The document discusses how climate change presents both threats and opportunities for small businesses in Outback Australia. Desert Knowledge Australia aims to identify projects that contribute to a sustainable future for desert regions. Their Outback Business Networks project connects small businesses across different industries in the Outback through shared marketing, training, and purchasing to help them save costs, access new markets and customers, and collaborate. The networks have helped businesses directly access new sales opportunities and partner on new products. Desert Knowledge Australia also provides members professional development opportunities and helps link expertise around areas like sustainable building practices.

1. Climate Change
A threat and opportunity for small
businesses in Outback Australia
Joy Taylor
November 2010
Panel: Climate Change and Green Clusters
TCI Conference 2010 | Delhi

8. Desert Knowledge Australia
Identifies and develops key local and national
projects that contribute to a social, economic
and environmentally sustainable future for
desert Australia

9. Our guiding principles
• collaborative
• intercultural
• sustainable
• Desert voice
• high impact
• localised and national / international

10. Fred Chaney
Chair
Harold Furber
Deputy Chair

11. Some projects
• Desert Knowledge Australia Outback
Business Networks
• Virtual Meeting Place
• Desert Leadership
• remoteFOCUS
• Desert Knowledge Precinct
• Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre

12. Outback Business Networks
Connecting small businesses across Outback Australia
● Mining Services ● Sustainable Building ● Tourism
● Local Produce ● Creative Industries
Save time by accessing information and contacts
Connect with people across industry, regions and
Outback Australia
Reduce Cost through shared marketing, training and
purchasing
Increase Revenue through collaboration

13. Outback Business Networks
Connecting small businesses across Outback Australia
supported by
Aboriginals Benefit Account

14. Outback Partners

15. Local contacts who know the region

16. Project Coordination Team
Mike Crowe
Project Director
Joy Taylor
Manager, Network
Development
Judith Dixon
Project Manager,
Tourism
Julie Fielke
Project Support
Officer

17. Adding value for businesses in the Outback
Referrals to relevant
business support
services
Contacts within
five industries
and industry
associations
Linking to business
opportunities –
income generating
or cost saving
Connecting with
potential business
collaborators
Timely access to
information, professional
development to meet
business needs
Connecting to nine regions of desert
Australia: potential new suppliers
and customers

18. Linking suppliers and customers
in new ways
13 October 2010

19. Outcomes to date
• Direct sales into new markets in the Outback
• Bulk sales of products for corporate gifts
• Business collaboration between two suppliers to develop a
new product
• Booking of one supplier for “celebrity chef” role / master
classes in WA
Opportunities for 2011
• Outback Produce Directory
• Local Produce Virtual Trade Fair - 2011
• Adapt model for Creative Industries, Sustainable Building and
Tourism Networks

20. Linking business operators to relevant
professional development
Micro-business operators
linked with an
experienced artist /
business operator /
trainer for a workshop
series via web
conferencing and WIKI
http://art-of-business.wikispaces.com

22. Outcomes to date
• Participants submitted works to national competitions
• One participant successfully completed a tender to supply
merchandise
• On-going peer-to-peer support
• Development of business plans / strategic plans
• Increased confidence
Opportunities for 2011
• Demand from members for additional programs
• Adapt model for other industries

23. Business sustainability
– linking expertise Sustainable
Building
network
members share
expertise on
energy
management

25. Outcomes to date
• Commencement of business collaborations between
members
• After ATRAA conference site visits, requests from
manufacturers and distributors of solar PV systems to install
more arrays at the Desert Knowledge Australia Solar Centre
http://www.dkasolarcentre.com.au/
• Commencement of development of series of workshops in
2011 on energy and water conservation for small businesses
Opportunities for 2011
• “Virtual energy audits” for Outback Business Networks
members

26. Climate Change
A threat and opportunity for
small businesses in Outback
Australia
Questions?
Joy.taylor@desertknowledge.com.au
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