As part of the Self-Employment Assistance program, this Exploring Self-Employment Workshop will help you explore the possibility of becoming your own boss and provide you with all the tools and support to turn your business dreams into a reality.
Delivered in person at The Stretton Centre by 2 experienced Business Mentors, Ali Sugars & Stuart Horrex, this 5-day workshop is designed to help you plan your business idea and help you to understand what it's like to start your own business.
Workshop dates: 27 to 31 July - 10am to 3:30pm each day at the Stretton Centre
After this workshop, the Self-Employment Assistance program can offer you further support with small business training and 12 months of business mentoring where you may also be eligible to access:
- Up to $300 worth of small business start-up costs, such as business insurance
- An allowance for up to 39 weeks and rental assistance for up to 26 week
Your presenters - Ali Sugars and Stuart Horrex
Ali Sugars is a Business Mentor with Asuria and the Self Employment Assistance Program and a passionate entrepreneur who has been running her own successful businesses for over 30 years. Based in Adelaide, Ali understands first-hand the excitement, uncertainty and courage it takes to step into self-employment.
Throughout her career, she has supported aspiring business owners across a wide range of industries to move from “I have an idea” to “I have a clear plan.” Ali specialises in practical, real-world business foundations — helping participants validate ideas, understand their market, structure their finances and build confidence in their decisions.
Her approach is supportive, down-to-earth and action-focused. Ali is committed to helping people turn their business vision into a structured, achievable pathway toward sustainable self-employment.
Stuart Horrex is an experienced Sydney-based business mentor and facilitator with a three-decade career spanning corporate, public service, social enterprise, and small business. He specialises in helping small business founders and owners build impactful, sustainable enterprises.
Stuart works to transform concepts into commercial realities. His expertise covers adaptive leadership, business strategy, and practical techniques like bootstrapping. Over his career, he has guided hundreds of new-start and established business owners through high-profile programs, including the New Enterprise Incentive Scheme (NEIS), Self-Employment Assistance Program, Westpac Foundation Changemakers, and Australia’s School for Social Entrepreneurs.
As a skilled facilitator, Stuart brings his deep small business operational knowledge to Asuria’s Exploring Self-Employment Workshop. He equips aspiring bosses with the essential planning tools, commercial acumen, and strategic insights needed to confidently launch and sustain their own enterprises.