Stabilise. Grow. Thrive.
AAEF is building the foundations for long-term impact — a culturally governed pathway from stabilisation through life skills to enterprise, for Aboriginal adults aged 18 and over.
Ongoing Support
Support Doesn't Stop at 12 Weeks
Every AAEF graduate leaves with a dedicated mentor, a 24/7 support line, and a clear pathway forward. This isn't a program that drops people at the finish line.
A Dedicated Mentor
Every graduate is assigned a personal mentor before they leave the retreat — someone who knows their story and stays with them through the transition.
Always Available
Monthly check-ins keep graduates on track, and the line is open 24/7. If something comes up, we're here.
Business House Pathway
Graduates ready to pursue enterprise have ongoing support through the Business House — planning, financial literacy, and access to AAEF's network.
Life Skills Support
The skills and routines built during the retreat don't disappear. The original program team remains a point of contact long after graduation.
Our pathway to independence
One Clear Pathway.
AAEF is building a structured pathway from stabilisation to enterprise. Most participants will begin at the Life Skills Retreat. Safety House will be available for those who need a period of stabilisation first. From there, all participants will progress through Life Skills Retreat and on to Business House.
Stage 01
Safety House
Stabilisation first
Where neededStage 02
Life Skills Retreat
12-week residential program
Entry point for mostStage 03
Business House
Enterprise pathway
Criteria-basedEmployment
AAEF & partner roles
Enterprise
Self-employment & micro-business
Ongoing support runs beneath every stage — and continues after graduation.
Dedicated mentor · 24/7 support line · Business House pathway · Life skills follow-up
Where the bridge begins
Rehab Gets You Clean. We Help You Build a Life Worth Staying Clean For.
Every year, thousands of Aboriginal Australians complete rehabilitation — and walk out with nowhere structured to go. No stable housing. No routine. No community. No pathway. That gap is where relapse lives. AAEF exists to close it.
Where needed
Safety House
Stabilisation — For Those Who Need It
Safety House will be available for participants and staff who need a culturally safe period of stabilisation before entering the Life Skills Retreat. Once stable and ready, they will transition directly into the Life Skills Retreat.
Safety House is not a public emergency accommodation service. It is strictly for AAEF-approved adults aged 18+ who need stabilisation before entering the Life Skills Retreat.
Safety House Functions
- Available to participants and staff who need stabilisation before Life Skills Retreat
- Culturally safe environment with Elder oversight
- Trauma-informed support and case coordination
- Readiness assessment for transition into Life Skills Retreat
- Community accountability and cultural governance
- Transition planning so participants are set up for success
Entry point for most participants
Life Skills Retreat
12-Week Residential Program
The Life Skills Retreat will be where most participants begin their AAEF journey — a planned 12-week residential program. Participants will live and learn together, developing the practical skills, cultural identity, and personal resilience needed to enter the enterprise pathway.
12 participants + mentors. 12 weeks. 10 core learning components. One community.
Core Program Components
- Cultural identity and governance
- Financial literacy and money management
- Health and wellbeing
- Communication and relationships
- Digital literacy and technology
- Legal literacy and rights
- Housing and tenancy skills
- Employment readiness
- Parenting and family wellbeing
- Enterprise awareness and introduction
Program Outcomes
- Stable housing and living skills
- Financial literacy and independence
- Cultural identity strengthened
- Readiness for enterprise pathway
- Community connection and accountability
- Personal resilience and confidence
Stage three
Business House
Criteria-Based Enterprise Pathway
Business House will be the enterprise development stage of the AAEF pathway — strictly for graduates of the Life Skills Retreat who meet cultural, behavioural, and enterprise readiness criteria.
Business House is not an open-access program. It will be a selective, criteria-based pathway for Life Skills Retreat graduates.
Business House Functions
- Business planning and strategy
- Legal and compliance
- Financial management
- Marketing and sales
- Operations and systems
- Human resources
- Technology and digital tools
- Cultural governance in enterprise
Entry Criteria
- Completion of Life Skills Retreat
- Demonstrated financial literacy
- Stable housing and living situation
- Cultural governance commitment
- Viable enterprise concept or existing micro-business
Employment Outcomes
Three Ways AAEF Creates Employment
The AAEF pathway doesn't just change lives — it creates jobs. Program graduates move into employment in three distinct ways: within AAEF's own growing network of retreats, through the Enterprise Development divisions, and out into the broader Australian economy through Business House.
Within AAEF
As each new retreat opens across Australia, capable program graduates are selected, trained, and placed into roles on-site — from facilitators and facility managers to outreach workers and health support staff. Employment that grows facility by facility, built from within the community.
Program → Assessment → Training → Placement
Through Enterprise Development
AAEF's seven Enterprise Divisions — spanning Hemp Construction, Agriculture, Food Production, Mechanical & Trades, Hospitality & Tourism, Community Business, and Professional Services — create real jobs within an Aboriginal-owned enterprise ecosystem.
