What sets your business apart?

According to Supply Nation report The Sleeping Giant, every dollar of value generated by Indigenous Businesses equates to $4.41 in social value for the community – and that sets us apart in the business world as a sector that is, and will continue to, make a tangible difference now and into the future.

Social impact is defined as the effect of an activity, project, programme or policy on people and communities. When we achieve our goals for our businesses, families and communities, we make an impact. But how do we define and measure this? How do we measure (and celebrate!) the effect of our passion, our ethics, and the changes we build with them?

Supply Nation is Australia’s largest directory of Indigenous businesses. They work alongside Indigenous businesses to help shape our dynamic and rapidly evolving business sector.

Supply Nation can be a gateway to connecting your business with motivated buyers from government departments and large corporations.

Registration and Certification on Supply Nation is absolutely free, and makes your business eligible for direct engagement under the Indigenous Procurement Policy (IPP) and the Aboriginal Procurement Policy (APP) – policies that requires federal and state government departments to direct 3% of their buying power toward the Indigenous business sector on major projects.

​By IPS Bookkeeper Melinda Ely

Last week I was asked if I could accompany IPS Business Consultant Joanne Hill to Albany, as she had already traveled so much that week.

As a bookkeeper, I don’t get to leave the office within my role very often - so this was a great opportunity for me to get out and see what our consultants do.

WOW was I blown away. I read these contracts but don’t have a true understanding of the work that goes on. The jobs that Joanne co-facilitates are real jobs that make a real difference in the community.

The first workshop we attended was a co-facilitation with NOUS for the WA Police department. I was able to join in and be a part of the discussions.

From there we went to a stakeholder engagement for the Aboriginal Business Capability project, with local people in a position to let the Albany Community know what we are doing.

Again, some very interesting discussions were had and I was able to get a better understanding of the work that IPS are doing out in the field.

After this very long day Jo took me for a drive around Albany, as I hadn't been before. We then went to dinner at the Stirling Club Inc., where we ended up staying for a lovely dinner in the company of some locals that Jo suggested we sit with.

We got up early the next morning and headed home the inland way, travelling through some of the little old towns in our South West.

I saw some great sights and had some great conversations with Jo, learning the extent of work that she puts in not only for IPS, but voluntary work for different community groups as well.