Social Enterprise
All businesses can be social enterprises when they contribute to their communities and provide opportunities for economic and social participation to everyone.
Social Enterprise
All businesses can be social enterprises when they contribute to their communities and provide opportunities for economic and social participation to everyone. And all communities need thriving, diverse local businesses to be sustainable.
Business Foundations works with local governments, community organisations and chambers of commerce to support the creation of new businesses, sustainable jobs in existing businesses that flex and grow with the needs of individuals and businesses, and equitable opportunities for local people.
Our Approach To Developing Businesses In Communities
We partner with local governments, community organisations and chambers of commerce to understand and address specific needs to encourage economic activity in a community.
This may include an analysis of the opportunities and barriers to sustainable business development in a community and working with that community to build its strategic plan to implement.
Our expertise lies in developing specific local strengths, supporting the development of cornerstone projects, increasing local businesses’ participation in supply chains and expanding people’s ideas of what is possible in business.
Addressing Structural Barriers In Communities
We work with Aboriginal Corporations, community organisations and social enterprises to identify their strengths and address any structural barriers that may hinder the access to business opportunities for all members of the community.
This can include a range of wrap-around services, such as equipping people with the knowledge and confidence to start their own business, as well as improving literacy, numeracy and digital skills, and creating structures that allow for more flexible work arrangements. In addition, we also identify other support services required to give people the chance to participate in their local economy.
Our Partners
How We Have Helped
Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation
Business Foundations started working with Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation in 2018 to explore how they could benefit more from the airport they owned on the Peninsula. This project ended in DAC owning and operating its own airport, predominantly providing hot refuelling services to helicopters transferring passengers out to the Browse Basin.
Business Foundations is now the Project Manager of Djarindjin Aboriginal Corporation’s Choosing Your Way program, as part of the Federal Government’s Foundation Skills For Remote Communities Pilot. This is a literacy, numeracy and digital skills program for adults, in which members of the community get one-to-one training to achieve their personal goal. So far, the participants have achieved excellent results, from obtaining aviation qualifications, to gaining a driving learner’s permit, and learning to read from scratch.
Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre
Business Foundations teamed up with the Metropolitan Migrant Resource Centre to provide people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds the support to start their own business. The program was linked to the New Business Assistance with NEIS program, and included extra training support to ensure they were equipped with the skills to follow their business dreams.
Judumul Aboriginal Corporation
Judumul Aboriginal Corporation engaged Business Foundations for support in developing a labour-hire business to support local members, many of whom have been excluded from employment in the long term, to find and transition into work. We have supported the labour-hire business to find work for their members that fits around cultural commitments, whilst also giving a greater number of people employment opportunities. Business Foundations has also supported them in writing grant applications to fund key resources that support economic development in the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am part of a local government economic development team, can you help with my project?
Business Foundations has been working with local government authorities across Western Australia for over 25 years to help them develop sustainable and diversified local economies. Whether it is helping local businesses to get started, developing industry cluster specialities or considering how to encourage people to visit and stay in their communities, we can help.
Can you support the development of rural and remote community organisations?
Business Foundations can help community organisations in rural and remote communities, as well as regional towns and the metropolitan areas, to develop management and governance skills, understand the market environment and business development opportunities for their organisations to generate economic growth and create partnerships with other organisations to address broader support issues that may be creating barriers to entry.
Can you help with feasibility studies for community-led economic projects?
Business Foundations can conduct feasibility studies along with economic and social impact assessments to help organisations decide whether a project will provide sustainable benefits for their community.
News & Updates
Acknowledgement Of Country
Business Foundations acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.
Victoria
The Commons
80 Market Street,
South Melbourne VIC 3205
admin@businessfoundations.com.au
Western Australia
Wesley Central
2 Cantonment Street,
Fremantle WA 6160
admin@businessfoundations.com.au
Get In Touch
Have a question or to find out how we can help you, please get in touch.
