Empowering their people for their culture and future

The Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) is the lead economic development ‘Solution Broker’ for the Torres Strait region.

Through the support of TSRA, several businesses in the region have been able to grow their businesses to reach their full potential.

Torres Strait Islander, James Mills, is a self-employed commercial fisher who purchased a new commercial fishing vessel, Nekana II through a successful Business Growth Package application.

The new vessel allows James to expand upon his current business operations through the employment of additional crew.

James said it takes a certain vessel to really get the job done properly.

‘I am incredibly grateful to the TSRA, so we can continue to provide quality product sourced directly from the abundant waters of the Torres Strait,’ he said.

In addition to the Business Growth Package used by James Mills, the TSRA offers other initiatives through their Economic Development Programme and the Regional Economic Investment Strategy (REIS), to help support businesses in the region and power the economy:

• The You Sabe Business Workshops 
• The Business Mentoring and Support
• The Business Funding Scheme

Shane Lui, owner of Strait Support, a one hundred per cent Indigenous owned and managed company, successfully applied for a Business Growth Package to expand his existing business operations. Strait Support focuses on increasing Indigenous participation in the civil works industry by growing capability in the Torres Strait Region.

Shane said his successful grant allowed him to purchase a marine vessel so his business can now offer charter services.

‘Indigenous businesses are surrounded by opportunities, so it’s up to us local Indigenous entrepreneurs to seize them and strive towards advancing ourselves and our communities,’ he said. 

Founder and owner of Bamaga Dreamtime, Joanna Adidi-Williams, successfully applied for Business Support Services to explore opportunities for business growth.

Bamaga Dreamtime, which has been operating for over 30 years, has been able to work closely with a business consultant to open a new store in Cairns, and refresh her website.

Ms Adidi-Williams said that it is through a program funded under NIAA that she has been able to employ youths in the positions that were made available through the expansion of Bamaga Dreamtime and a new business plan, courtesy of TSRA.

TSRA is committed to working in partnership with other government and non-government organisations and individual communities to ensure the efficient use of resources, and to advance the regional goal: 'Enhance our region's wealth by creating sustainable industries and increasing employment opportunities for our people equivalent to the wider Australian community.’