Our Impact

transform the existing business into a sustainable, Indigenous-owned cultural tourism enterprise. Original Tribes will evolve from primarily producing souvenirs and subcontracting for other operators into a recognised, independent Aboriginal tour company. The core of this transformation is the ability to own and operate my own guided experiences, merging my deep connection to Country, cultural stories, and product line into a seamless “Territory Tales” journey for visitors.
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Specifically, the grant funding will be used to establish a reliable, purpose-fitted Toyota Tour Bus. This vehicle is not just transport; it is the mobile foundation of the business. It will allow me to:
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Operate professionally: Conduct my own packaged tours to significant sites, offering authentic storytelling and bush knowledge directly to tourists, schools, and corporate groups.
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Integrate sales:Use the vehicle as a mobile retail space to sell my custom-designed souvenir products (apparel, mugs, coolers) during tours, significantly increasing revenue per guest.
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Create jobs: Establish my first full-time guiding position and build the capacity to hire additional local Indigenous staff for guiding and production roles within two years.
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Securing a tour bus will build a year-round Indigenous tourism business, keeping benefits in our community.

start-up a development project that represents the next stage in the business’s journey from establishment to sustainable operation. Jimaylya was created to deliver practical civil and concrete services while creating real employment opportunities within the construction sector. Like many emerging Aboriginal businesses, Jimaylya has experienced early challenges, including limited start-up capital, inconsistent work, and the pressures of entering a competitive industry. These challenges have strengthened the business, built resilience, and shaped a clear direction forward.
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The Blooming project marks the point where Jimaylya is ready to grow with purpose. Funding will be used to strengthen core operational capability, improve mobilisation, and support workforce readiness so the business can deliver works consistently across urban, regional, and remote Northern Territory projects. This will allow Jimaylya to move from short-term, ad-hoc subcontracting to more reliable and repeat work opportunities.
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The project supports the delivery of civil works including excavation, formwork, steel fixing, concrete pours, and site preparation, while creating paid employment and pathways from training into real jobs. Blooming reflects steady growth built on experience where early lessons translate into capability, reliability, and long-term business sustainability within the NT construction industry.

ensure we have the right tools to complete the jobs that we have been invited to tender for and ensuring we are up to standard for those jobs with regard to our competitors. It will help us ensure that when we win more work, we can spread the logistics better and ensure we remain on program for the builders.
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It will also ensure we have sophisticated tools to quote the jobs and enable multiple people in the business to be able to do this, meaning we can quote for more work.
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We will be using the funding for business development, growth and in the completion of the jobs we have been asked to quote for by other builders. It will help us establish ourselves more professionally.

develop and deliver structured, culturally grounded mentoring and leadership programs through Motlop Mentors. Funding will be used to create program resources and session plans, build the skills of mentors and facilitators, improve business systems and administration, cover program delivery costs such as travel and facilitator time, and develop marketing materials to support partnerships and fee-for-service opportunities. Overall, this project will allow Motlop Mentors to move from one-off program delivery to a scalable, sustainable model that generates long-term income, employment opportunities, and positive outcomes for participants and communities.

support the early development of PrintshopNT’s efficiency and employee pool, by financing an automated screenprinting machine (with the required training), printer and wage costs for a pool of casual, Aboriginal screenprinters from regional and remote art centres and communities throughout the Northern Territory

help us start our cultural tours in time for the upcoming tourism season. One of our biggest needs is a reliable vehicle to safely carry visitors and workers on our tours. This will help us run guided trips that share Tiwi culture and Country.
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We also need support with other important start-up costs so we can get going straight away. This includes things like insurance, operational materials, safety gear, and basic tools we need to run safe, professional, and culturally respectful tours and to run our business.
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This funding will help our corporation get on its feet so we can start earning income, create meaningful jobs for our people on Country, and grow a strong money story through our tours. It gives us the support we need to build a strong future. We are stronger together, and this will help our whole community grow.

invest in an excavator as our first investment of plant and equipment for wet hire on civil construction, mining and major projects across the Darwin Region.
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Plant and equipment wet hire will diversify our revenue stream and in turn increase our profit margins for continual growth and employment and training opportunities for Indigenous people.
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As we continue to expand and procure specialised plant and equipment, we are developing our capabilities in:
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• Civil construction wet hire with experienced and trainee operators
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• Site preparation and earthworks
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• Infrastructure support services