Welcome to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's monthly First Nations Trade and Investment Bulletin – August 2024 edition! If you want to share your thoughts or get further information on any of the below, please email firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au.
Upcoming grant and program opportunities
NFACR 2024-25 Grants Round
The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations is pleased to announce that the 2024-25 grants round is open for applications, closing at AEST 12:00 pm on 9 September 2024.
The Foundation's grant program aims to promote and coordinate enhanced cooperation between Australia and mainland China, Hong Kong and/or Taiwan, in support of Australia's national interests and the Australia-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Projects funded to date have included initiatives such as:
- supporting First Nations tourism industry to build China literacy and capability
- promoting Australia's First Nations culture through collaborative artistic projects
- documenting historical interactions between Chinese and First Nations communities and
- building capability of First Nations businesses to engage with mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan markets.
Visit our website to find out how to apply. You can also register to our Friends of the Foundation mailing list to receive news of our activities and grant opportunities.
Australia-India Strategic and Technology Policy Initiative (SATPI) Grant Round
The Australia-India Strategic and Technology Policy Initiative (SATPI, the program) is a new, multi-year grants program which seeks to encourage collaboration between Australian and Indian research organisations and to promote greater understanding of strategic and technology policy matters.
This inaugural grant round will prioritise funding for the SATPI flagship activity –the convening of an annual 1.5 track strategic dialogue between Australia and India. This dialogue was announced as a joint initiative during the second Australia-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi in November, 2023. SATPI will also offer grant funding for other projects and activities which support SATPI's objectives. This may include other policy dialogues, conferences, workshops, research projects, policy papers, institutional exchanges, short-term residencies and fellowships and other innovative projects.
Applications for the SATPI grant round are open until 23:00 AEST on 29 September 2024.
For more information on SATPI, please visit the SATPI webpage. Questions can be directed to the SATPI Grants Administration Team via SATPI.Grants@dfat.gov.au until 23:59 AEST on 24 September 2024.
Expressions of Interest for Australia-World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Bushfoods Pilot
As announced by Ambassador Mohamed at Connect 2024, Expressions of Interest are now open for participating in a bushfoods pilot, as part of an Australia-WIPO International Intellectual Property Cooperation Project. The bushfoods pilot aims to identify and address practical intellectual property challenges faced by First Nations businesses when considering exporting Australian bushfoods products.
For further information, including requirements for submitting an application, please see: Australia-WIPO Bushfoods Pilot: Expression of Interest.
Applications must be received by 11:55PM, Wednesday, 25 September 2024 (AEST). Please contact bushfoodspilot@dfat.gov.au if you have any questions.
Victorian Aboriginal Business Growth Program is now open
Grants of up to $100,000 (excluding GST) are available to help eligible Aboriginal businesses in Victoria to access the resources and activities that enable their growth and development. The program aims to help businesses to:
- expand into new markets, boost revenue and reach more customers
- secure vital support for sustained success
- build, maintain and develop their workforce.
Funding can be used for a wide range of activities, from mentorship and marketing to business planning, purchasing new assets and conducting feasibility studies.
For more information on the Aboriginal Business Investment Program, including eligibility criteria and guidelines, visit the Business Victoria website. Applications close on 6 September 2024.
What is coming up?
First Nation Employment & Economic Development Forum – 15-17 October 2024 | Naarm/Melbourne
The 2024 First Nations Employment and Economic Development Forum provides a platform for collaboration and problem-solving, bringing together corporations, community and First Nations business leaders. Taking place in Naarm/Melbourne in 2024, this national Forum is proudly backed by the state and regional based members of National Indigenous Business Chambers Alliance Working Group.
For more information and to register your attendance, visit the First Nation Employment & Economic Development Forum website.
Osaka Expo 2025 – Get Involved
There are lots of ways for you to get involved at the Australia Pavilion for Expo 2025 Osaka.
