDEP program approximately 5-6 years ago. After
approximately 3 years Barbara Egan, one of the CDEP participants became the sole
owner of the business. "Miss Emily Aboriginal Art" is registered in Barbara's name.
The business commenced with the manufacturing of hand dyed silk scarves. Framed silk
art work was also produced. This process was supported through training provided by
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE. Business Mentoring support was provided by Madec Jobs
Australia.

<b>1 Introduction</b><p>

<b>The Community</b>
Pandanus Park, ideally situated on the Fitzroy River and Great Northern Highway south of Derby, is establishing a grow-out farm for the production of the giant freshwater prawn or Cherabin for the local and domestic markets. The community has established a small training facility growing Cherabin and barramundi with members undertaking level 2 and 3 aquaculture training. Feasibility study, marketing and business planning has been undertaken, the site cleared, and licensing and approvals underway.<p>

<b>The Community</b>
Rumble Bay community, situated on the east coast of the Dampier Peninsula in an ideal location for aquaculture, is developing an edible oyster farming project. Currently there is no edible oyster aquaculture or fishing industry in the north west of Australia and oysters supplied to the region are transported from the eastern states or New Zealand, usually frozen and thawed. <p>

Bardi Ardyaloon has established a tropical aquaculture hatchery near the Bardi community at One Arm Point, on the Dampier Peninsula. The hatchery was established to produce the top-shell Trochus niloticus which is an established Indigenous fishery in the community for the sale of the Mother-of-Pearl quality shell. As trochus stocks were indicated to be in decline the hatchery produces juvenile trochus for restocking purposes to support the commercial fishery and for sale to the aquarium industry in the eastern states.<p>

MSH Pty Ltd t/as Manbana, the wholly owned subsidiary of Kimberley Aquaculture Aboriginal Corporation (KAAC), and KAAC have secured funds to establish the sustainable marine aquarium fish enterprise over a 3 year period. Grant funds were received from Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) for the establishment of capital infrastructure and a mix of grant and primarily loan funds from IBA for operating, with Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) grant funds also contributing to operating costs.<p>

Mirrijini was developed from the successful "pharmacy upgrade project" of the Tiwi Health Board on the Tiwi Islands 80 Kms North West of Darwin. Its features include a software program for dispensing and inventory control; the Websterpak system for long term chronic disease management; the supply of PBS using Section 100 of the National Health Act; and an advisory service from a resident or visiting pharmacist.

CDEP and Adult Education programs that operate within the region have developed a pool of skilled metal workers that have no jobs at present. An opportunity exists in an open market to develop appropriate occasional and essential furniture for residents of the region in a micro or medium sized business. The region is due to undertake major household upgrades and this represents a fabulous opportunity to create quality base furniture specifically designed for the conditions and what the customers want at an affordable cost.

Bungoolee Tours is an Aboriginal owned and operated business based in Fitzroy Crossing. The business, run by prominent Fitzroy Crossing man Dillon Andrews, offers one day tours to Windajana Gorge and Tunnel Creek.<p>

Windjana Gorge and Tunnel Creek are two of the Kimberly regions major icons. Cut into the 350 million year old limestone of the Devonion reef system, these landscape features provide spectacular contrast to the surrounding plains. They are a high priority attraction for many visitors to the Kimberley.<p>

ATA is the national peak body for Indigenous tourism. It is a non government, non profit organisation and operates on a competitive project basis. The organization was established in response to a recommendation of the draft National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Tourism Industry Strategy (NATSITIS) which was developed in response to recommendations arising from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCADIC). <p>