The Sydney School of Entrepreneurship (SSE) delivered Invest in Yourself: Exploring Money & Self Employment to a cohort of 16 exceptional Aboriginal students aged 14-17 from the Tamworth region in February.
Delivered in partnership with the Department of Regional NSW New England North West (DRNSW), Invest in Yourself is designed to increase self-agency, independence, and economic prosperity by teaching participants about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, budgeting, and self-employment.
Collaboration with the Gomeroi Culture Academy
SSE designed and delivered this program in partnership with the Gomeroi Culture Academy and local Gomeroi entrepreneur Kayleb Waters-Sampson. As a local artist, performer, and business operator Kayleb brought a wealth of personal experience and professional expertise in founding and operating his own business (Ngurrambaa) in the New England region.
Reflecting on the program, Kayleb expressed his delight and pride in the students’ contributions, curiosity, ideas, and entrepreneurial mindsets.
“It’s good to see [the students] opening up and exploring their minds and seeing all these new ideas and being curious. The most important thing I hope they take away is […] knowing that if they have an idea they can run with it and there will be support there for them.”
Marc Sutherland, Director of the Gomeroi Culture Academy, had similar reflections on the program content.
“It's been amazing to partner with the Sydney School of Entrepreneurship to provide our students and alumni the opportunity to be involved in some quality workshops around financial literacy, budgeting, and how to use money in effective and efficient ways. This was an amazing opportunity, especially because quality information on these topics is normally harder to access [in the regions].”
By the end of the program, many of the students were inspired to explore alternative pathways and start their own businesses. One of the participants, Shae-Lee Bond, discovered her interest in entrepreneurship through the program.
“One thing I have learned about myself during the program is that I’m more interested in starting my own business than I thought I would be.”