FNTMP Success Stories: Boola Bidi Dreaming and WAITOC

The Boola Bidi Dreaming Visitor Centre was launched in December 2023 by the Harvey Aboriginal Corporation to assist the community to continue to educate, inspire, and reconcile all peoples with traditional Aboriginal knowledge and customs.

Boola Bidi Dreaming’s services include provision of a cultural centre for language classes, cultural ceremonies and storytelling, catering of native food in the Harvey community, tours and visitor information, artwork, clothing, homeware, giftware, and books.

Boola Bidi Dreaming was seeking assistance from a FNTMP mentor to improve their business focus areas while maintaining their core mission and service delivery. Briony Arnold (mentor) assisted them with the focus areas identified below. 

Business planning

• Developed a business plan with co-designed ideas and timelines
• Provided advice to become Tourism WA accredited (achieved in 2023) 

Branding, marketing and product development

• Provided guidance on Boola Bidi branding, marketing, and graphics via website, social media, and network development
• Provide access to FNTMP tools and articles (i.e. product development and marketing)
• Assisted the set-up of online booking platform, Rezdy, for Lesley’s guided tours
• Working with management to develop suitable tourism products and services for visitors to the centre in addition to the retail offering

Networking

• Introduced stakeholders to tourism organisations such as Australia’s South-West

Funding

• Supporting access to other funding supports through WAALITJ hub and business grants
• Provided methods for financial support from WAITOC for set up of the business
• Supported access to funding support for signage for Boola Bidi tours, business insurance for initial business start up, and brochure printing

FNTMP mentoring outcomes

WAITOC and FNTMP assistance in developing Boola Bidi Dreaming has been instrumental to the business’ success over a short period with results such as:

• Improved stakeholder networks with tourism leaders in the area
• Community development through local sourcing of Aboriginal businesses for artworks and
  products sold, as well as Aboriginal knowledge transfer to all peoples
• Rezdy booking platform implementation for system efficiency and removal of service barriers
  for consumers
• Improved funding pipeline and enabled increased sales.