Wellbeing business incubator in far east Gippsland
Platform for locals to develop wellbeing businesses and projects.
This is an Aboriginal led collaboration with wider community. It will establish an open collective of budding small wellbeing businesses and not for profit projects; encompassing environmental, creative arts, and healing. Enterprises will be able to access a local hub in the main street that will provide a welcoming and safe place. Funded projects will enhance creativity and develop product. The hub will provide :
– Creative arts studio
– Small workshop / meeting room
– Consultation room
– Office resources
– Retail outlet
The wellbeing collective will develop a marketing and an incubator business model for sustainability and growth.
Orbost and district had a significant decrease in industry and employment. Business development opportunities are limited and subject to seasonal fluctuations with little local based trade to sustain businesses during the downturn. An incubator will road test wellbeing businesses and ideas decreasing individual financial risk. It provides a hub for tourist patronage.
The focus on inclusion will increase broader community participation, and ensure that Aboriginal people will feel culturally safe to participate.
Focussing on healing and recovery will increase optimism in the future. Participating in creative arts benefits individual and community wellbeing, fostering ‘inventive solutions’ and ‘transformation’ (Malchiodi, 2005)