From humble beginnings on a cattle station near Sandfire, Freddy’s journey has been one of resilience, independence, and creativity. Inspired by the land and the stories of his community, he began painting in 2017. This became a profound way to share his feelings and express his connection to the unique beauty and spirit of the country.
Now, through Longuda Designs, inspired by his traditional name (Blue Tongue Lizard), Freddy’s artwork is bridging cultures and uniting people. As part of ABV’s Martu Business Development Services program, funded by Greatland Gold, what started as a small sole trader business has now blossomed and expanded in scope, from showcasing his goods at local markets to exhibiting at the Broome Art Gallery. Thanks to the unwavering support from ABV volunteer, Martin Venier, and the whole team’s dedication, Freddy is diversifying with new ventures like stunning fishing shirts featuring his artworks!
“Art helps me focus, paintings tell a thousand words and inspires me to express myself through my art work”
Through the transformative power of art, Longuda Designs envisions a world where Australians and people across the globe come together. By weaving creativity, culture, and connection into his designs and products, he hopes to inspire unity, celebrate diversity and build bridges that transcend borders.
The 2019/2020 Australian bushfires were a catastrophic event with devastating impact across regional communities. Burning up to 19 million hectares, destroying thousands of homes, and impacting nearly three billion animals, the impact of these fires can still be felt today.
Communities like those in Gippsland, have worked tirelessly through recovery to rebuild homes, livelihoods and habitats. One such community is Buchan, a small town in East Gippsland with a population of 200 people. Despite its size, the town boasts over 35 incorporated associations and groups, reflecting the local communities’ rich interconnectedness and dedication to place.
The volunteerism and commitment of the local community is utterly infectious, says local community worker Susan Freeman. “Their commitment and passion to build back after the fires and support one another has been amazing.”
In the wake of the bushfires, the Buchan community formed an association to support community-led recovery efforts. Working originally with the East Gippsland Shire Council, Susan deepened her knowledge of local disaster recovery efforts and learnt about the various community recovery committees established to help drive this.
“Each of the impacted Gippsland communities had a Place Manager who I provided support to, and Buchan was one of them,” Susan says. “The determination among the communities and Place Managers was incredible. I had never seen anything like it before.”
Since joining the Buchan Gelantipy and District Renewal Association, Susan has supported the delivery of valuable community-centred projects ranging from bricks and mortar through to wellbeing related programs with local outreach. This has included supporting community organisations to progress the redevelopment of the Buchan Recreation Reserve, as well as the construction of the new netball and tennis courts, upgrades to community halls, and the installation of an accessible canoe launch.
It also included repairing and improving two important local halls and establishing a community bus to support the Neighbourhood House, Bush Nursing Centres, Primary School and sporting clubs, to stay active and participate in local life.
“Our work extends beyond physical infrastructure, and with the support of the council and the Gippsland Community Foundation, we’ve organised movie nights, family fun days, barbecues, and Christmas parties to nurture and keep our community together.”
Susan says the Buchan community still has a long way to go, however navigating bureaucracy and funding requirements has made this process more complicated. “The competitive nature of grant rounds and the mismatch between funding availability and community readiness have posed significant hurdles for us.
“The promised government funding wasn’t made easily available to us once we were coordinated and ready to use it. It’s also inherently difficult for us to secure grants that fund administrative wages like myself, and now time is running out. I am looking for any grant available that might be able to help fund this role.
Susan says the funding and support outside of Government grants has been instrumental to their community’s work, with the Australian Business Volunteers offering strategic support and efficient avenues to navigate community-led solutions.
“We couldn’t have achieved what we have for our community without the funding support of non-government bodies such as the Gippsland Community Foundation, Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal and capacity building support from the Australian Business Volunteers.
“I hope that government funding models can be adjusted to better reflect community-led resilience and recovery efforts going forward.”
ABV is pleased to support community leaders like Susan through the Victoria Resilient Regions program implemented in collaboration with Deakin University to help Victoria’s Gippsland region prepare for future severe weather events.
The Resilient Regions program is supported by the Victorian Government.
At ABV, we have had the privilege of walking alongside so many incredible women on their journeys—women who inspire, lead, and create lasting impact in their communities.
As we celebrate their achievements, our CEO, Liz Mackinlay, takes a moment to reflect on their resilience, passion, and the change they drive every day.
Join us as we honour their stories and the meaningful contributions they make to building a better future this International Women's Day
Corina Jadai was born in Derby, and raised in the Kimberley and Pilbara region.
Corina is an established artist, graphic designer and now First Nations fashion designer. She enjoys painting, creating designs for commercial use, designing football shirts, working with resin art and making jewellery.
Corina joined the Martu program in 2023 where she first met the program team and her mentor, Liz Reece, in Broome. Liz is an experienced professional in the textile industry, who has provided valuable insights along the way.
In July, Newmont Telfer provided the opportunity for Corina to showcase her fashion collection and work with the Martu program at the Newmont offices in Perth for a NAIDOC week celebration. Newmont staff enjoyed Corina’s presentation and many stayed behind to talk with Corina and view her portfolio.
