Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs will be able to boost their digital technology skills and forge new business connections at a national summit supported by the City of Sydney.
The City has awarded a $25,000 grant to the Indigenous Digital Excellence Initiative (IDX), a not-for-profit partnership between the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence and the Telstra Foundation. IDX aims to inspire and connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working with digital technologies across Australia.
The funding will be used to hold this year’s IDX national summit from 27–29 April in Sydney. The event will bring digital experts, policymakers and entrepreneurs from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities together to share ideas and knowledge.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the summit would increase digital confidence and build important connections between emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs.
“This summit links the world’s oldest living culture with Australia’s digital future,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We’re proud to support the IDX summit as part of our ongoing work to encourage innovation, employment and enterprise in our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Sydney’s home to Australia’s highest concentration of digital and creative businesses and we want to encourage themto stay in the city, grow their businesses and help create new jobs.”
A major focus of the summit is the development of the first-ever National Strategy for Indigenous Digital Excellence. This strategy will detail plans for advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander digital creativity and innovation across Australia.
Chief Operating Officer of the National Centre for Indigenous Excellence, Jocelyn Grant, said: “Our people have been innovating for 40,000 years. The digital space is a fabulous opportunity to share our knowledge in a new way – not just in the continuation of the oldest living culture on earth, but also in sharing knowledge with the wider community.
“We are very grateful to the City of Sydney for supporting the IDX summit. Their funding will help enable participation by the right people in shaping the future of Indigenous digital excellence.”
Support for the summit comes as the City develops the Eora Journey Economic Development Plan – its first economic action plan focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment and enterprise.
The plan will outline measures to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners and entrepreneurs in important sectors including retail, tourism, creative and digital.
The summit also aligns with the City’s Tech Startups Action Plan, that aims to create an environment supporting technology entrepreneurs to start and grow successful global businesses.
The plan is full of ideas for encouraging Sydney’s tech startups, including creating an ‘entrepreneurship centre’ in the city, offering coding classes in local libraries, encouraging more co-working spaces and using City-owned properties and event spaces for startups.
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Adviser Keeley Irvin. Phone 0448 005 718 or email kirvin@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Matt Levinson. Phone 0499 319 385 or email mlevinson@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au