My Pathway - Self-Employment Assistance

30/09/2026

PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT | HMB COLLECTIVE

For Shellie Page, founder of HMB Collective, wellness is about far more than exercise. It is about supporting the whole person, mind, body and soul.

Based in Cairns, Queensland, HMB Collective is a holistic wellness studio offering personal training, strength coaching, nutrition and fasting education, remedial massage, energy work and holistic wellness coaching.

HMB Collective grew from Shellie’s own healing journey and her desire to help others create meaningful, lasting change. What inspires her most is watching someone begin to believe in themselves again, regain their confidence and create lasting improvements in their health and mindset.

Rather than focusing on one aspect of health, Shellie brings together movement, nutrition, mindset, recovery and emotional wellbeing. Her goal is to create a safe, welcoming environment where people feel seen, supported and empowered, while giving them the knowledge and tools to build sustainable habits that last.

As Shellie has worked to turn that vision into a growing business, she has been supported through My Pathway’s Self-Employment Assistance program, working closely with her mentor, Tegan.

“Tegan has been an incredible support throughout my business journey. She has guided me in the areas where I haven’t always felt the most confident, helping me navigate challenges with clarity, wisdom and genuine care.”

For Shellie, the value of mentoring has gone beyond simply working through the practical challenges of business. It has also been about having someone in her corner who can offer perspective, encouragement and confidence along the way.

“Tegan's communication is always clear, encouraging and supportive, and she has a beautiful way of helping me see the bigger picture while believing in my potential.”

It is this combination of practical guidance and genuine human support that Shellie says has been most valuable throughout her experience with My Pathway.

“The most valuable part of my experience with My Pathway has been having someone who genuinely wants to see me succeed and continually encourages me to become the best version of myself, both personally and professionally.”

We are proud to be supporting Shellie as she continues to build HMB Collective and bring her holistic approach to health and wellbeing to the Cairns community.

Ready to take the next step in your health and wellbeing? Connect with Shellie at HMB Collective to find out how she can support you. https://www.hmbcollective.com.au/

Could self-employment be your next step?

Whether you have an idea you are ready to explore or an existing small business you want to strengthen, My Pathway delivers the Self-Employment Assistance program, providing fully funded business support, training and mentoring to eligible participants.

Find out more about Self-Employment Assistance with My Pathway here: https://mypathway.com.au/self-employment/

15/09/2026

PARTICIPANT SPOTLIGHT | Supporting Mothers to Find Their Way Forward

Based in Cairns, Lilibeth Pinto is one of our inspiring Self-Employment Assistance participants, building a business dedicated to supporting mothers navigating emotional pain, relationship challenges and the aftermath of infidelity.

Drawing on her understanding of the emotional journey women can experience through relationship breakdown and losing themselves in motherhood, Lilibeth provides life coaching and emotional mentoring designed to help women move from confusion towards clarity, peace and a stronger connection with themselves.

At the heart of her work is her own Freedom Method, a personal approach focused on helping mothers recognise that painful experiences do not have to define the rest of their lives. What inspires Lilibeth most is seeing a woman begin to find herself again and recognise the possibility of a new beginning.

Through My Pathway’s Self-Employment Assistance program, Lilibeth has been developing the foundations needed to turn that vision into a sustainable business.

Working with her My Pathway mentor, Tegan, she has been guided through planning for growth, identifying opportunities for improvement and developing a clearer understanding of the areas of her business that need further development. Importantly, Lilibeth says the mentoring has also helped her become more independent in her thinking as a business owner.

Alongside mentoring, Lilibeth has completed two units through My Pathway’s Micro-Business Skill Set: BSBESB301 Investigate business opportunities and BSBESB401 Research and develop business plans. This has equipped her with practical knowledge, tools and greater confidence to continue developing her business and work towards building a sustainable service for mothers.

“My Pathway has helped me develop a better understanding of my business and myself as a business owner. I’ve gained knowledge, tools and ideas that I can continue using as I develop my business and work towards creating a successful and sustainable service for mothers.”

