Primary Production
The Kimberley region in Western Australia is renowned for its beef cattle production and international exports of quality beef. Much of the land is controlled by Indigenous communities with interest in the cattle stations. Whilst there is great opportunity in the sector, many of the Indigenous people involved are highly skilled in stockman roles, but not educated in the business of beef cattle production, markets and selling. Often, the cattle stations fail as a result of mismanagement and end up in the hands of big business.
One of Western Influences’ senior consultants is an Indigenous community development expert. This experience was leveraged into a project to bring opportunity to and restore the profitability of Mount Pierre Station such that it supports the financial, social and emotional wellbeing of the Indigenous communities that live on it.
The outcomes of the project include the development of:
· a beef cattle production vocational education program;
· an administration course for the wives and partners of the stockmen, which produced books in the local Indigenous language;
· a juvenile justice program to keep youth out of prison and in school;
· a vegetable garden that could feed the population of 30 adults and children;
· a horse breaking program that supplied quality stock horses across the north of Australia; and,
· partnerships with local service providers who specialise in supporting skills, such as tax accounting and corporate law.
