The Kinaway Sistas in Business program is a flagship initiative designed to support, connect and elevate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in business across Victoria.
Delivered in collaboration with Professor Kerry Arabena and Karabena Consulting, the program combines cultural strength with practical business capability to create real pathways for growth, leadership and economic participation.
What the Program Is About
Sistas in Business is a statewide, culturally grounded business development program that supports women at all stages of their journey — from early idea through to established enterprise.
The program is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in business, entrepreneurs, and Kinaway members, bringing together those already operating and those ready to take the next step. For those not yet part of Kinaway, the program also creates a strong pathway to join the network and become part of a thriving business community.
The program brings together:
Connection and community through yarning, networking and peer support
Practical business capability including financial literacy, structuring and growth planning
Mentoring and coaching through structured accelerator cohorts
Access to procurement, partnerships and market opportunities
It is built on a strengths-based, co-designed approach that reflects the lived experiences of First Nations women in business.
How It Works
The program is delivered in three key stages:
Engage – Consultation and yarning forums to identify barriers and opportunities
Build – Enterprise capability workshops focused on real business skills
Accelerate – Targeted mentoring and coaching to support business growth
This layered model ensures both broad participation and deeper impact, reaching women across metropolitan and regional Victoria.
Vision
To create a strong, connected and thriving ecosystem of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women-led businesses across Victoria — where women are supported to lead, grow and succeed on their own terms.
Program Outcomes
Through Sistas in Business, Kinaway aims to:
Strengthen enterprise capability and confidence in business
Increase participation of Aboriginal women in the business sector
Support sustainable business growth and long-term success
Improve access to procurement and market opportunities
Build strong peer networks and leadership pathways
The program is expected to engage over 100 women statewide, with targeted support for those ready to scale and grow their businesses.
The Impact
At its core, Sistas in Business is about more than business —
it’s about self-determination, economic empowerment, and creating generational change.
It brings together culture, community and capability to ensure First Nations women are not just participating in the economy — but leading it.
Get Involved
To be part of the Sistas in Business program, connect with the Kinaway team:
Illana Atkinson
Membership & Kinaway Creative Engagement Manager
P: 0455 892 158
E: illanaa@kinaway.com.au
Samantha French
Senior Program Manager
P: 0497 597 536
E: samantha@kinaway.com.au
The process
1. Submit your application
Complete the application form, making sure you complete your details accurately and attach all required documentation.
2. We review your application
Your membership application will be considered by the Kinaway Board to ensure membership qualifications are met. The application process wait period is 6-8 weeks.
3. You become a member!
Once approved, you’ll be added to our Membership Directory and can start to enjoy all the benefits that membership offers you.