Have an idea for a business, or already running one and ready to strengthen it? My Pathway’s Self-Employment Assistance program can help you build the skills, knowledge and confidence to take your next step.

10/09/2026

R U OK?

Running a small business can be isolating. You carry the decisions, the pressure, the uncertainty and often the worry, all while everyone assumes you’re okay.

You don’t have to carry it alone. There is support available.

Talk to someone. Ask for support. Start the conversation.

You matter.

Find support for yourself or someone in your life at https://www.ruok.org.au/findhelp?

08/09/2026

We love seeing one of our own featured by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations!

A huge congratulations to Wylie from Artisan Bakehouse on this well-deserved recognition.

You can read his story here:

With support from Self-Employment Assistance, Wylie has turned a passion into a thriving regional business.

26/08/2026

Want to start your own business?

Maybe you’re already a business owner and could use some support?

We can help!

My Pathway provides fully funded small business mentoring, advice, business planning and training across the North, North-West and East Coast of Tasmania, Cairns, Mackay and the Northern Territory.

Whether you’re at the beginning or somewhere in the middle of your small business journey, having the right support can make all the difference.

Get in touch today and let’s get your business moving!

https://mypathway.com.au/self-employment/

19/08/2026

WE LOVE SEEING OUR PARTICIPANTS SHINE!

A huge congratulations to Wattle Hill Olives, one of our previous participants, on taking home the Agricultural Business Award at the Local Business Awards!

From nomination, to finalist, to WINNER. What an achievement.

Starting and growing a small business takes courage, persistence and plenty of hard work. There are the exciting moments, the long days, the uncertainty and all the things nobody sees behind the scenes.

One of the most valuable things about My Pathway's Self-Employment Assistance program is having a mentor alongside you while you are finding your feet. Sometimes it is practical business guidance, sometimes it is helping you work through a problem and sometimes it is simply having someone there who understands what it takes to build something of your own.

The real measure of a program like ours is not just what happens while someone is participating. It is seeing what they go on to build afterwards.

We are incredibly proud to have been part of the Wattle Hill Olives journey and absolutely delighted to see this business recognised by its community.

Here’s to all the small business owners out there who are quietly building something wonderful. Take a moment to stop, look back and recognise just how far you’ve come.

🥂🏆 WE WON 🏆🥂🫒 What a night!!

Firstly… we were nominated!
Secondly… we became a finalist!
Finally… we were announced WINNER of our category ‘Agricultural Business’

Thank you to Local Business Awards and Commonwealth Bank and The Examiner Newspaper, Launceston for putting on and sponsoring this event! It was such a good night.

Thank you to all our very loyal customers, the local North TAS community Latrobe Community News & Information for supporting us through the ‘highs and lows’ of agriculture… we love you all!

Thank you to Kaliba Nicole Schultz Latrobe Council North X Northwest The Tasmanian Mark Business Tasmania for all your business support.

Starting and growing a business is tough! Us as owners do not take the time to reflect on our growth and development. We focus too much on the negatives and not the positives. To all business owners take some time to reflect on what is good!

Additional thanks, whether its for harvesting, coaching and mentoring, behind the scenes guidance, emotional support or work on site:-

Georgeandronnie Tahu
Devonport Farmers Market
Margaret Davies
John Davies
Josh Davies
John Wilson
Julian Rand
TC Taylor Building
Clive Gareth and Steve and Max
Taztanks Pty Ltd
Tony Treloar
Where's Wally Cleaning
My Pathway - Self-Employment Assistance
Steve Greenhalgh
Judith Whiley and John
AND our local farmer (you know who you are)

Great to see other supporting local business WIN including Basalt Restaurant at The Cove

12/08/2026

My Pathway has been privileged to support Selena Furnari Indigenous Art as she builds her creative business and brings her vision as a Mamu artist into the world.

Selena is a contemporary Indigenous artist and proud Mamu woman from Far North Queensland, creating work deeply rooted in Country, culture and the stories held within the land. Her artistic practice is not simply about creating beautiful work. It is about honouring culture, preserving knowledge and creating space for people to listen, learn and understand.

