Dreamtime Wins Small Business Champion 'Oscar'

Indigenous-focused print and web design agency, Dreamtime Public Relations, has won the Small Business Champion Award SA for Business Services. The announcement, made last Friday night, 3 October 2008, at the National Wine Centre of Australia, comes ‘hot on the heels’ of Dreamtime’s success in June when they won the National Drug & Alcohol Award for best logo design. In 2003, they were named NAIDOC Business of the Year SA.

Dubbed the ‘Oscars’ for Australia’s small business sector, the Australian Small Business Champion Awards is the only national program of its kind to recognise achievements and honour great performance in small business. Judges evaluate submissions based on all aspects of a winning business including business strategies, customer service, vision, support of the local community and growth, to name a few. The awards are presented by Precedent Productions and sponsored by the Commonwealth Bank Local Business Banking, Reckon Limited, CPA Australia and The Council of Small Business of Australia.

In accepting the award, Dreamtime’s Managing Director Janet Craig said she was ecstatic and thrilled to be given such an honour and recognition. “Dreamtime began in 2002 to provide culturally appropriate visual communications for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and to provide professional development opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the creative area.

“Toby Dodd, of Ngarrindjeri/Narungga/Kaurna descent, has been with Dreamtime since he was 17 and at the age of 22, won a national award for logo design and gave an acceptance speech to over 500 dignitaries. Other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have worked on Dreamtime projects include Tahnee Edwards, Shane Pilot, Sonny Keeler, Dawn Brown, Irene Allen, Emma Riley, Alice Krakouer, Chloe Handrikan, and Naomi Carolin who went on to complete her masters degree and recently accepted a position with the ABC.

Mr Steve Loe, Managing Director of Precedent Productions said, “One of the aims of the Small Business Champion Awards is to encourage excellence. The Small Business Champion Awards is a celebration of small business and its contribution to the Australian way of life … It’s not always about money. There are many small business owners who will never be millionaires, but whose contribution is invaluable.”

Janet, who celebrates her birthday on 1 November, is hoping that the day will be a double celebration with Dreamtime Public Relations winning the national award.

What our clients and colleages had to say:

Excellent news. Congratulations. Hopefully this will bring you more work as well. We continue to get great feedback on the newsletters. I take them with me whenever I go out for meetings. Keep up the great work. (Aboriginal Health Council of SA)

Congratulations and well done. (Council for International Trade & Commerce SA)

Congratulations upon your win. (Council for International Trade & Commerce SA)

Congratulations, that’s great... Best of luck for the national awards... (Colleague)

That is outstanding news! Congratulations to Dreamtime, well done on your efforts and let’s hope it’s a double celebration on the 1st of November 2008………… (Greven Accountants)

Congratulations you guys, a great achievement. (Maari Ma Health)

Great work to you and your team, this is indeed a fantastic credit to all you worked to achieve – well done and congratulations my friend. (Colleague)

Congratulations. That is fantastic news. Good luck in the nationals. (Westpac)

Congrats to the whole team. Another award. Well done. (Florists Suppliers)

Congratulations on the award and good luck for November 1! (National Indigenous Times)

Congratulations & well-deserved. (InBusiness Magazine)

Fantastic Janet. Congratulations!!!! (Education & Training, Aboriginal Health Council of SA)

This is wonderful Janet. Congratulations to all of you. (IB Coaching)

CONGRATULATIONS!!!! xxx What a stunner you and your team are! X (Inner Essence)

Well done you guys! Keep up the good work and all the best for the NSBC Awards. (Easy Swing)

Fantastic news. Congrats to everybody concerned! (Coaching Craft)

Wonderful - well done. Great to se your success (continuing success!!) Best Wishes for Sydney - go show them what you're about. (Colleague)

OUTSTANDING!!! (Newstyle Print)

Congratulations! Well done on the award. (Synovate)

Congratulations. I’m fortunate to be associated with you. (Indigenous Economic Development, NT)

Big Congratulations! Well Done to the successful and talented team at Dreamtime. Toby is the master of his art! (Avalon City Imaging)

That’s great news Janet. You guys are obviously on a winning formula mentoring and showcasing what Indigenous people can do. It’s so heartening to see them (and yourself) recognized for all that effort and vision. Good on you! I’m sure you will receive many more accolades to come… (National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee)

Congratulations again!! Keep up the good work, recognition for ones achievements is always a good thing. (Greven Accounting)

Janet, it was good to read about Dreamtime Public Relations as a Small Business Champion for SA - Well done to all! Best wishes at the National Awards. (Enterprise Adelaide, Adelaide City Council)

Congratulations, Janet! It's wonderful news ... and all the very best for the national awards. Go girl! (ZoneHigh)

Back to the News