Young Indigenous women of Canberra, your future mentor awaits!
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Oprah Winfrey once said that “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself”.
Now an ambitious new program aimed at young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women seeks to illuminate hope and a path forward for 100 would-be local entrepreneurs.
In celebrating International Women’s Day, a new program called Lighting the Spark is being launched with the support of Young Change Agents and the Canberra Indigenous Business Network.
The program aims to reach 100 Koori women in Canberra and surrounding region, aged between 14-24, to expose them to five successful Indigenous businesswomen mentors and to encourage planning for a future of self-determination and success.
The program is free.
Melissa Lacey is one of the mentors, a Wiradjuri woman, born and raised in Canberra. Granted an Indigenous Cadetship through the Ngunnawal Centre at the University of Canberra, Melissa has worked in the private and public sector for fifteen years before starting Point River Networks (PRN) with colleague Sally Cumper. PRN is an ICT Infrastructure and Recruitment company with an all-female leadership team.
Sarah Richards is a Ngiyampaa woman from Wongaibon country who has been living on Ngunnawal country since 2012. Sarah has worked in state and federal governments, the corporate sector, Supply Nation-certified and community organisations and now works full-time in her own business, Marrawuy Journeys.
“I am also one of few qualified First Nation accountants which has equipped me with experience across all facets of a business and I am keen to contribute my knowledge to minimise the overwhelm that can come from working on one’s business, not just in it.”
Mikayla Thomas a proud Wonnarua woman who was born, educated and now works on the land of the Ngunnawal.
Mikayla has had a wide-ranging career focused on helping people, from leading teams in residential care through to running a beauty business, modelling, working with clients as a personal trainer, now working in the public service and supporting her partner run their online Apparel business.
“My dream is to be able to share my story, to help build the confidence in young Aboriginal people, inspire and motivate them to reach their goals and be there whilst they take the steps to achieving them.”
Jodie Stephenson is a Dharawal woman who co-owns Kirribilli Partners Pty Ltd. She is a highly regarded mentor, coach and facilitator who is passionate about helping others achieve. Her career spans over 35 years in private and public sector roles both in Australia and around the world.
The group of mentors are keen to identify potential applicants for the Lighting the Spark program, which is running a Zoom information session on March 11 at this link.
According to Belinda Kendall, a Director of Canberra Indigenous Business Network “We hope that networks can be established to provide support throughout the program to encourage participants to become entrepreneurs and we are looking at possibilities for further funding to support the ongoing journey.
“By lighting the spark of our amazing young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, we hope to get the fire burning to continue to move forward. By being self-employed I believe it supports our self-determination to make decisions for ourselves, as we are the experts on ourselves and communities.”
The information session could also be valuable for those who have young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in their networks or those interested in building up and supporting young Indigenous women, such as community workers, teachers, counsellors, sports coaches or businesswomen.
If you would like further information about the program prior to the launch, please contact canberraibn@gmail.com.
Image: Indigenous mentor in the Lighting the Spark program Sarah Richards.
