Via events , an information rich website , e-bulletins and podcasts , it instructs businesses on how to switch to low carbon energy sources , meet increasing consumer demands for positive social and environmental outcomes and capitalise on the economic advantages of sustainability .
Before the development of the website , businesses would have to scour the internet to find technologies and standards to use . Now , businesses can easily access information , assisting them to gain credentials that enable them to win contracts with government and big business , become resilient and responsive to economic and environmental shocks and transition to a net zero economy .
FINALIST : City of Kingston Kingston Sustainable Business Awards The inaugural Kingston Sustainable Business Awards were launched in 2023 to recognise and celebrate the contributions of Kingston businesses in creating more sustainable operations that make the community a better and safer place .
Bunji Enterprises strives to promote reconciliation and economic empowerment for Aboriginal people by integrating everyday products created by Indigenous communities into mainstream retail environments like Coles and Woolworths . The project aims to foster greater visibility and acceptance of Indigenous culture , while providing economic opportunities for Aboriginal entrepreneurs .
The project focuses on boosting the growth of Indigenous businesses , increasing representation of Indigenous products and brands in major retail chains and decreasing economic disparities through opening opportunities for business development and growth .
With a market demand for diverse and culturally significant products and an opportunity to drive cultural understanding , this project delivered a significant increase in sales of Indigenous products , expanding to 960 new retail locations and reaching 500,000 consumers through marketing campaigns . The initiative ' s framework will be used as a model for other projects , ensuring scalability and replicability in different contexts and regions .
Following the challenges of the pandemic , City of Kingston saw an opportunity to deliver a program that recognises business achievement as well as deliver a Victorian first initiative - to establish a business awards program primarily focused on sustainability principles .
The Kingston Sustainable Business Awards address several key economic development and environmental issues including environmental degradation , resource efficiency , economic resilience , innovation , competitiveness and corporate governance .
The 2023 event was a success with over 160 attendees and 24 finalists awarded , setting a benchmark amongst Victorian councils with its unparalleled Sustainable Business Awards program .
ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INCLUSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
WINNER : Bunji Enterprises The DHUWA Project
FINALIST : Alexandrina Council Signal Point Experience Centre : An Alexandrina Council / Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation Collaborative Project The newly opened Signal Point Experience Centre is a collaborative project between Alexandrina Council and the Ngarrindjeri Aboriginal Corporation .
It is located on Goolwa Wharf , a significant Indigenous site known as the ‘ Meeting of the Waters .’ The project includes the design and internal fit-out of the Signal Point Gallery , the installation of an interpretive storytelling exhibition , to be known as Yuntulun Ku : li war and the activation of Signal Point as an incubator for Indigenous business , especially cultural tourism .
Historically , colonisation systematically excluded Aboriginal groups from regional economies , and the Goolwa Wharf Precinct was no exception . This project aims to rectify this by supporting Ngarrindjeri stakeholders and tourism operators to explore the benefits of a more inclusive narrative and also encourage collaboration to develop added value and expand product offerings to boost Indigenous businesses .
VOL 17 NO 3 2024 36 www . edaustralia . com . au