One of these is the new Event Curator Program. Expressions of Interest are open until 31 December 2024. This program will be focused on inviting non-for-profit organisations (NPO) and small to medium enterprises (SME) to curate their own event for Australia at the Osaka Expo.
Details of the two application streams within the Event Curator Program are as follows:
Friends of the Australia Pavilion
Eligible entities: Non corporate entities, such as NPOs, community groups and foundations
Successful candidates will be required to design, plan, and host events; arrange and confirm attendance of speakers, special guests and participants; manage event participation contracts, travel, and accommodation; and any associated logistical support.
If successful, DFAT may provide discretionary funding capped at AUD 7,000 (excluding GST/TAX) to cover costs related to the event at Expo
Australian Pavilion Program Curators
Eligible entities: Corporate entities that are considered SMEs
Successful candidates will be required to provide value-in-kind curatorial services, including designing, planning, and hosting events; arranging and confirming attendance of speakers, special guests and participants; managing event participation contracts, travel, and accommodation; and any associated logistical support.
Recent News
Supply Nation Exporter of the Year Award
Congratulations to Elephant in the Room Consulting who were awarded Supply Nation Exporter of the Year Award at the recent Supply Connect 2024. This award recognises an Indigenous business that is successfully operating within the export market; can demonstrate potential for future export growth and that has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or members and Indigenous businesses.
Founded by Jenni Walke, a proud Bundjalung woman, Elephant in the Room Consulting specialises in leadership development and strategic consultancy, aiming to create lasting societal impacts through business innovation and sustainability.
Further congratulations goes to the other finalists, LassWho and Munda Wines. A great achievement and acknowledgement of their successes to date.
We want to hear from you…
Business Envoy
Business Envoy, DFAT's flagship trade and investment magazine, has been informing Australian business audiences for nearly a decade, with news and updates on the Australian Government's trade and investment agenda, benefits of free trade agreements, and industry features and news. You can read the August edition with its focus on Australia's trade agreements.
Our most popular issue remains the Indigenous Innovation edition.
After a read, we invite you to complete our survey with your thoughts on Business Envoy as we review content, frequency and distribution. You can also contact the editorial team at businessenvoy@dfat.gov.au.
Design Law Treaty: Seeking your views
In November, Australia will participate in a diplomatic conference to conclude a new Design Law Treaty (DLT). The treaty aims to make it easier for industrial designers to protect their work around the world.
One of the proposals is to explicitly give flexibility for an intellectual property (IP) office to ask someone applying for a Design right to disclose the source of any traditional cultural expression, traditional knowledge or genetic resources used in their design.
You can find out more at WIPO Design Law Treaty - IP Australia - Citizen Space. In late September, IP Australia is planning an online meeting to discuss the DLT, in particular disclosure of indigenous knowledge in industrial designs. Please email consultation@ipaustralia.gov.au if you would like to attend.
Trade Modernisation
Australia has longstanding trade and investment links in Southeast Asia, supported by our network of bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs) with Southeast Asian trading partners. These FTAs have strengthened our regional relationships and integration, improved supply chains, and supported the region's economic development and resilience. But as highlighted in Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040 (the Moore Report), there are opportunities to modernise and build on the existing FTA architecture to further deepen and boost economic engagement and opportunities within Southeast Asia.
DFAT is in the initial stages of developing the terms of reference for a comprehensive review of our Southeast Asian FTAs. The review will identify opportunities to modernise and upgrade our Southeast Asian FTAs to support and strengthen economic engagement and inclusive trade in the region. These efforts will be informed by consultations with trade and investment exposed stakeholders from across Australia in late 2024.
We want to hear from First Nations businesses and peak bodies with an interest in international trade and on how Australia's FTAs can support First Nations interests and remain fit for purpose to 2040. Please email firstnationstrade@dfat.gov.au if you want to know more or share your views on this project.
DFAT will also be inviting public submissions and opening a $1.75 million, two-year grants program in late 2024 to enable industry and community groups to identify opportunities to liberalise and facilitate trade and investment in Southeast Asia. We will keep you updated when this program opens.