Koori Kulcha Aboriginal Corporation (KKAC) is set to grow its operations, thanks to investment from the Indigenous Social Enterprise Fund (ISEF), a pilot funded by Indigenous Business Australia and delivered by Social Ventures Australia.
KKAC is an Indigenous social enterprise offering unique and authentic Indigenous cultural experiences for schools, corporate clients and government departments, with a core focus to provide employment for Indigenous people. KKAC also runs an Indigenous youth training program with the emphasis on graduating its students to work in the enterprise.
Currently providing cultural training workshops, cooking workshops, and event management services from a picturesque NSW Southern Highlands location, and to venues across NSW, the ISEF Investment Package will allow KKAC to expand hospitality training and employment opportunities with improvements to their in-house training centre, cultural performance venue and Koori Kulcha Café, and also to assist with part of their initial operating expenses.
Marie Barbaric, KKAC’s Program Director commented, “We’re excited to accept this funding and take Koori Kulcha from strength to strength, providing more employment opportunities to Indigenous people in the Southern Highlands and South East corridor of NSW.
“Our vision is to improve the well-being of our Indigenous people by offering them genuine economic opportunities. Expanding our business will also allow us to share Australia’s rich Indigenous cultural heritage with a much broader audience”.
Indu Balachandran, ISEF Development Manager commented, “ISEF was established to assist Indigenous enterprises to use business as a mechanism for achieving dual social and economic benefit to the community.
“Koori Kulcha is a locally embedded Indigenous enterprise, combining an ambitious vision for the wellbeing of First Australians with practical solutions on the ground.
“We are thrilled to be able to support their development at this early and vital stage, through funding for their café and tourism products and look forward to making this journey together”.
Over the next five years KKAC plan to provide employment opportunities to as many Indigenous staff as possible and support at least 10 Indigenous youth graduates from the training program per year to employment.
The Indigenous Social Enterprise Fund is a two year pilot fund that was established in September 2013 by Indigenous Business Australia and Reconciliation Australia and managed by Social Ventures Australia to support the development of financially sustainable Indigenous social enterprise.
