TWO entrepreneurs have launched a business in Mildura with the ambition of rolling it out across Australia
Kamilaroi woman Danielle Roberts and mental health assessor Paul Davis have teamed up to create a new venture, Aboriginal Artistry.
The business was supposed to launch in 2023, before Ms Roberts endured two strokes in the space of 12 months.
During that time, she pivoted her business model from creating purely an educational art space, to a place where life coaching and mental health check-ups can also occur.
“The Mildura one is only going to be the starting block,” Ms Roberts said.
“We can do mental health and art in one place all across Australia.”
Receiving start-up funding from Many Rivers and Indigenous Business Australia, the team behind Aboriginal Artistry aim to partner with Mallee District Aboriginal Service to offer assistance for free.
“When clients come in we help them to research what their tribe is, where they’re from, and their backstory,” Ms Roberts said.
“Every tribe has different types of art styles, some have lines, some have dots, some have totally different meanings.
“A lot of people think of Aboriginal art as one, but it’s not, it’s very different and unique.”
Mr Davis, who has been a trainer associate for more than 20 years, said the business model negates several hurdles in typical life coaching and mental health assessment meetings.
“It’s art, so we do imaginative stuff, we’re learning, we’re being creative, and that mindset really changes the way people communicate and open up with a life coach or mentor,” Mr Davis said.
“This is the perfect combination of being able to be creative, to build up your life in a way that you want it to be.
“It’s just a perfect place and perfect way for people to use art to change their world.”
The business will focus on art therapy, and providing people somewhere to go and have a yarn.
“Sometimes when you deal with mental health, you walk away feeling very down,” Ms Roberts said.
“Whereas doing the artwork you end up feeling accomplished.
“You look at something, people are telling you positive things, you can walk out of there without thinking about all the stuff that you’ve had to open up about.”
The pair are currently seeking a place in Mildura to operate the service from, and to set up an art gallery.
