Host: DPIRD Aboriginal Economic Development Program
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) project function within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) aims to unlock significant and impactful regional Aboriginal economic development opportunities. It builds local capacity and supports new business and jobs for Aboriginal people through primary industries and strategic regional projects.
The program is comprised of 12 staff members working from Broome, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Perth, Esperance and Albany. We work with multiple business across the state on an invitation-only basis. These businesses produce a range of agricultural goods such as beef, sheep, honey and traditional Aboriginal foods. We now work with a wider range of businesses than ever before including tourism and contracting companies. However, since we are writing for Central station blog, we will focus on pastoral properties.
In Western Australia, there are 55 Aboriginal pastoral leases held by culturally and geographically diverse communities, 39 of these leases are found in the Kimberley and Pilbara. Many of these properties are isolated with varying skill-sets. The project aims to build relationships with properties and provide support in the form of business mentoring, training and in-situ skills development.
Our blog posts will shed some light on what we’ve achieved over the years, the lessons we’ve learnt along the way and of course, some funny stories (well…. we think we’re funny anyway!).
Madeline Anderson (Yallalie Farm), Darrylin Gordon (Lamboo Station), Daisy Goodwin (AED), Lexi Mourambine (Yallalie Farm) on a visit to Roxy Downs station, SA.
Harry Curtin of East Kimberley Cattle Company and AED officer, Kevin May.
Kira Tracey (AED) with Wongutha Christian Aboriginal Parent School agricultural student planting Youlk (native food) seedlings.

A big past with an even bigger future
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Aboriginal Business Development project works with multiple stations throughout the Kimberley. Darrylin Gordon is 26 years old, a mother and lives on Lamboo station. Darrylin is manager Robin […]

If you’ve got something, make the best of it and make it happen
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer Robin Yeeda manages Lamboo station in the Kimberley. Robin came to the Kimberley in his teens and begun working on stations with his father. His father was an overseer on Lamboo and when a managerial position […]

They’ll make a Western Australian out of me yet
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer Nine months in to my move across the other side of the country and I’m still learning. You may have seen my first post in April when I first moved to WA. It’s been five months […]

When it’s more than just a business
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer Harry Curtin manages Glen Hill Pastoral Station — one of four properties of East Kimberley Cattle Company (EKC). EKC is comprised of Glen Hill, Doon Doon West, Bow River and Violet Valley. Harry has achieved much […]

Stakeholder’s highlight the need for support for Aboriginal pastoralists in WA
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer Around 30% of the northern Australian landmass is Aboriginal-owned and close to one third of the region’s population is Aboriginal. In this context Aboriginal people have a significant stake in the region’s development and economic future. […]

Beyond the gate
Host: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development — Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin, Development Officer The Aboriginal Business Development (ABD) project works with six Aboriginal managed properties throughout Western Australia, the majority of which are pastoral. These businesses are all in the process of improving the profitability of their businesses through […]

Life & Times at Lamboo Station
Host: DAFWA Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Robin Yeeda This blog was written by Robin Yeeda. Robin is one of the creators of the ‘Ngunjiwirri Aboriginal Corporation’, one of the indigenous groups the ABD project works with. Lamboo Station is roughly 50km west of Halls Creek town, along the Great Northern Highway and the place I […]

Beef backgrounding with the Barron’s
Host: DAFWA Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Lexine Mourambine This blog was written by Lexine Mourambine. Lexine is the future manager of one of the properties the ABD project works with “Yallalie Farm”. My Grandfather, Kevin Barron, was the driving force behind acquiring our family a 1200Ha farm in Dandaragan, 263km north of Perth in […]

Education beyond the gate
Host: DAFWA Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin To some, it may seem obvious what happens when cattle leave the farm. To the general person, well, our beef comes from the grocery store so we really have no idea. When you are new to pastoralism (well… new in terms of cattle production, and that […]

Gold Coast -> Outback -> Perth -> Dongara -> Broome
Host: DAFWA Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin When you live on the Gold Coast, you don’t have to go far for anything. Shops? 15 minutes. Beach? 15 minutes. Work? 15 minutes. New job in Perth? 46 hours. At the beginning of this year, I was offered a job working as a development officer […]

Grocery list: Onions, carrots, kulyus, youlks, sandalwood nuts…?
Host: DAFWA Aboriginal Business Development Project Written by Daisy Goodwin Ever wanted to diversify your property but you didn’t know where to start? What can you grow? Will it be worth it? How much land will I need? Well this is just too hard. But there may be a new solution for some, particularly indigenous […]