The Desert Knowledge CRC works closely with small business in
desert Australia.
In order to provide meaningful outcomes to desert business the
Desert Knowledge CRC has established a Core Project, Desert
Businesses.
The Desert Businesses project seeks to understand how small
businesses and small business networks can more effectively deliver
livelihoods for desert people based on natural and cultural
resources and on service delivery, in ways that are environmentally
sound and socially appropriate.
Desert Businesses research will focus on three streams:
- an audit of the work and business situation in Desert Australia
to determine business-readiness and determine the needs of Desert
Australia in relation to small to medium enterprise (SME)
development
- an analysis of the impacts of businesses on the community and
the local economy to determine multiplier effects of businesses and
identify high impact areas for investment
- action research relating to business aspects of other core
projects and SMEs emanating from the two streams.
The project will identify critical success factors and business
models that are more appropriate and culturally sensitive to
Aboriginal entrepreneurs and suited to Desert Australia. The
targeted outcomes are new micro and small businesses initiated
based on new models of investment and understanding of the key
success factors in encouraging entrepreneurial activity in Desert
regions of Australia.
