Australians are being urged to look for the iconic green and gold kangaroo logo as Australian Made Week kicks off, encouraging shoppers to buy local amid global economic uncertainties. The week-long celebration, running from May 18 to May 24, shines a spotlight on businesses and products manufactured in Australia that carry the official certification.
Events and Promotions Across the Country
Throughout the week, various events and promotions are taking place to showcase homegrown talent. Competitions offer prizes including sprinklers, cleaning supplies, and beauty products. A WA maker's market will be held this Sunday at Goolugatup Heathcote Reserve in Applecross, providing a platform for local artisans.
Stunned Emu Designs: A Forty-Year Legacy
Fremantle business owner Wendy Binks has been selling her quirky Australian wildlife artwork and products under Stunned Emu Designs for over 40 years. She has also operated a stall at the Fremantle Markets for 25 years. Ms Binks said 98 per cent of her materials are sourced locally, a fact her customers appreciate. "I think it probably gives them a lot more trust in the product, and it gives them a bit of ownership because they can believe in the story behind the product - people don't want to buy a quirky Australian animal that's made in China," she said. "People recognise the logo now as well, so it's a very powerful symbol for me to use on my products."
Stunned Emu Designs offers paintings, mugs, wine coolers, and children's books, all printed with Ms Binks' unique wildlife characters. The recent hike in fuel prices and economic uncertainty has forced her to get creative with marketing, including author visits for her books, painting commissions, and classes. "I've got to constantly be evolving to meet the market, because it's always changing, especially because tourism is quite volatile," she said. "It gets harder all the time (to run an Australian Made business). Most children's books are printed in China, but all mine are printed here in Perth - there's less and less offset printers around now, and every year more people are closing up business."
Ms Binks emphasised that Australian Made Week is crucial for spotlighting businesses like hers. "It's not just the money side of it, it's the emotional support and realising it's important to try and buy Australian Made if you can. If people are made more aware of it, it might be in the back of their mind next time they see that logo," she said.
Retro Duo: Handcrafted Lighting with Local Materials
Fellow local business owner Cliff Wong has been selling handcrafted lighting homewares through Retro Duo since the COVID-19 pandemic, using almost entirely Australian materials such as Tasmanian wood and Warwick lampshade fabric. Mr Wong said he often works overtime to keep the business running and offer made-to-order bespoke products. "We choose material and cut it at our home studio, then we make the lamp base and shades and I'll pack it and ship it. At the start, we were probably doing at least six days a week," he said.
He runs a small vintage shop in Mount Lawley with his partner Joe Van Deven, but most products are sold online through the website and platforms such as Etsy. Mr Wong said it was important to support local suppliers and keep the money within Australia. "We can find it a bit difficult to justify the price point because things made in China are a lot cheaper. But once people see the quality come through and see the products last long, they realise the value of having something locally made," he said. "Having Australian Made Week, it helps people recognise that you can get good designs and good quality products at a decent price from a local manufacturer."
Economic Impact and Supply Chain Benefits
Australian Made chief executive officer Ben Lazzaro said the initiative generates long-term supply chain benefits. "There are many Australian Made products whose manufacturers engage local suppliers for their material sourcing and production purposes as well as others along the supply chain for transport and logistics," he said. "This means that a business that might originally keep 100 people employed, for example, is also contributing to funding the employment and livelihood of potentially thousands of others. Something as simple as the goal posts at some of our most iconic sporting grounds are most likely to be produced by an Australian Made licensee, who in turn is using other local suppliers and products."
Research from Roy Morgan revealed that Australians want to support local businesses now more than ever, given recent global instabilities. If every household spent an additional $20 per week on Australian Made products, it would inject an extra $11 billion into the economy each year, creating almost 20,000 new jobs. "In 2026 we are asking people to 'swap their shop' when they are doing their everyday shopping," Mr Lazzaro said. "While the list of certified products on the Australian Made website is massive, it's as easy as looking out for the iconic green and gold kangaroo logo and thinking about what brands you are supporting for everyday household items such as cleaning products, personal care products or even kitchenware."
Australian Made Week runs until May 24, but Australian Made businesses operate year-round, offering consumers the chance to support local at any time.
