About the Microenterprise Project Website
There are many people with disabilities who currently operate microenterprise businesses across Australia and our website offers a platform for them to showcase their great work.
Each business will be featured on our website where individual microenterprise owners can share their information, photos and/or videos.
If you are a microenterprise business owner or an organisation that knows someone who may be interested in showcasing their business online, please contact us here to find out more information.
About the Valued Lives Microenterprise Project
Valued Lives believes everyone has the right to work and should have access to flexible and tailored supports to enable people to build their capacity and skills to gain meaningful employment.
Valued Lives has a strong interest in leading the development of Microenterprises for vulnerable/marginalised people living in the community. Having our Microenterprise Hub Space in Fremantle, this innovative community project has been made possible through collaborative partnerships between the Department of Housing, Disability Services and Valued Lives Foundation. It is a great example of how the Department of Communities can work across departments and alongside peer-led organisations to achieve economic participation and build social inclusion through creating community connection.
Microenterprise plays a highly important role in employment creation and income generation opportunities for low-income individuals. The Fremantle Microenterprise Hub is a whole community space where marginalised people, including people with a disability, can develop and run their own small business with the support and mentoring of the Valued Lives Microenterprise Project team based at the Hub.
The Microenterprise Project Team were recognised for this vital work when they won the Excellence in Improving Employment Opportunities award at the prestigious WA Disability Support Awards night. The Microenterprise Project team were nominated for this award by one of the project participants who has benefited greatly from the support and guidance received from the team.
About the MEP Co-Design Team
Our Microenterprise Co-Design Team is a group of individuals who come together every quarter to provide input, advice and feedback about the Microenterprise Project.
The team has lived experience of disability, knowledge in the setting up of Microenterprises and a passionate interest in the development of Microenterprise within WA. Their crucial input keeps us focused on the outcomes of the MEP project, ensuring we fully maximise the benefits for our MEP Participants.
About Valued Lives
Valued Lives Foundation is a peer-led support organisation operating in Western Australia that is run and controlled by people with disabilities and family members with extensive knowledge, skills and expertise in delivering peer-led initiatives.
Over 75% of our Board and Staff have lived experience directly or have a family member with a disability and or mental health condition.
Valued Lives Foundation has been involved with several NDIS initiatives; a non-government provider of Local Area Coordination in WA, we then commenced delivery of capacity building strategies and support coordination when people transferred to the NDIS.
Valued Lives Foundation has a “think big, remain small and deliver locally” mantra. As members of NACBO ( National Alliance of Capacity Organisations) we have built solid partnerships with like-minded small grassroots organisations across Australia to build people’s knowledge, shift mindsets and strengthen values-based leadership so that vulnerable Australians are empowered to have full, meaningful and inclusive lives that are rich in relationships.
