Curijo is arguably the only Aboriginal owned and controlled company headquartered in Canberra, on Ngunnawal country and branching out to NSW onto the lands of Dharawal and Wiradjuri peoples.
Curijo prides itself as an Aboriginal business with the aim to be the Aboriginal Professional Services Company of choice.
In a conversation with NITV Radio, Curijo founder Belinda Kendall says she was already in business as a sole trader while living in NSW more than ten years ago.
When she moved to Canberra about 5 years ago, she took the opportunity to continue trading with other partners including Tina MCGHIE and Darren SCHAEFFER.
“We started the business to increase equity and prosperity for Aboriginal people and all Australians through connection, leadership, truth-telling and education”
“Our vision in 2025 is to be a trusted leader in professional services and role-model for other Aboriginal businesses.”
When the pandemic struck at the beginning of this year, Belinda Kendall and her partners identified opportunities and challenges and had to rise to the occasion.
She says the company has successfully adopted and spread the use of different online platforms to keep staff and clients -across NSW and the ACT- more connected.
“The positive aspect of the pandemic is that it brought our workforce closer and we built a different type of relationship with each other and we’ve become very comfortable in using different types of technology.”
On the negative side, all of Curijo’s clients including those in the government sector have been struggling because of the pandemic.
Besides the wide use of technology, Belinda Kendall also credits lessons and connections garnered through her participation in the Murra Indigenous Business Master Class Program for Curijo’s success during the health crisis.
“The Murra program provided more confidence and ongoing support through the pandemic, we built a very positive network.”
“Being around so many other knowledgeable Aboriginal business owners was really good and that sharing, and networking has been fundamental for my learning.”
Our way is through providing opportunities of employment with Curijo and nurturing other Aboriginal peoples and businesses to establish and grow.
