Business bulletin: 1 February 2024

The Northern Territory Government is undertaking a review of its Aboriginal procurement policy and Territorians are invited to have their say to help inform the delivery and direction of the policy for the next 3 years.

The Aboriginal procurement policy came into effect on 1 July 2022 as a targeted approach to increase opportunities for Aboriginal business enterprises to participate in government procurement activities.

The Aboriginal procurement policy applies to all Northern Territory Government contracts with an estimated value of $15,000 or greater.

Building the capability and capacity of Aboriginal businesses and increasing the economic participation of Aboriginal people is critical to unlocking the full social and economic potential of the Northern Territory.

CEO NT Indigenous Business Network, Jerome Cubillo said “NTIBN welcomes the review of the Aboriginal procurement policy.

“Setting ambitious procurement targets based on population figures is the key. This bold step will unlock economic opportunities and ensure shared prosperity for all Territorians.”

“A thriving Aboriginal business sector is not just about wealth creation; it's about building stronger communities and closing the socio-economic divide.”

The Have Your Say page will include surveys and a discussion paper which will seek feedback from all Territory businesses on how the policy has been received to date and provide an opportunity to suggest improvements

There will also be opportunities for stakeholders to participate in roundtable discussions and share their stories both face-to-face and online.

The consultation period will run until Sunday 3 March 2023.

For more information and to have your say on Aboriginal procurement policy, go to the Have Your Say website.

If you’re a school leaver, looking for work, or wanting to upskill and change your career you may be eligible to study for free in 2024.

Fee-Free TAFE prioritises training for students who may face barriers accessing VET courses including First Nations Australians, unpaid carers, women facing economic insecurity, people with a disability, young people and people who are out of work and maybe receiving income support payments.

There are over 80 courses now available at Charles Darwin University and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education for in demand industries including health, child and aged care, technology, hospitality, construction and agriculture.

Through Fee-Free TAFE, you can study a nationally accredited diploma, certificate or short course. These courses can prepare you for work in fast growing industries needing skilled workers.

Fee-Free TAFE is a jointly funded initiative of the Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government and was first launched in 2023 and has been rolled out in each state and territory to tackle a national skills shortage.

To find out more, go to the Northern Territory Government website.

Caption: Andrew Hyde from Exposure Productions, one of 4 Screen Territory grant recipients.

Four local screen practitioners have received support under the Screen Territory Funding Program to develop Territory stories for television, screen and digital productions.

The Screen Territory Funding Program 2023-24 Story Development program provides up to $35,000 to screen practitioners in the Territory.

The program is designed to foster development and production of distinctive Territory stories and enhance the creative and professional skills of Territory screen practitioners.

Round 1 recipients include Exposure Productions for their documentary project Tracy which commemorates the 50^th anniversary of Cyclone Tracy.

Producer, Andrew Hyde said “The Tracy documentary will explore the origins of the disaster, the impact and rebirth of the city and how 50 years on, modern Darwin lives with the prospect of a return to disaster each wet season.”

“Tracy will share stories of strength and resilience and we’re grateful to Screen Territory for the ongoing support in sharing local stories.”

Other grant recipients include:

• Sean Guy to develop family friendly feature film “Darwin Superhero”. When Australia’s least powerful superhero is killed in a traumatic fruit-related incident, his young bureaucratic handler must stop Darwin’s first ever supervillain alongside the new hero-in-training.
• Steph Lady brings pro wrestling to the Territory with the development of “The Brass Ring” a contemporary road-trip comedy set in the cosplayer, melodramatic circus of Australian indie professional wrestling circuit.
• Tamara Whyte will develop “The Isaac Lindsay Prison Half Hour” as affable prisoner Isaac Lindsay is looking towards his release date and his dream to make a TV series, will getting YouTube famous blow his chances of prison parole.

For more information including the 2023-24 Screen Territory Funding Program, go to the Screen Territory website.

Registrations are now open for the Territory Government’s flagship exploration event, the Annual Geoscience Exploration Seminar (AGES).

Hosted by the Northern Territory Geological Survey (NTGS), the event highlights the latest geological and exploration findings on the Territory’s resource potential.

Resource exploration companies, geologists, service suppliers and others with an interest in mineral and energy exploration and development in the Territory are encouraged to sign up for this year’s event, held at the Alice Springs Convention Centre.

AGES is held in conjunction with the Alice Springs Mining Services Expo, which provides an opportunity for Territory businesses to showcase their products, services and local capabilities to support exploration and mining ventures.

To find out more or, to attend the AGES and Mining Services Expo, go to the Resourcing the Territory website.

Tourism NT is offering support for Aboriginal tourism businesses to attend the inaugural Talking Tourism Business Forum and the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards in Darwin.

The Talking Tourism Business Forum, hosted by the Australian Tourism Industry Council brings together tourism businesses for peer-to-peer learning and development to engage and inspire. The event also provides unparalleled opportunities to network across with peers from across the Territory and interstate.

Later that evening, more than 200 entrants from across the country will gather in Darwin for the 2023 Qantas Australian Tourism Awards. The awards are the national standard of excellence for the tourism industry.

The opportunity demonstrates the continued commitment and importance of supporting the development of the Northern Territory’s (NT) rich and diverse Aboriginal tourism offerings and building stronger visitor experiences that encourage visitors to travel to the NT and stay longer.

The Talking Tourism Business Forum will be held on 15 March 2024.

Aboriginal tourism businesses can apply for Tourism NT support to attend by submitting an EOI on the Tourism NT website.

Applications close on 23 February 2024 or sooner if allocated budget is exhausted. Successful applicants will be notified by 1 March 2024.