Meet Deborah Belyea
Deborah is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from the Samu clan. Her family line traces back to Saibai Island and Dauan Island in the Top Western Islands of the Torres Strait, and she also has family connections to Bamaga on the Cape York Peninsula.
With more than 20 years of experience as an educator across regional and remote Indigenous schools, and as an online university teacher, Deborah has built a strong foundation in both education and culture. In 2023, after winning the National NAIDOC Poster Competition, Deborah launched Zeyawgub Consultancy, her own business specialising in art, culture, and education.
Through her consultancy, Deborah delivers commissioned artworks, facilitates educator workshops on embedding First Nations perspectives into the curriculum, and runs cultural capability training for organisations with a focus on Torres Strait Islander perspectives.
“Haley has been a huge support for me. She helped me with my profit and loss, connected me with another Indigenous business to set up my Xero account, and introduced me to a website designer. She also guided me in creating my business plan, cultural capability statement, and financial projections.” – Deborah Belyea
Read more about Deborah’s business journey so far:
Deborah’s Business
Deborah stepped out of the classroom to pursue her passion for bridging the gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and the education system. Winning the NAIDOC Poster Competition was the turning point that gave her the confidence and resources to launch Zeyawgub.
Her artwork has since been commissioned by organisations such as NITV, SBS On Demand, the NRL Redcliffe Dolphins, and the Torres Strait Regional Authority. Alongside her art, Deborah runs workshops for educators across early years, primary, and secondary, as well as cultural capability workshops for organisations.
In the education system, the Australian Curriculum has three cross-curriculum priorities, one of which is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives, cultures, histories, and languages. While it looks great in policy, it’s hard for schools to embed these perspectives effectively because the curriculum is already overloaded and teachers are time-poor.
As a teacher, I could see how difficult it was for educators to embed perspectives meaningfully when they were already stretched and time-poor. With my cultural upbringing and curriculum knowledge, I realised I had the skills to help bridge that gap and support schools in delivering content that truly reflects Indigenous knowledge and culture.
At the moment, I don’t have employees, but I contract a friend who helps me with administration. She’s studying a Diploma in Business and Leadership, so this work also gives her practical experience.
Working with Many Rivers
I first connected with Many Rivers at the Indigenous Business Month event in Mackay in 2023. A week later, I was contacted by Many Rivers business coach, Haley, and we met in Bowen. That’s when the real journey began.
Haley has been a huge support for me. She helped me with my profit and loss, connected me with another Indigenous business to set up my Xero account, and introduced me to a website designer. She also guided me in creating my business plan, cultural capability statement, and financial projections.
As someone who came from the safety of a teaching career, stepping into business was daunting. Haley helped me navigate areas I wasn’t confident in, like accounting and budgeting, and she encouraged me to see the bigger picture of where my business could go.
The business planning process was the most useful service. It helped me define my vision, understand my strengths, and identify potential obstacles. Having Haley to talk things through with gave me clarity and direction when I felt uncertain or overwhelmed.
With Haley’s guidance, I accessed an IBA loan that allowed me to develop my website and set up my Xero accounting system. She is also currently supporting me in applying for a loan to purchase a reliable motor vehicle for my business.
Biggest Challenge
The biggest challenge has been the inconsistency of income. Coming from a teaching career, where I was paid regularly, it has been a big adjustment to manage the uncertainty of business. Some months are quiet, while others are very busy, so it takes resilience to push through those fluctuations.
Biggest Success
Winning the NAIDOC Poster Competition and using that as the launchpad for Zeyawgub was a major success. Since then, I’ve presented at state education conferences, delivered cultural capability workshops to major organisations, and built a strong client base.
The most rewarding part has been receiving positive feedback from schools, educators, and participants. Hearing encouragement from my Elders, who review and approve my work, means the most to me. It reassures me that I’m representing Torres Strait Islander culture in the right way.
Biggest Change
Starting my business has allowed me to find a better work-life balance and pursue my passions in art, culture, and education. It has also had a positive impact on my family.
My seven-year-old son has been able to watch my journey—seeing my artwork on trams, buildings, and during NAIDOC Week celebrations. Being a role model for him and showing him the rewards of hard work has been one of the greatest outcomes of running my own business.
Future Goals
My long-term goal is for Zeyawgub to grow into a sustainable, clan-owned business that provides opportunities for future generations. I want it to be more than just a business—it’s about self-determination, cultural sustainability, and creating pathways for our young people.
In the short term, I’m focused on building Zeyawgub’s name and launching online workshops. I’ve already set up my first online training module on cultural responsiveness, which will make my work more accessible across Australia and even internationally.
Thank you Deborah for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
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