NAIDOC Week: Our support for Indigenous Entrepreneurs

It’s NAIDOC Week, offering us all a chance to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and recognise the significant contributions of Indigenous Australians.

Earlier this year, the RISE initiative was launched by Yarnteen, a program supported by Microsoft and Social Ventures Australia. This project aims to increase the skill capacity of Aboriginal entrepreneurs through practical and tailor-made IT business training, mentoring and support.

One such entrepreneur is Lee Townsend, an Aboriginal woman born and raised in Blacktown, NSW. After a successful career with the Commonwealth Employment Services and as a Primary School Teacher, Lee pursued a vision: giving children – and adults – the real chance to have a voice and be heard.

Lee’s The Yarning Circle® education and communication program is the realisation of that vision. The Yarning Circle is a place where stories and knowledge can be shared in a caring environment that’s culturally appropriate, relaxed and comfortable.

The Microsoft training delivered by Yarnteen has helped Lee gain practical IT skills to help her do business better:
 
“IT usage has become greater as the business has grown, with the wonders of technology I am able to work from home and enjoy having the business world at my finger tips.” Said Lee, “I am currently in the marketing stage of my business and need to underpin my business with strong IT information.”

In five years’ time Lee hopes she will be doing business both nationally and internationally. With further development of her operational and marketing resources, Lee will be positioned best to promote The Yarning Circle to clients everywhere.

For more information on The Yarning Circle, please visit Lee’s site.

For more information about Yarnteen’s RISE training program, please visit the site.

Microsoft Australia supports Indigenous communities in a number of ways, including through our partnership with Yarnteen. For more information about our support for Australian communities, please visit our site.

Paul Clark

Manager Citizenship & Community Affairs