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Young Aboriginal people showcase products

Media Release | 23 October 2007

Young Aboriginal people are showcasing their products and ideas developed through participation in South Australia's groundbreaking Young Indigenous Entrepreneur Program (YIEP).

Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Minister Jay Weatherill says young people between the ages of 15 and 25 have been involved in the program.

"This year's group has been developing products such as T-shirts and wristbands and services such as event management," Mr Weatherill said.

"YIEP has been hugely successful and this expo gives participants a great opportunity to offer their products for sale or to help them realise their entrepreneurial skills and ideas."

The expo is being held at Tandanya today.

Mr Weatherill said the program teaches young Aboriginal people business skills and teams them up with people running successful enterprises.

"YIEP aims to produce Aboriginal businesspeople but in the meantime it also makes them job ready," he said.

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

YIEP offers assistance to not just high school students, but also young people who have become disengaged from the education system and young offenders at Cavan Secure Care Centre.

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

YIEP is part of the State Government's Aboriginal Economic Development Strategy, an initiative designed to build capacity in Aboriginal communities.

The program is funded and delivered by the SA Department of Trade & Economic Development (DTED) and sponsored by BHP Billiton.

It was launched last year, following a successful pilot program in 2005.