Nakari Thorpe

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Nakari Thorpe

When Tara Croker entered the native food and beverage industry two years ago, she discovered Indigenous representation was less than two per cent — and that the benefits were not going back to community. It ignited a spark in the Wiradjuri woman. She launched her startup, Yaala Sparkling, in February 2023. Ms Croker is part of a new wave of Indigenous entrepreneurs entering the industry for the first time.

Oct 13, 2024 | abc.net.au | Nakari Thorpe

In a large recycling facility in Sydney's west, Cindy Dumbrell – dressed in a helmet, mask and high-vis – is leading a team through a waste sorting machine. The 40-year-old has made a big impression at her first job, quickly rising through the ranks from waste picker to operating machinery in the landfill. It can be a tough and demanding job, but for Ms Dumbrell it's been a lifesaver. "[I] went down the wrong path… come to a point where I nearly lost my life," she said.