Applications for the 2014 Murra Indigenous Master Class Program are now open.

Applications for the 2014 Murra Indigenous Master Class Program Melbourne School are now open.

A partnership between the Melbourne Business School and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), Murra is an education and mentoring program for Indigenous entrepreneurs.

It provides Indigenous business owners and managers with a graduate-level education to equip them with the skills and knowledge to take their already successful businesses to a new level.

Nineteen participants from a diverse range of industries including mining, hospitality and media and communications recently graduated from the 2013 Murra Program.

The course explored the latest trends and practices in business strategy, finance, marketing, negotiation, organisational leadership and procurement.

The 2013 graduates share a desire to use their businesses to generate lasting economic and employment opportunities for their communities.

They also hope to inspire other Indigenous Australians to pursue their own personal and professional potential.

The Murra Program aims to build strong networks among Indigenous entrepreneurs so they can share knowledge, provide social and emotional support, and form potential business partnerships.

2013 Murra participant and managing director of Thirntu, Darryl Pearce, said that Murra encourages communication and networking among Indigenous businesses.

“A key outcome of Murra is the number of Aboriginal businesses that have started to talk to each other about how they can cooperate on different projects and opportunities,” Darryl said.

“There is a growing understanding that collaborating with existing businesses, whether Aboriginal or non-Aboriginal, is a part of our future.”

2013 graduates will now receive further one-on-one mentoring from Melbourne Business School alumni to assist them in applying their new skills and knowledge to grow their businesses.