Corina then spent the week with Brigitte to work with professionals in the fashion industry. These included Textile Lab, who are helping to print her designs onto fabric and sew the garments together at their textile factory.
Corina and Brigitte also visited Siricin Silks to choose fabrics for the designs. Brigitte said: “We had a great week visiting industry professionals to further Corina’s journey to help her first collection of garments become a reality. Corina is growing in confidence in talking about her work. We met with professionals in the industry who were incredibly impressed by her dedication and the creativity and quality of her work.”
Corina continues to build her networks in the First Nations fashion scene in WA. In late August, Corina was invited to be involved in a Kirrikin fashion show held at the Fortescue Festival at Newman. Corina met with the Kirrikin team in Newman and was given the opportunity for a behind the scenes industry experience which will be valuable when Corina comes to show her own garments.
Young community members learnt how to be a model for the day, walking the catwalk wearing Kirrikin's latest designs. Corina said the event was “an inspiring, memorable and uplifting experience”. “The event provided a welcome moment of beauty and creativity, which I truly appreciated.”
Image: Corina and Amanda Healy (Director, Kirrikin) meeting at Kirrikin studio in Perth to discuss Corina’s fashion designs
Last week, our Martu team joined the Rawa Community School from Martu country during their visit to Margaret River. We were warmly welcomed by the Undalup team, led by Zac Webb, who shared incredible cultural insights into Wadandi Boodja (country), its people, plants, animals, and traditions.
Through hands-on activities, we learned how to make rope, craft tools, and even mimic bird calls. A truly enriching experience.
Thank you to the Undalup team and Rawa Community School for making us part of such a meaningful cultural exchange.
Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea – 6 November 2024
The City Pharmacy Ltd (CPL) Foundation Inc. is excited to announce its strategic partnership with Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) to introduce its pilot programme which aims at delivering a comprehensive Business Mentoring Program tailored to support women-led businesses in Papua New Guinea. This initiative is part of CPL Foundation’s ongoing commitment to empowering women through education, healthcare, and economic development.
The Business Mentoring Program, set to run from November 2024 to April 2025, is designed to enhance the business acumen, leadership skills, and operational strategies of women entrepreneurs. Through a blend of in-person workshops and online mentoring, the program will provide personalised guidance, practical tools, and the opportunity to build peer networks that foster business growth and sustainability.
Liz Mackinlay, ABV CEO, emphasized the significance of this partnership:
"The Business Mentoring Program represents an essential focus for ABV—supporting women entrepreneurs in PNG through our ABV Business mentors. We are proud to help bring this vision to life with CPL Foundation to further the strengths and ambitions of women business leaders across PNG."
Key features of the program include:
ABV brings over 40 years of experience in delivering business support programs across the Asia-Pacific region, aimed at strengthening communities through business. Their expertise in capacity building, combined with CPL Foundation’s mission to empower women and girls, promises to create lasting change for participating businesses.
CPL Foundation Inc., established in 2014, has been at the forefront of empowering communities in Papua New Guinea through various initiatives. This partnership with ABV aligns with its focus on fostering economic empowerment for women, ensuring that participants are equipped with the skills and confidence to succeed in a competitive business environment.
“We are proud to partner with ABV on this exciting initiative,” said Deborah Alois, CPL Foundation Manager. “This program will not only provide women-led businesses with essential tools and mentoring but will also contribute to the broader development of PNG’s economy by fostering innovation and leadership among women entrepreneurs.”
The program officially launched on Monday 4 November 2024, with participants engaging in an initial in-person 4 days workshop followed by continuous support through online mentoring and group sessions. This initiative will further strengthen the role of women in PNG’s economic landscape, promoting a more inclusive and dynamic business environment.
About CPL Foundation Inc
CPL Foundation Inc. is the philanthropic arm of CPL Group, established to empower women and girls through education, healthcare, and economic initiatives. Since 2014, the Foundation has supported various communities and organizations across PNG. Empowering communities through accessible education and literacy, comprehensive healthcare services, and economic opportunities that drive sustainable growth, CPL Foundation remains committed to making a lasting impact on the lives of Papua New Guineans.
About ABV
"Australian Business Volunteers (ABV) is a not-for-profit international development agency bringing over 40 years’ experience across the Asia Pacific region in community transformation, with a focus on sustainable and inclusive economic growth, through place-based planning and locally led development. Our team of international development specialists and associates, in collaboration with our 300+ volunteer network of skilled volunteers, work collaboratively with our community and private sector partners to deliver impactful, practical and sustainable outcomes.
The truth is, when resources are scarce, it's hard to be friends in the scramble for funding.
NGOs often find themselves in a race for resources, which makes true collaboration incredibly challenging. Yet, if we're serious about making a real difference in our communities, we need to break out of this cycle.
It's time to create a "sacred space" for collaboration—a space where the focus shifts from competing for resources to creating real community impact.
It means putting aside the need to protect our own turf and coming together with a shared purpose.
We've seen firsthand how powerful this can be.