Through the My Pathway Self-Employment Assistance 12-month Small Business Coaching program, Selena has been supported by her mentor, Tegan, who has worked alongside her as she develops the business foundations to support her artistic practice.

And what a journey it has been.

In 2026, Selena was commissioned by the Community Support Centre Innisfail to create The Colours of the Water as part of their Reconciliation Action Plan. Inspired by the meeting of the North and South Johnston Rivers in Innisfail, the artwork speaks to connection, Country, memory, community and the ways different stories can come together while still carrying their own histories.

The work was created for National Reconciliation Week 2026 and reflects the theme “All In”, inviting us to consider what it means to actively participate in reconciliation through listening, respect, understanding and action.

For Selena, art is also a way of advocating for the natural world. Her work reflects her passion for biodiversity and the importance of protecting the ecosystems and Country that sustain us.

Selena is the artist. Selena carries the stories. Selena leads the work.

Our role is to support her with the business knowledge, confidence and practical foundations to help her take that work forward.

We can't wait to see where her journey takes her next.

07/08/2026

Who wants a tropical sea change? Did you say ‘I do’?

Last year, Jade reignited her childhood dream to become a wedding planner, packed in her career in Melbourne and moved thousands of kilometres north to take over and reinvigorate Weddings of the Whitsundays.

Just months into her new business she found herself reflecting on the amazing journey she had made to grow the business into one of the Whitsunday’s premier wedding planning services.

“I was listening to my first ever booked couple speak the most tearfully beautiful vows to each other on Whitehaven Beach,” she said.

“The sun was on my face, and I remember thinking that not even six months ago I was in a role my heart was no longer in, wondering if there was anything else out there for me.”
..read more about Jade's amazing small business journey here:

Weddings of the Whitsundays owner Jade has been supported by local My Pathway Small Business Mentor Brian Ward through the 12-month business coaching option available in the Self Employment Assistance program and credits much of her success today to him and the program.

05/08/2026

“Before joining the My Pathway Self-employment Assistance program, I had no real direction. I was taking a few classes a week, but my goals weren't written down, and I hadn't truly stepped into the identity of being a business owner. That has completely changed.

The coaching calls and in-person sessions with Roberta have been invaluable. She brought structure to what felt overwhelming including financial forecasting that makes growth feel visible and achievable. Every session has given me fire in my belly. She thinks outside the box, shares her own lived experience, and brings an abundance of knowledge, recommending books, podcasts, and resources I wouldn't have found on my own. She reviewed my website, helped me build systems, and always shows up with a smile and a genuinely warm belief in you and your vision.

There are also free online workshops, and the option to study an accredited business certificate at no cost, the support goes far beyond what I expected.

Since starting the program, I have launched my website, I'm picking up business cards this week, I have invested in equipment, had 1:1 clients, a corporate session, group sessions, collaborations in the pipeline, and events in the diary for later this year. But honestly, the biggest shift has been in my mindset. I now say out loud, "I have a business. I am Helen from A Space to Breathe .

If you are thinking about taking the leap and turning your ideas and dreams into your own business, I cannot recommend the My Pathway SEA program enough. It is so much more than business coaching.”

We love hearing these stories from our participants. If you would like to find out more about Helen's offerings, please visit her website at https://www.aspacetobreathe.com.au/

If you would like to become one of our participants and build your own small business dreams - let's get started! https://mypathway.com.au/self-employment/

24/07/2026

When our Cairns Small Business Mentor Roberta got her new puppy Koby recently, she knew just who to call for his training.

One of her first participants almost a year ago was Nadine from FNQ Paws, and with the business still thriving, it made perfect sense to close the loop again!

Koby graduated with flying colours and is now considered an 'adolescent' (good luck with your teenager Roberta!).

If you have your own pupper in Cairns that could benefit from some positive reinforcement and training, make sure you look Nadine up!

National Employment Services Association.