About Speargrass Bike Tours
Ay! I’m Nathaniel Joshua, co-founder of Speargrass Bike Tours in Katherine, Northern Territory Australia.
My dream is to start a social enterprise that gives tourists a fun new way to explore my home town Katherine AND create jobs for the youth in my community. I've co-created this venture with the team at
Enterprise Learning Projects, who have been supporting enterprise development in partnership with remote Aboriginal communities for over 10 years.
Katherine is on the road between Alice Springs and Darwin and is the 4th largest town in the Northern Territory. During the dry season it gets really busy when tourists from all over the world come to explore its natural beauty when it’s not too hot!
There isn’t any bike hire here, but there are so many beautiful places you can visit on a bike… hot springs, museums, art galleries, nature reserves, cafes! I want tourists to have bicycles they can hire, and I also want to run cultural bike tours, so people
aren’t just driving their cars and missing all the best spots!
But Speargrass Bike Tours is more than a good look around. I want to employ local mob so it will do good for everyone. There are smart young fellas here that want work that is meaningful and fun. Without work they’re bored, sitting at home doing nothing.
So when I set up Speargrass Bike Tours, I’m going to mentor young Aboriginal men, teaching them how to fix bikes and run the shop. They’ll be involved in running tours and talking to customers. Over time they will grow confidence and knowledge and I will be
there to support them when they’re ready to take a step towards starting their own enterprise!
So help me start some good! If I reach 30 thousand dollars I can even buy a toy dinosaur to keep my Aunty happy :)
How You Can Help
I already have the first seven young fellas who want to be apart of Speargrass Bike Tours and the business plan to make sure it can be successful. I need bikes, safety gear, registration and insurance, and good tools to promote it to get heaps of customers!
This costs a lot - way more than I have. I live in a remote town in the bush - I don’t know enough people to help me fund this!
Support by donating and sending this onto the people you know. Help me help the people of my community by providing jobs and training and support. I'll be doing something I really love and you’ll be able to experience Katherine in a whole new way if you
support us!
Follow Speargrass Bike Tours on Facebook and get the latest updates.
The Future We Are Creating
The Katherine region has a population of just over 24,000 people, of which 60% identify as Indigenous. Indigenous unemployment here sits at 21%.
Many of the young Aboriginal men residing here are vulnerable - no bright job prospects, a lot of boredom and every potential of becoming another statistic within the criminal justice system.
Speargrass is a future where smart young fellas have the opportunity to work in a role that truely excites them, where their knowledge and skills are valued and given purpose. All in an environment where they will be supported to learn and grow.
How We Are Creating It
Through innovation, social enterprise and co-creation!
This idea accesses an untapped market and provides paid employment and training to equip people with the skills, knowledge and confidence to engage in business development.
The business has been co-created by the young men involved, and designed to develop as they develop. With access to ELPs wide range of business professionals, these young fellas will be supported through every stage of their journey.
Through partnerships with local police and magistrates, Speargrass has the further potential of diverting youth from incarceration via their referral program, giving even more youth the opportunity to become role models within their peers and local community.
This idea provides a platform to highlight how with a little empowerment, creative responses can address bigger issues of unemployment and over incarceration.
Who Are We
Nathaniel Joshua
Co-Founder and Manager
Nathaniel is a natural storyteller with great knowledge of the Katherine region. He has worked
alongside youth as a horseman on cattle stations throughout the NT and as an Enterprise Facilitator with Enterprise Learning Projects. He has a gift for helping others realise their dreams and potential - let’s help him reach his!
As a father to four small boys, Nathaniel understands the positive impact of strong mentors. He believes that opportunities developed through hard work and enterprise benefit everyone, particularly the high numbers of Indigenous youth living in remote Australia.
Enterprise Learning Projects
Enterprise Learning Projects (ELP) supports remote Aboriginal people who want to explore, develop and grow their business ideas. Offering practical learning in the early stages of business development and ongoing individualised support.
ELP has built a dynamic team of facilitators to undertake this work and draws on the skills of a wide range of business professionals to ensure aspiring entrepreneurs have access to relevant, appropriate and timely support to establish and grow their ventures.
Formally established 2010, ELP has been working steadily to build the capacity of remote residents to create new economic opportunities through the development of small and micro businesses.
Meet the Young Fellas
Kimberly Paddy – 16 years
Hi I'm Kimberly, I'm excited to be starting work with Nathaiel. I'm really keen to be a tour guide and show people around my home town. My favourite place to go in Katherine is the Low Level Nature Reserve.
Dwight Ogilvie – 16 years
I was born in Katherine, I love to spend time with my mates. Speargrass Bike Tours is a great chance for all of us to keep hangout doing what we love and learn to about how to run a business as well. My favourite place to hangout and swim is the Hot
Springs.
Steven Lewis – 15 years
My name is Steven, I've been working with Nathaniel on the Speargrass buiness plan and marketing, surveying people about what they would love to do most in the local area. I've learnt so much already, can't wait to start the bike tours here in Katherine!
My favourite place to ride is along the Katherine River.
Wyatt Ogilvie – 16 years
Hey Wyatt here! Thanks for supporting us, I want to fix bikes and help Nathaniel to run the shop. I already know a lot about bikes and how to fixing them but I want to know more and be able to teach my mates. The Katherine Musemum has a lot of info
about the history of the area, I think people would really like to ride there.
Marshell Deegan – 16 years
Hi, my names Marshell. I've lived in Katherine all my life and have known Nathaniel since I was a boy. I'm ready to start learning about bikes and how to run a business. I've got some dreams of my own, but I need some help and I think Nathaniel will
be a great mentor for me and my friends. There are lots of good bike tracks around Katherine and a few only locals know about, can't wait to share them with everyone.
Denzel Waterloo – 16 years
Hey I'm Denzel, it means so much to all us guys to be working for Speargrass and learning new things each day. I've been thinking about my future and how much this opportunity will help me in getting experience so I can start my own business. We have
a heaps of animals, birds, trees and flowers that live and grow in the local area, I want to take people on bike tours and talk to them about why they are so special to us.
Issac Paddy – 19 years
Hello I'm Issac, I couldn't beleive it when Nathaniel asked me to be apart of the Speargrass Bike Tours team. I'm the oldest in the group and want to help Nathaniel to support the younger fellas and make this a big sucess. There are heaps of good places
around town, my favourite place is the Hot Springs.