In October, Indigenous businesses will again have the opportunity to apply for the PwC MURRA Boost Initiative.

Now in its sixth year, the partnership between PwC Australia and the MURRA Indigenous Business Masterclass Program seeks applications from majority-owned Indigenous businesses seeking to strengthen their business practices or capacity.

Winners are paired up with specialist skills and expertise from the PwC Australia team to the value of $30,000 to support a specific issue that will enable their future growth.

This year’s Indigenous Business Month theme is Powering the Indigenous Economy.  It is designed to celebrate the many forms of power Indigenous economies generate as part of everyday business.

“Powering the Indigenous Economy” is a practical call to the Indigenous business sector and its allies to connect, to showcase the economic contributions of Indigenous Businesses, individuals and organisations and tap into the entrepreneurial and innovative power that comes from Indigenous Business.

“The visibility of our economic contributions needs to extend past the narrow frame of GDP statistics where the value of goods and services that are traded are counted. In practice, Indigenous businesses provide more than this – they are a major source of innovation, mentorship, leadership, cultural knowledges and practices, community and cultural kinship, unpaid childcare, and volunteer work,” said Indigenous Business Month co founder and founder of MURRA program, Dr Michelle Evans.

“The PwC Murra Boost partnership is vital to enabling Indigenous entrepreneurs to face these challenges while expanding their capacity. We encourage all businesses that are facing a specific challenge to their business growth or capacity, to apply”

PwC Australia CEO Tom Seymour says the partnership with MURRA enables greater connection with First Nations businesses across the country.

“As a major sponsor of Indigenous Business Month over the past six years, we’re committed to work together and bring our combined skills to help power up new areas of opportunity for First Nations people and grow the Indigenous business sector. We recognise First Nation businesses are more likely to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, which can help foster further economic development and wealth creation for the benefit of all Australians.”

Previous winners of the PwC Murra Boost have been a diverse range of First Nations businesses, including BlackCard Pty Ltd a cultural training and consultancy service out of Queensland, Kakadu Tiny Tots an Aboriginal clothing store that sources handcrafted designs and artwork from remote communities across the Northern Territory and last years winner GWS Engineering & Construction, a family operated business focused in the construction and engineering industries, providing excellent service, quality and reliable workmanship.

Indigenous Business Month runs from October 1 to October 31. Applications for the MURRA Boost Initiative are now open, closing on 4 October 2021. The awards night is scheduled for 28th October via zoom. 

Indigenous Business Month is supported by 33 Creative, MURRA Indigenous Business Master Class Program, Iscariot Media and PwC Australia.

For more information on Indigenous Business Month visit www.indigenousbusinessmonth.com.au or connect on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.  #IndigBizMonth