My name's Stephen Cardona and I am the
owner of Fitaz Darwin Gym, an Indigenous
business. We are open six days a week. We do group fitness three times a day,
personal training. We're also taking
people through fitness assessments going
for emergency services. I received the
Business Growth Program from the
Government. I originally applied back in
2012 but I wasn't ready to receive help.
As every Indigenous person is in
Australia we have that little thing
called shame job. So we were a little shame job to have that government funding. I
for one wanted to build the business on
my own money. When I got to 2016 it was
time for me to let down that shame job
and say okay I need help. All the
paperwork was already there.
They had everything there for me and
they knew where I was at before even I
knew I was at. What I needed was
something to say to my members and
clients, say okay, here's something that's
worth your money. Not only that, once the
program was received there was other
programs.They were like okay now that you've
received your Business Growth Program we
also have these programs to coincide
what you already have. I do encourage all
businesses to get involved with some
programs that are available. There's
something there for you. Whether it's a
website, whether it's mentoring from
another business person - there's always
something available.
