Yarpa NSW Indigenous Business & Employment Hub

NSW Aboriginal Land Council

Ngurra played a leading role in the design and implementation of Australia’s first Indigenous Business and Employment Hub, known as the Yarpa Hub, in partnership with the NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) and the Australian Government under the Indigenous Business Sector Strategy (IBSS). The Yarpa Hub is a one-stop-shop for Indigenous businesses, entrepreneurs and job seekers to build relationships and connect Indigenous people to business and employment opportunities.

Throughout this project, Ngurra has undertaken a range of capacity building initiatives targeting federal and state government agencies in order to build their knowledge of, and access to, the Indigenous business sector. These initiatives have included:

• Establishment of Indigenous business cross-agency working groups;

• Leadership forums connecting Indigenous businesses, infrastructure corporations and Government procurement leads;

• A targeted communications plan and campaign to build the Yarpa membership base and community profile; and

• Knowledge sharing via procurement legislation development and policy review sessions with the NSW Government.

A key mechanism in the success of these projects has been Ngurra’s ability to bridge cultural divides using holistic and transparent forums and communication methods that links all stakeholders.