INDIGENOUS WOMEN
IN STEM AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
We are working alongside our not-for-profit sister company and social enterprise EM-power Foundation to increase opportunities for First Nations girls and women in the native agriculture + food sector.
Indigenous Girls and Women in STEM and Entrepreneurship
We deliver services, programs, training and capability-building tools that create opportunities for First Nations people to secure economic, health, cultural and social benefits via increased participation in Australia’s agriculture and food industry.
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This project aims to empower Indigenous girls and women with the confidence, knowledge and entrepreneurial skills they need to successfully launch new ventures and/or develop career pathways across the native agriculture + food value chain.
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We would like to acknowledge that this program is part of the Indigenous Girls & Women STEM and Entrepreneurship Round 4 grant funding from the Australian Government.
Our why
The Indigenous entrepreneur and STEM pathways project aims to increase the participation of First Nations women in the native agri-food industry and impact on lasting, systemic change.
Why? we are faced with a challenge: ​
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0.2% of Australian businesses are operated by Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women, while First Nations representation across the native agri-food industry is less than 2%
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​Indigenous women face multiple barriers to participation as a result of their gender, cultural background, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status
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This reduces their opportunities to secure economic, health, cultural and social benefits for themselves and their communities
Our vision
If we
significantly increase the participation of Indigenous women in the native agri-food sector
By
equipping Indigenous girls and women with the confidence, knowledge and entrepreneurial skills needed to launch new ventures and/or participate in STEM-based careers
Over time
Indigenous women will be empowered to lead in the growth of the native agri-food sector
Which will
create a more sustainable native agri-food sector and have a positive impact on the lives of Indigenous women and communities
Who we work with
First Nations girls in school
First Nations women in the community (post-secondary)
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Native agri-food ventures run by First Nations women
Regional native agri-food community partners across Australia
Create processes with a measurable impact to promote lasting, systemic change
Pathway model
Our Pathways
Career Stimulus
The career stimulus stream is targeted at Indigenous women in the community who have not yet settled on their career and women at TAFE or university from across a wide range of technical, agricultural, and business disciplines.
Participants are provided with multiple opportunities to learn more about the variety of career opportunities either as future entrepreneurs or in STEM based careers including in the food industry and the application of new technology to the native agrifood sector.
Initiatives include training and skills development, work placements, university technology challenges, and connections with Indigenous role models.
Awareness and inspiration
The awareness and inspiration stream targets Indigenous girls from year 9 to their transition to the workforce or further study. It aims to raise Indigenous girls' awareness of career opportunities in native agri-food and inspire them to want to learn more.
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Participants engage with Traditional Knowledge under the guidance of Elders and through practical experiences in native plant gardens, cooking with native ingredients, field visits and meetings with Indigenous entrepreneurs.
Entrepreneurship Pathway Program
The entrepreneurial pathway stream is focused on building the skills required for aspiring entrepreneurs or existing founders to build their ideas into viable businesses and to grow and scale their existing ventures into new markets and new channels.
Participants with existing businesses are invited to participate in accelerator programs where they receive coaching and mentoring to develop go-to-market strategies, scale their value chain, secure investment and develop broad networks.
Aspiring entrepreneurs are engaged in bespoke programs that build a growth mindset and introduce them to the fundamentals of starting a new business.
Food Futures Company is committed to working in partnership with the Traditional Owners of the land on which we live, learn and work.
We acknowledge their continuing cultural, social, environmental and economic connection to land, sea and community, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.