National Self-Employment Association: Speech to the 40th Anniversary Conference - Sydney
Acknowledgements omitted
Today is not just about celebrating the 40 year long journey of the National Self Employment Association.
It is about celebrating the journeys of more than 250,000 Australians who have been supported to start their own business.
The original self-employment program was introduced as a pilot covering 600 participants of the old Commonwealth Employment Service.
It is now the longest-running federal employment program of its kind.
Supported by multiple governments and eight successive Australian Prime Ministers.
The program itself has evolved – as has the National Self-Employment Association – but the core purpose remains.
It is about backing Australians to back themselves.
The program was innovative for its time, breaking new policy ground.
EVOLUTION OF THE PROGRAM
This year’s conference themes of resilience, innovation, inclusion and preparing for the future mirror the very foundations of the Self-Employment Assistance program.
Supporting First Nations entrepreneurs, people with disability, and those in regional communities, the program adapts to meet the evolving needs of Australians.
For 40 years the government has been supporting entrepreneurship.
Bob Hawke’s Labor Government launched the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme - or NEIS - in July 1985.
It is a uniquely Australian story.
One where the government doesn’t just provide support, but empowers individuals to take control of their futures.
To build something of their own, and to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the economy.
Part of its success has also been the program’s adaptability.
Australia’s employment market looked very different in 1985 to what it is now, but some of the key roadblocks remain.
The case studies back in the 80's include pottery workshops in Hobart or cane basket makers in Canberra.
These case studies sit on Betamax tapes in government archives.
TODAY’S ENTREPRENEURS
Forty years later, technology may have changed but the culture of supporting people to support themselves remains the same.
Mari grew up with allergies – and severe symptoms that accompanied them.
When she became a mum, she watched her kids go through the same thing.
Several doctor visits later and Mari was told that the local flora were making things worse.
She moved her family to Melbourne, and saw her family’s symptoms greatly improve.
Mari’s daughter suggested that it would be great to have something that could track their lifestyle, medications and food factors to help identify allergies better.
Mari had 15 years of experience as a software developer, so naturally her mind turned to the potential of an app.
She created the InflaMed app to identify root causes and inflammation triggers so individuals can map out a personalised action plan.
Mari built the app in her spare time and published it on the App Store just 11 months later.
Mari had the technical skills to put her idea in motion, but she needed help to turn her ideas into a functioning business.
Through her Workforce Australia Self-Employment Assistance provider, Mari took part in small business coaching with her mentor Pauline.
Mari describes the impact of the training like this:
‘I haven’t had any experience like this before, building a business, but it was a great learning opportunity for personal and professional development, and it’s rare.’
Today, InflaMed has partners across the university and start up sectors and is helping people track their allergy triggers in real time.
This is great news for Mari and for millions of allergy sufferers including myself.
Mari’s story is just one example of how helping someone get their start in business can help so many in our community benefit from their success.
A WORTHWHILE INVESTMENT
With a budget of around $800 million over the forward estimates, the Self-Employment Assistance program is a worthwhile investment for the government.
The program is helping people establish and operate small businesses to create jobs, grow the economy and improve labour market outcomes.
Small businesses contribute approximately $590 billion annually to the economy, accounting for almost one-third of Australia’s GDP.
And there are 822,900 sole trading businesses in Australia as at 30 June this year.
This highlights the importance of small businesses in providing jobs, delivering services, and driving innovation and productivity.
Emphasising their important role in contributing revenue and helping to define community identities.
Self-employment is an alternative to traditional employment, particularly in areas with a weak labour market or high unemployment. And it is an opportunity to achieve financial independence.
It has helped people with barriers to employment such as disability, childcare or age. It ensures that people interested in non-traditional employment receive the support they need to join the labour market in a way that maximises their economic potential.
The flow-on benefits of the program are self-evident.
More than 52,000 people have accessed a service under the Self-Employment Assistance program to support their small business venture.
It operates in 51 regions across the nation, supporting aspiring and existing small business owners.
More than 12,000 participants have successfully completed small business coaching since July 2022.
Importantly, completion rates are strong amongst women and culturally and linguistically diverse participants.
Women have a completion rate of 58 per cent, slightly above the program average, showing strong engagement and outcomes for female entrepreneurs.
Of CALD participants, the completion rate is 57 per cent, showing that the program is accessible and effective for diverse communities.
The mental health cohort has a completion rate of 52 per cent, demonstrating the program’s capacity to support people with complex barriers.
OUTCOMES
People taking part in the program are successfully launching businesses across a wide range of industries.
These range from retail, professional services, arts and recreation to health and social assistance.
In Brisbane, Zoe is balancing work with being a mum.
Self-Employment Assistant helped her nurture her passion for sustainability into Bloom Cycle.
Her small business transforms waste into handcrafted eco-friendly trophies, art, and jewellery.
In Adelaide, Jarron has turned his passion for the outdoors into ‘Jazz Up Your Garden,’ a garden maintenance business.
He says the Self-Employment Assistance program helped him build his confidence.
In the Flerieu Peninsula, Lauren’s illustration hobby has become a thriving business, calling the advice she received through the Program her ‘roadmap to success.’
In Brisbane, Dion has taken his love for music and started a music production business.
And in South Australia, Arthur has found the mentoring he received through the program to have been a critical part of his journey.
Today, he is providing First Nations animation, gaming development and other digital and creative content for businesses.
This diversity reflects the program’s flexibility and relevance across sectors.
Being self-employed and earning an income contributes to social outcomes and community outcomes.
It is great for people’s health and wellbeing, too.
The ability to work under your own steam, to be rewarded for your own hard work, and to do it your way.
That is incredibly satisfying.
It gives people agency and purpose.
These are outcomes that are not nearly as tangible as economic data, and are much harder to measure.
Until you talk directly to the participants of this program and hear how it has transformed their lives.
NSEA
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the National Self Employment Association.
Your work has been essential to maintaining the high quality of this program.
I welcome your feedback on the program and your support of changes over the years.
Your support to members has been greatly appreciated.
We recognise your role in providing direct support to people who may have questions about the program and the assistance it offers.
NSEA is a vital link with industry as well, ensuring the program is aligning with the changing face of our workforce.
CONCLUSION
As we celebrate the 40-year history of this program at this conference, we also celebrate the values that underpin it.
Values that have remained consistent even as the program has evolved.
To help Australians turn ideas into viable businesses, and challenges into opportunities.
In a world that is constantly shifting, this program has remained a steady hand.
Adapting to meet the needs not only of diverse communities, including First Nations entrepreneurs, and people with disability.
It serves Australians in regional and remote areas but also people in our cities.
A program which gives people with a good idea an opportunity to grow it into a small business.
It is a testament to what can be achieved when government policy is grounded in trust, inclusion, and the belief that everyone deserves the chance to thrive.
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