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Background

Flinders Island located in Bass Strait off the north coast of Tasmania, is the home of the FIAA. They run a small business on the island, including labour hire and garden maintenance. However, this business was reliant on external funding, so they were looking to improve the situation by developing a business plan that would analyse the current situation and set some goals and direction for the future.

Our Role

Rural Solutions SA was asked to develop a comprehensive business plan that:

• Assessed the current status of the business  
• Determined new direction through setting achievable goals  
• Included technical advice on establishing a new horticulture enterprise
• Incorporated fnancial planning and budgeting.

Rural Solutions SA worked with the community members and FIAA, ensuring there was ownership of the plan and everyone was happy with progress.

Outcomes

As part of the business planning process a new price structure for labour hire and a strategy for the sale of produce through the establishment of a market garden was developed and implemented.

Feedback has been extremely positive and the FIAA are very happy with the results. Rural Solutions SA has been asked back to the island to provide advice on extending the market for produce into retail outlets on the mainland.

The FIAA and the community now have more self suffcient enterprises and consequently a more self reliant community, with increased business skills and a positive outlook to the future.

Contact: Jason Downs

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