Life Skills → Enterprise Division → Employed
Into the General Economy
Business House graduates leave AAEF as micro-business owners and self-employed operators. Many go on to employ others in their communities — creating jobs, building local supply chains, and contributing to the broader Australian economy.
Business House → Enterprise → Community Employment
Interested in working with AAEF or learning more about our employment pathways?
View Employment PageAbout AAEF
Built from the Ground Up, for Aboriginal Australians
The Australian Aboriginal Enterprise Foundation Ltd (AAEF) is a registered charity established to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults aged 18 years and over through pathways focused on wellbeing, personal development, economic participation, and enterprise.
As a newly established organisation, AAEF is currently building the foundations required for future program delivery — strengthening governance, developing partnerships, securing resources, and establishing the systems needed to create sustainable and meaningful outcomes.
"We don't just talk about closing the gap — we build the bridge."
Karl Eales
Founder & CEO, AAEF
Why AAEF exists
Filling a National Gap
Aboriginal adults leaving rehabilitation, correctional facilities, unstable housing, or difficult life circumstances often face a gap between recovery and long-term independence. AAEF exists to bridge that gap through culturally grounded support, life skills development, and pathways into employment and enterprise. We are building a national model to provide:
- A stabilisation option for those who need it before entering the program
- A structured entry point into life skills and community
- A pathway into enterprise and self-employment
- Cultural governance at every stage
- A replicable national model built on lived experience
- Community accountability and Elder guidance throughout
Cultural Integrity
Culture guides every decision, every program, every pathway.
Self-Determination
Aboriginal people have the right and capacity to lead their own economic futures.
Holistic Support
We address the whole person — safety, wellbeing, skills, and enterprise.
Community First
Programs are designed with and for communities, not imposed upon them.
Respect & Safety
Every participant is treated with dignity, cultural respect, and care.
Accountability
We hold ourselves to the highest standards of transparency and outcomes.
National setup fund
Building the National Model
AAEF is in its establishment phase. Every dollar raised now goes directly toward building the facilities, programs, and governance infrastructure that will serve Aboriginal Australians for generations.
0.1M raised
of 80M national setup goal
0%
$2M
Wages
$16M
QLD setup
$40M
Open more retreats
$80M
National rollout
Australian Aboriginal Enterprise Foundation Ltd is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Where we are today
Building the Foundations for Long-Term Impact
AAEF is in its establishment phase — and that is exactly where a charity of this ambition should be right now. We are building governance systems, partnerships, funding pathways, and operational capability with the care and rigour that long-term impact demands. We are not trying to look bigger than we are. We are building it right.
- Governance established and constitution adopted
- DGR endorsement obtained
- Building corporate and government partnerships
- Developing funding pathways for program delivery
- Planning retreat sites and operational infrastructure
Seeking partnerships with
Who We Want to Work With
AAEF is actively seeking strategic relationships with organisations that share our commitment to Aboriginal economic independence.
Government
Federal, state, and local government bodies investing in closing the gap through enterprise.
Indigenous Corporations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations and land councils aligned with enterprise development.
Employers
Businesses ready to hire AAEF graduates and support Aboriginal workforce participation.
Philanthropic Foundations
Foundations and trusts seeking high-impact, DGR-endorsed investment in Aboriginal communities.
Health Organisations
Rehabilitation services, health providers, and community health organisations working with our target cohort.
Training Providers
RTOs and training organisations that can deliver accredited qualifications within the AAEF pathway.
Take action
Help Build Australia's First National Aboriginal Enterprise Pathway
Every contribution — financial, professional, or personal — helps AAEF move from establishment to impact. Choose how you want to get involved.
Australian Aboriginal Enterprise Foundation Ltd is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR). Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Eco-Friendly by Design
Building with Country in Mind
All new AAEF facilities are built with hemp — carbon negative, naturally insulating, and non-toxic. Every existing structure is converted to run fully off-grid on solar power, rainwater, and recycled water. No fossil fuels. No grid dependency. Just sustainable infrastructure that respects Country.
Hemp Construction
New builds use hempcrete — a carbon-negative, breathable, mould-resistant natural material that strengthens over time.
Solar & Battery Power
100% renewable energy at every facility. Solar arrays with battery storage mean zero grid reliance and zero emissions.
Rainwater & Recycling
Rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling deliver full water self-sufficiency at every AAEF site.
Get in touch
Contact AAEF
Karl Eales
Founder & CEO
Australian Aboriginal Enterprise Foundation Ltd
PO Box 1724, Hervey Bay QLD 4655
ABN: 99 701 318 881
DGR Endorsed — Donations $2+ tax-deductibleHelp spread the word
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