The Allan Labor Government is helping multicultural businesses and their female founders to grow their businesses with training designed specifically for small operators.
Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman today visited Werribee based organisation, Afro Aussie Women in Business, to discuss their Accelerate Your Net Worth project, which recently received a $20,000 grant.
The project will support Afro-Aussie business owners across Melbourne to upskill and grow their business with tailored training and networking events - including financial literacy workshops, investment strategy seminars, and personalised mentoring.
The project has been designed to help participants address the unique challenges many small businesses are facing.
The project is funded under the Labor Government's $17 million investment to support multicultural traders and precincts. As part of that investment, $2 million was invested to support multicultural traders' associations, so they can work directly with the local businesses and communities.
Multicultural businesses play a crucial role in our economy - they create employment opportunities, strengthen the vibrancy of our business precincts across Victoria, and build connections to diverse local communities.
Victoria is proudly home to over 718,000 small businesses, and over a third are owned by migrants. The new year is the perfect time to shop small and support local businesses, with that support flowing into the state's economy.
This initiative is just one of the ways the Labor Government is supporting small business to start, grow and thrive by investing in skills, mentoring, and business precincts. Small business operators also have access to support through Business Victoria.
For more information about support for small businesses, visit business.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Small Business and Employment Natalie Suleyman
"Afro Aussie Women in Business is working closely with multicultural female business owners across Melbourne to help them take their businesses to the next level."
"Small businesses are the heart and soul of Victoria and we're backing trader groups so they can support business owners to grow and thrive."
As stated by Afro Aussie Women in Business Founder Patience Rabai
"I am thrilled to see our government recognising the vital role of multicultural businesses in driving innovation, fostering economic growth, and enriching our communities.
"This initiative reinforces the importance of supporting diverse enterprises, empowering African women, and creating opportunities that benefit all Australians."
