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YIEP News Update

1 October 2008

Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Program - News

YIEP was launched in 2006 and is funded by the Department of Trade and Economic Development.

It is designed to teach young Aboriginal people business skills and teams them with people running successful enterprises.

It gives budding young entrepreneurs practical help through coaching, mentoring and advice. 

YIEP boasts three high-profile Aboriginal sports stars as ambassadors: State League netballer Leah Torzyn, former AFL player Che Cockatoo Collins and Adelaide United captain Travis Dodd.

The program is part of the State Government's Aboriginal Economic Development Strategy, an initiative designed to build economic capacity in aboriginal communities. For further information: www.southaustralia.biz/yiep

Developed products a 'hit'

During 2008 the Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Program (YIEP) has been running at Immanuel College, Cavan Youth Education Centre, Para West and "The Heights" School.

All the programs have engaged in product development with some good responses and excellent outcomes.

YIEP students at Immanuel College have produced culturally inspired badges, which are being bought by teachers and other students at the school.

YIEP at Cavan Youth Education Centre received an order for 1,000 Aboriginal design lanyards from the South Australian Attorney Generals Department.

The lanyards were developed earlier this year by the students and their YIEP facilitator Jodus Madrid.

YIEP students at "The Heights" school are currently testing new products such as a mobile phone "dangly" and some new colour variations on rubber wristbands.

"Nungabands" are still a hit. Aboriginal wristbands produced by last year's YIEP program at "The Heights" school continue to sell.

Earlier in the year the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs ordered 1,000 of the “Nungabands  to distribute to communities across South Australia. 

Footy Grand Final

The Aboriginal Power Cup Carnival played its grand final in August at AAMI Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Power v. Collingwood game.

Its major sponsors were The Aboriginal Sports Academy, Attorney-General's Department and Port Power. Other departments and agencies were involved in planning, delivering workshops, providing volunteers and sponsorship.

YIEP was pleased to support the carnival and congratulates the winners - Para West, which won both the boys and the girls finals.

Six school sites were involved (Ceduna Area School, John Pirie Secondary School, Kaurna Plains Primary School, Para West adult campus, Port Lincoln High School, Wiltja program at Woodville High School).

Twelve teams (boys' team and girls' team from each site) and 140 students participated.

Participation in the finals matches was based on an overall assessment of how teams performed across the entire competition in preparation for the carnival (i.e. training, appointing team officials, teamwork, etc) including school attendance, in addition to winning games at the carnival.

The Aboriginal Power Cup was launched on Anzac Day by the Deputy Premier Kevin Foley and will become an annual Aboriginal football carnival funded by Attorney-General's Department and the Port Adelaide Football Club.

The carnival picks up on key recommendations from Monsignor David Cappo's report To Break the Cycle and will be complemented by additional programs that promote school-based education and vocational training.

Senior Project Officer position advertised

YIEP will soon have a new manager, following the advertising of the position.

The new manager will be responsible for developing and implementing policy and programs to support Aboriginal enterprise and economic development, including management of the Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Program (YIEP).

Key challenges and expected results include managing YIEP to ensure that programs are run effectively in metropolitan and regional locations.

This includes managing the production of YIEP curriculum materials and ensuring that YIEP assessment processes are compliant with SACE requirements.

The Senior Project Officer will also conduct research projects to provide policy advice to DTED on the development of support for Aboriginal enterprise and the general directions of Aboriginal economic development.

This is a very exciting position with the opportunity to break new ground the aboriginal economic development.

If you know someone who might be suitable, please refer them to: Careers

Don't forget the YIEP Directory

The YIEP Directory is designed to list all participants in the YIEP program and displays their business activities.  

It will eventually be a useful source for all YIEP participants in keeping up to date with what is going on with YIEP in 2008 and beyond. 

If you know of anybody who would be interested in joining YIEP, please forward this email to them.

Note to facilitators:  please register all participants in the YIEP Directory.

For updates on the YIEP Directory please subscribe at www.southaustralia.biz