Last month we were pleased to welcome Minderoo Foundation’s Joanne Camilleri to the Perth graduation dinner for participants in the Milparanga Established Leadership Program.
Minderoo Foundation is among several philanthropic foundations which generously support the ARLF’s work. Based in Western Australia, its diverse philanthropy spans the nation and beyond our shores.
The ARLF was fortunate to have Minderoo Foundation come onboard as a partner three years ago. With the support of Shelley Cable, Director of its Generation One Initiative, it has provided operational funding for the Milparanga Program. More recently, it has supported our Regenerate Regional Leadership Program in Nambucca and Snowy Valleys in NSW through its Fire & Flood Resilience Initiative.
The Generation One Initiative’s mission is to end the disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in our generation. Its work to achieve this includes the publication in 2022 of an Indigenous Employment Index, the first comprehensive snapshot of Indigenous workplace representation, practices, and employee experiences ever to be carried out in Australia.
As a newcomer to Minderoo Foundation, Joanne Camilleri was able to see firsthand the impact of her organisation’s support for Milparanga Program, when she met and talked with graduates from the most recent cohort. After hearing their stories, she was keen to spread the word about Minderoo Foundation’s 2023 Dream Venture Masterclasses, with $200,000 in seed funding available for aspiring First Nations founders.
Minderoo Foundation’s Dream Venture is a national pre-accelerator program for First Nations entrepreneurs to learn the skills, build the capacity and gain the access to capital needed to help their business stand out.
The Masterclasses will be delivered online and culminate in finalists travelling to Sydney for a gala event in October, where they will pitch for a share of $200,000 seed funding. The program has so far reached more than 200 First Nations entrepreneurs, with alumni raising more than $4 million in further capital investment to date.
The program will be delivered in two streams:
1) a youth program for entrepreneurs (18-30-years-old) will support up to 20 Dream Venture participants to build their business and tap into global networks; and
2) an all ages program to support 20 First Nations entrepreneurs of any age to prepare their enterprise for growth, and to connect with mentors, investors and peers to bring their entrepreneurial dreams to life.
If you or someone you know is a First Nations founder wanting to take the next step in their business journey, gain access to capital, and learn from and connect with some of the brightest entrepreneurs and investors in the country, apply now.
For more information and to apply visit www.dreamventure.com.au
