Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub
Partner | Enterprise Partnerships, WA
Location | Balgo, Western Australia
Overview
This project focuses on activating community leadership and building the skills of local indigenous women to manage and expand the operations of the Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub in Balgo, Western Australia.
Since 2021, the Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub has been operating out of a temporary shed on land owned by the Catholic Diocese of Broome; however, this project will ensure a permanent home and a solid foundation from which to launch other culturally-based microenterprises.
The new home will support the community to develop women’s business and retail skills, produce bush products and medicine, and other arts-based enterprises such as jewellery making.
Challenges
Balgo (Wirrimanu) is one of Australia’s most remote Aboriginal communities, located in the south-east Kimberley region of Western Australia on the northern edge of the Great Sandy Desert and the western edge of the Tanami Desert.
Women in Balgo experience extreme economic marginalisation and face unique social and environmental challenges when accessing structured activities such as training, education and employment. These pressures are severely compounded by poor mental, emotional and social wellbeing. The majority of women in the community have little to no experience or knowledge of business and entrepreneurial concepts.
Impact
This project aims to support indigenous women to become fully engaged with the economic opportunities and employment pathways available to them in remote areas through training and on-the-job experience in enterprise development.
By providing this community-led safe space for people to learn foundational skills in entrepreneurship, the hub will build confidence and job readiness. Most importantly, it will foster the long-term health and wellbeing of young women through a focus on culturally meaningful and purposeful activities.
Activities
- Refurbish two shipping containers to house the Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub permanently.
- Create hands-on learning opportunities for women to develop business and entrepreneurship skills at the Piriwa Op Shop and Enterprise Hub.
- Generate revenue through op shop sales to provide seed funding for other microenterprise and collective community projects.
- Provide access to affordable clothing for the community members of Balgo.
- Engage 20-30 at-risk young women in enterprise learning workshops and support them to engage with and learn from elders.
