Indigenous Enterprise And Entrepreneurship
Overview
In a contemporary society driven by capitalism and its associated materialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing are emerging as vital tools. This unit will help you identify ways in which Indigenous Australians are emerging in the contemporary world of capitalism to help infuse Indigenous values into Western societies. We will explore the notion of sustainability from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous (business) perspectives in understanding Indigenous enterprise and entrepreneurship. Also using case studies to help underpin our discussions, students will gain a unique understanding of Indigenous enterprise, for this is the first known subject of this kind within Australia.
Requisites
50 credit points
01-June-2025
Learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Understand and describe the role of capitalism as a social marker in Australian society
- Develop an understanding of Indigenous Entrepreneurship, and describe its history, and role in contemporary Australian society, and internationally
- Explain the cultural characteristics of the Indigenous Entrepreneur, including the role of authenticity in depicting Indigenous culture
- Investigate and analyse the apparent dichotomy of culture and profit, including explaining the role of Indigenous Knowledges
- Identify and explain the various barriers specific to Indigenous entrepreneurship
- Examine and suggest the social and economic factors that will shape the future of Indigenous enterprise and entrepreneurship
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Lecture (asynchronous) |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
| On-campus Class |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
| Specified Activities Various |
3.00 | 11 weeks | 33 |
| Unspecified Activities Various |
6.75 | 12 weeks | 81 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assessment | Individual | 35% | 1,3,4,5,6 |
| Mid-Semester Test | Individual | 35% | 2,3,5,6 |
| Research Essay | Individual | 30% | 2,4,5,6 |
Content
- Definitions of Indigenous Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- Reviewing Indigenous Australian history - impacts
- Indigenous cultures in a modern world - dichotomies of ideologies
- Characteristics of the Indigenous Entrepreneur
- Barriers to Indigenous Enterprise and how they might be overcome
- Indigenous Enterprise and Colonisation - history, development and local examples
- Indigenous Tourism Enterprises - tourism and cultural expression
- Inclusiveness of contemporary management - is enterprise “un-Aboriginal�
- The future of Indigenous Enterprise
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.