Page 27 - Tropic Magazine Issue 13

INDUSTRY • PROFILE

and schools on various projects. So
that’s the type of work we do in that
mentoring and incubator space.”
Paul is also excited about the potential
for larger, mainstream businesses to
engage in joint venture partnerships
with smaller Indigenous businesses.
“You look at some of the businesses
operating in the Torres Strait around
landscaping and construction,” he
said. “They are small operations, in
some cases sole traders, who really
need a partner that’s got experience
so they can tender as a JV on larger
projects.” My Pathway currently reflects
this partnership model across several
regional and remote communities in
joint ventures with traditional owner
groups, community organisations and
industry.
“We class ourselves as a social and There are also immense opportunities
economic development company,” for My Pathway to partner with large
Paul said. “In a sense we’re a large corporations across Australia to help
social enterprise, even though we are meet targets set by Reconciliation
a private business. We are all about Action Plans. Given the 50% Indigenous
finding the best way to work with employment ratio achieved by My
communities to create jobs for people. Pathway, large corporates are keen to
We are constantly asking ourselves how utilise the organisation’s expertise in
we develop, connect and grow people. attracting and retaining Indigenous
That’s the way we see our vision and staff. Potential opportunities like that
it’s all driven by the passion of creating are key to My Pathway’s future. The
economic independence.” shifting sands of government funding
Central to the My Pathway mission of means the organisation has had to
creating meaningful jobs and economic develop a diverse business model
opportunity is working alongside capable of sustaining itself beyond
entrepreneurs to support and develop biggest gap in the market is mentoring the whims of grants and funding
their business, whether it’s just an idea and that’s something we are continuing programs. Further diversification
or the startup phase, or a sole trader to develop and grow as a service.” strategies include the expansion of a
looking to expand. Paul shared the story of local facility management company owned
“We have a not-for-profit company Indigenous entrepreneur Carl by My Pathway, with this subsidiary
called Community Owned Enterprises Fourmile, who launched a cultural already a significant employer of over
and that operates like an accelerator/ consultation business from scratch 350 people across Queensland.
incubator for businesses,” Paul with the support of My Pathway. Above all, though, My Pathway
said. “It’s something we’ve made “Carl Fourmile’s business is a really is focused on positive outcomes
significant investment in with the aim good case study,” Paul told Tropic. “A beyond the bottom line. Apart from
of supporting people, predominately its remarkable rate of Indigenous
Indigenous people, to become business “ employment, the organisation is one of
owners. There wasn’t a shortage of And that’s why you’ve 120 nationally to receive the Workplace
people with ideas or the technical Gender Equality Agency’s citation for
skills to deliver a service, but people always got to try to workplace gender equality, and has
did need help with the business side make a difference achieved one of the nation’s highest
of things, the operational running of gender pay ratios, with the gap for
a business, which can be very hard for female pay closing from an already low
anyone starting out in their business. ” 4% a few years ago to just 1.6% today.
It requires a whole other skill set apart couple of years ago, Carl came to our “The thing about My Pathway is we’re
from delivering the actual service office for a NAIDOC Week event. It was not about being a huge money-making
or product. Community Owned the very first time Carl and his family machine,” Paul said. “We are driven to
Enterprises was born from the idea had performed in front of an audience. provide opportunity for people to build
of being able to help people identify Two years later, he’s now set up his stronger communities. We’re talking
business opportunities, then help them business and he’s now earning revenue. the talk and, most importantly, walking
create the ownership opportunity With that particular company, we’ve the walk.”
and providing support with running become like a booking agent for him,
the back end of the business, such so we’re going out and finding him MORE: mpath.com.au
as accounting or payroll. For me, the gigs and he’s working with councils

27 • tropicnow.com.au