When we met with the team at Fire to Flourish, we quickly realised we shared a vision for disaster resilience and a dream for Australia’s preparedness and social cohesion.
This is what it looks like in practice: setting aside our individual agendas and coming together with a shared purpose.
In silos we are fragmented—but in pooling our resources, knowledge, and expertise, we can create solutions that are far greater than the sum of their parts.
Liz Mackinlay and Natascha Wernick had a fantastic experience at last week's Advancing Equity Conference. The speakers brought unique and exciting perspectives, sparking new ideas on the future of equity in business practices.
It was inspiring to hear Dr. Michael McAfee and Dr Norman Swan challenge attendees on how to integrate equity into both our organisations and the work we do.
On Friday, Liz spoke on a panel discussing "Equity in Governance." She posed the question: "How can we collaborate at a governance level, ensuring we still manage risk, protect purpose, and create space for the community?"
Liz emphasised, "We need to flip governance from being all about compliance and checking boxes to focus on achieving our purpose and who are the people apart of it. Once we put that first, we can bring governance around that."
Congratulations to CCQ - Country to Coast QLD for hosting the Equity Co-Lab, and to Julie Sturgess and Olivia Naughtin for this great innovation. Thank you to fellow panellists Sarah Callaghan, Thalep Ahmat, and Marion Wands.
We're excited to participate in the emerging community of practice around equity.
The Martu Business Development Services program, supported by Australian Business Volunteers (ABV), is aimed at creating pathways to economic independence for Martu people through improved business skills, knowledge and facilitating access to opportunities and support to realise their business vision.
Sponsored by Newmont, the program is now in its second year. Senior Program Manager Brigitte White and Program Coordinator Garth Preece, together with Martu Liaison leaders Sharon Bieundurry and Noeletta Lee, work with volunteers skilled in business and industry.
Together, they bring business development, education and open-up networks to Martu communities in the Western Desert and Fitzroy Valley/Kimberley regions.
The ABV program team and volunteers work alongside Martu community participants throughout their business journey, starting from the initial ideas stages through to preparing for the launch of their businesses.
The program also offers educational opportunities in financial literacy and developing the skills necessary for starting and operating a business.
The team works across diverse sectors, such as small business, civil works, dry hire, mine rehabilitation, seed collecting, First Nations fashion and art, music, cultural awareness, and education.
The team works closely with Newmont Telfer’s Social Performance team, and industry stakeholders and organisations such as Money Mob Talkabout Limited, Ngurra Kujungka and Indigenous Business Australia to create networks and support for businesses in the region.
Indigenous Business Month ︱Newmont Australia ︱#IndigBizMonth #10yearsofIBM #MakingOurMark
Image above: Left to Right – Brigitte White (ABV, Senior Program Manager), Desmond Taylor (Martu Artist), Daniel Tincknell (Newmont Telfer, Manager Social Performance), Sabino Andriani (Newmont Telfer, Superintendent Social Performance
See Desmond's latest exhibition with Helen Seiver here: 2024 | another way Helen Seiver
another way is the culmination of a unique collaboration and the coming together of distinct yet indelibly connected life experience.
For the past four years, Desmond Taylor and Helen Seiver have worked together on a profound artistic journey of forgiveness and healing. Together, they have sat on country at Nullagine in the Pilbara. They have talked, performed rituals and collaborated on artwork. They have learnt from each other, leant on each other and gradually walked together toward another way; a sensitive and perceptive way forward that gently disrupts the bonds of colonial determination.
The passion Alexander and Emma Flora Ah Tong have for all things digital technology is evident through the energy and time they have invested into improving their shop in Samoa. In 2019, the couple left their jobs to pursue their dream of owning a small business.
This risk paid off as they launched C-4-U Technology, an electronics shop that repair and sell refurbished tech items. Their business is not only about fixing tech, but they also aim to educate, upskill and connect their community to the digital world. Offering upskilling classes to the younger population on digital technology repair - an incredibly valuable and employable skill. The couple work with a large customer base, from local households to government offices, with a passion to make technology accessible for all.
Digital disparity is a reality for many who are left behind as technology evolves, which can create isolation and exclusion in our communities.
In 2024, Alexander and Emma enrolled in the YES GROW, a business skills program offered by the Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Samoa in partnership with Australian Business Volunteers (ABV). The partnership provides BSP banking clients with the opportunity to learn business skills from expert volunteers at ABV.
The program sets businesses up for long-term success with ongoing coaching and mentoring support.
Alexander said “The one-to-one sessions with the business volunteers who facilitated the trainings was a great opportunity for us to ask questions, to enable us to continue improving and moving forward with our business.”
Although the couple are tech-savvy, the program strengthened their business fundamentals like managing costs, keeping good records, and marketing.
Taking part in the BSP ABV Yes Grow program, has enabled Alexander and Emma to understand the requirements of their small business and how to improve their processes. In turn, enabling them to create a space where people of all ages can come together to learn.
C-4-U Technology is now gradually growing, supported by expert volunteers and driven by the passion of Alexander and Emma.
