SE Qld Support For Victorian Indigenous Chamber Of Commerce

One year ago the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (SEQICC) – the first of it’s kind in Australia – was established. President Charlie Jia and Vice President Nola Turner-Jensen are flying to Melbourne on April 11th to support the development of an Indigenous Chamber of Commerce in Victoria.

About The SEQICC Organisation

SEQICC Nola says is a group of business people driven by ambition, profit and community interests. It provides representation across six regions:

• Brisbane
• Caboolture
• Sunshine Coast
• Gold Coast
• Ipswich
• Toowoomba

SEQICC is bringing people, and businesses, together into an independent employers’ business organisation which gives them a powerful voice and positions them as leaders in the economy.

The organisation is free to broach whatever topics its members/committee believe will benefit members and Indigenous people, regardless of political or bureaucratic direction or policy. It encourages membership and support from Indigenous and Non-Indigenous businesses and organisations.

FYI Research shows there over 200 businesses in SEQ that are either owned and/or managed by Indigenous Australians, with many other Indigenous people holding senior positions both in the public and private sector.

The SEQICC Website www.seqicc.com.au

This website is a great source of info and its testimonials are a credit to a young organisation.

4 March 2008
What a great way to inspire others by profiling Indigenous Women in Business. I felt privileged and inspired to be with a whole lot of Indigenous women who were showcasing their business and products. The atmosphere was very relaxed. I was inspired by the words of encouragement and the sense of empowerment these role models projected, it made me reflect on what I could be doing. Well done SEQ Indigenous Chamber of Commerce for hosting the event and inviting me along.

Rita Mills, Indigenous Career & Development Coordinator, QLD Police Service

21 February 2008
Dear Fellow Business Owners/Representatives,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the tremendous amount of support you extended to me on Tuesday night at the SEQICC Network @ Night meeting.

As a brand new enterprise, I’m honoured to be able to provide the services that Azalaya does. I was so overwhelmed by the interest and response I received and in particular, excited about the prospect of training/educating other women and young girls about the benefits which can be derived by using makeup and adopting a skin care regime that will ensure beautiful skin throughout their lives.

I know that as a young girl growing up without the education and without the products, there was never an awareness about these issues, so it is a vision of Azalaya to revolutionise the way this education is brought to other black and exotic women and their daughters, in this country.

Once again, thank you for the support and I look forward to seeing you or hearing from you again soon.

Yours sincerely,

Gertrude Benjamin, OWNER, AZALAYA Pty Ltd

20 February 2008
Kimberley TAFE was delighted to attend the South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce’s First Anniversary Celebration Dinner in November 2007.

We have subsequently joined the Chamber and look forward to working with you in the future.
Kimberley TAFE has an excellent record of providing employment focused training to Indigenous communities in the Kimberley. We have delivered a range of programs over a number of years, focusing on practical vocational and life skills that support the social and economic aspirations of Indigenous people.

Sophie Ehrenberg, Traning Directorate, Kimberley TAFE

20 February 2008
I just want to take this opportunity to thank you for your kind invitation, for allowing me to be able too put Max Employment STEP Program out in amongst the Aboriginal/Torres Strait Island Business Women.

I felt very privileged to be introduced to those women, who have certainly pushed the barriers for themselves and there families.

It was certainly an inspiring night.

Robyn Boucher, Indigenous Employment Consultant, Max Employment

“I’m stimulated by what I have witnessed here today. It is encouragement to myself to go out and be an advisor to all community people who have an interest in developing business to do so. There are structures there that will assist them to make their mark and contribute to Indigenous society, but to society in general. To maintain and prosper the wealth of this state of Queensland and to be able to share in that wealth.”

Dr. Robert Andersen, Community Elder

PWF looks forward to writing up a successful SEQICC trip to Victoria. All the best Charlie and Nola – thanks for the contact.