First Nations Economics (FNE) and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) have partnered to launch a new national Financial Foundations for Business Program to support First Nations women in building confidence in the business financial fundamentals that underpin economic participation.

Key points:

• The program aims to strengthen Indigenous women's practical understanding of the foundational finance concepts needed to participate in business with "confidence, clarity and choice"
• The program begins in July will be delivered through eight place-based workshops across Australia
• FNE notes understanding the business financial basics is "one of the biggest confidence barriers" for women interested in starting a business

Delivered through eight place-based workshops across Australia, the pilot will support up to 80 First Nations women to "strengthen their practical understanding of the foundational finance concepts needed to participate in business with greater confidence, clarity and choice", FNE and IBA said in a joint statement on Monday.

The workshops are designed for First Nations women who are exploring enterprise ideas, taking early steps to explore starting a business, participating in community-led economic opportunities, or simply wanting to build a stronger foundation in the financial basics before deciding what comes next.

FNE Managing Director (Foundation and Strategy), Associate Professor Rick Macourt, said understanding the business financial basics is "one of the biggest confidence barriers for many women at the early stages of economic participation".

"This partnership creates trusted spaces where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women can strengthen practical knowledge, ask questions openly and build the confidence to move forward on their own terms," he said.

Across the workshop series, participants will strengthen practical capability in the core business financial foundations that often create uncertainty at the earliest stages of an enterprise. This includes building knowledge in business systems, in particular around ABNs, GST and tax obligations, understanding cash flow, and how money moves through a business.

The workshops will also have a focus on separating personal and business finances, and introductory discussions around pricing, profitability, financial discipline, and navigating institutions and systems.

The program aims to create "a safe space to explore the realities of balancing business ambition with cultural obligations, boundaries and values-aligned decision-making, ensuring First Nations women can move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and sustainability".

Indigenous Business Australia CEO David Knights said IBA is "proud to support initiatives like this that empower First Nations women to build the futures they choose - strengthening core financials skills, boosting confidence, and supporting early-stage enterprise and economic participation".

The two organisations said the partnership reflects "a shared commitment to strengthening practical, culturally grounded pathways into business readiness and women's economic leadership".

The pilot will also generate place-based insights into the common barriers women face in understanding business finances, helping inform future program and product design specifically targeted at supporting First Nations women, support pathways and investment opportunities.

As part of FNE's broader Nyami Balmuun (Strong Women) program and IBA's Strong Women Strong Business initiative, this new Financial Foundations for Business Program aims to strengthen "the ecosystem supporting First Nations women through financial capability, entrepreneurship, mentoring and leadership pathways".

Workshops will be held across all states and territories with the first workshop taking place in Townsville, Queensland, on 15 July this year. Registrations are now open to all eight workshops for women ready to take the next step with greater confidence and clarity. More information is available online.