Keeping it in the Family: Business Training for Migrant Families was an Australian first! 

In 2021-2023 KIITF was the first migrant entrepreneurship program to be delivered to families (not only individuals) that wanted to start their own business and, the first entrepreneurship program to be delivered in languages other than English. 

That's because we don't think it's fair that in order to learn how to start a business in Australia, you have to speak English - especially if your business is focused on non-English speaking customers!

We offered programs for English speakers (people from 13 cultures attended), Spanish speakers (people from 8 cultures attended) and Mandarin speakers then finished in 2023 with a 12 week pre-accelerator program.

The program was a huge success and we are now seeing it replicated by other organisations in Australia.

KIITF was funded by City of Melbourne's Social Partnerships program for iGen Foundation. iGen collaborated with Jesuit Social Services who provided staff support and referral of some of their clients.

As iGen Foundation's entrepreneurship delivery partner, we are delighted with the findings of the evaluation report by Swinburne University.

Key findings:
- 53 individuals comprising 25 families participated;
- 51.5% had started a business in Melbourne or Sri Lanka, or Colombia or Nauru or China;
- KIITF training bolstered the entrepreneurial mindset, skills, and knowledge among migrant families;
- it nurtured growth in business acumen, affirmed existing expertise, and underlined the significance of comprehending diverse customer requirements; and

- the program served as a bridge to mitigate economic and social isolation faced by migrants through enabling intercultural interactions and network-building, which are vital for business initiations.