Enterprise Facilitation aims to promote local economic growth in Western and South Western Sydney by providing support to local entrepreneurs with refugee and refugee-like backgrounds wishing to start or expand existing small business.

It is a model of development that supports the creation of wealth from within a community by nurturing the resourcefulness of its people. It is also extremely cost effective, with the average cost per new job created at A $3,800.

Refugees and other migrants have many skills and talents that can contribute to the Australian economy and community. They are keen to work and are passionate about their business ideas, but often lack knowledge of Australian business and financial systems.

Enterprise Facilitation businesses

Although very much in its infancy the Enterprise Facilitation team is assisting a growing number of refugees to establish or expand their businesses. These include:

• a group of Hazara Afghan women creating unique embroidery for Australian fashion designers
• a woman from Zimbabwe who markets locally grown maize (corn), in demand by Australia’s growing African population
• a group of Somalis exporting camel milk in partnership with indigenous Australians

Demand for our enterprise services is growing daily.

How it works

Enterprise Facilitation uses the ‘Sirolli methodology’, to help would-be entrepreneurs transform their ideas into viable enterprises. The Sirolli Institute is an international not-for-profit institution that works with communities to establish sustainable, grassroots enterprise projects.

Using this method, Enterprise Facilitators provide a free, confidential and accessible service to would-be entrepreneurs backed by a network of experienced professionals, business and support people some of whom make up the official Resource Board.  The Enterprise Facilitator connects refugees with sound business ideas with this network, who provide the support and advice they need to create a successful business.

Enterprise Facilitation differs from other forms of business mentoring in two significant ways. Firstly, it offers a simple but effective management coaching approach that encourages entrepreneurs to form competent management teams before they prematurely invest their life savings or seek finance. The rationale for the approach is that it is rare to find a single entrepreneur who is equally skilled in the three major areas of business – product, marketing, and finance.

Secondly, Enterprise Facilitation brings together the best and brightest leaders in the community to pool their knowledge and networks to enable the entrepreneur to find the right people to build the team that puts together the business plan.

This method has been successfully introduced into many communities across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia.

For more information contact Felix Ryan on 0431 800 086 or email felix.ryan@sswahs.nsw.gov.au