Indigenous-owned businesses are thriving in Australia. That’s the message coming loud and clear from the latest economic data. As a 100% Indigenous-owned business, we’re pleased to see it. Naturally, though, we still have work to do. Not just because Indigenous engagement is good for business, but because the entire nation benefits. Here are three reasons we champion Indigenous engagement, and the challenges we’re working hard to overcome to build a stronger Australia.
1. Powering Australia’s economy
Indigenous businesses generated over $16 billion in revenue in 2022. That’s more than the financial services sector, and almost equal to accommodation and food services.
Beyond revenue, Australia’s 13,693 Indigenous businesses recorded some impressive contributions:
- Employed 116,795 people
- Contributed $4.2 billion in wages
These figures, which come from the Indigenous Economic Power Project Snapshot 3.0, show the economic potential of Indigenous businesses in Australia. They create jobs, support local communities, and contribute billions to the nation’s GDP.
When we support Indigenous engagement, we’re not just doing the right thing. We’re also investing in a powerful economic engine.
2. Empowering Indigenous voices
We have deep connections to the traditional lands of the Nyamal area around Port Hedland and the Tijwarl area in the Northern Goldfields. To us, Indigenous engagement means bringing the voices of the past, present and future together.
Voices from the past
We are dedicated to preserving the knowledge that has existed in our communities for over 65,000 years.
Our story is intertwined with this heritage. By collaborating with local communities, we’re able to identify and preserve culturally significant sites and conduct accurate heritage surveys.
Voices in the present
We actively participate in community initiatives through financial contributions, sponsorships and volunteering.
To date, we’ve been involved in a range of projects in education, healthcare and cultural preservation. Lending a hand enables us to make a positive impact on the communities around us.
A voice for the future
Our Indigenous engagement program builds strong, lasting relationships with Indigenous-owned businesses and suppliers. These partnerships actively support Indigenous communities and promote Indigenous entrepreneurship, planting the seeds for future growth.
We also prioritise Indigenous recruitment and training, building pathways to successful careers in the mining and resources industry. Through mentorship, on-the-job training and education support, we’re investing in talented people whose skills and knowledge will benefit our business and the broader community.
3. Showing others how it’s done
Nearly 20 years after state and federal governments committed to closing the employment gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, very little has changed.
But there’s one area where Indigenous engagement is a country mile ahead: Indigenous-owned businesses.
One analysis of over 3,000 Indigenous businesses employing 38,000 people found that 36% of staff were Indigenous. Here in Western Australia, the figure was even higher at 42.6% across 648 firms.
That’s compared to 2.2% Indigenous employment in the nation’s biggest companies.
There are lots of possible reasons for this. But we reckon it comes down to the way cultural knowledge and values are recognised in Indigenous businesses.
In our industry, Indigenous engagement means incorporating those perspectives and values into governance structures, policies and practices.
That’s why Indigenous-owned businesses are over-represented in employment data. And it’s a crucial lesson for non-Indigenous businesses.
Challenges to Indigenous engagement
Indigenous engagement is not without its challenges. Building successful Indigenous partnerships requires overcoming some common hurdles.
- Cultural sensitivity: Understanding and respecting cultural differences is crucial. Open communication and collaboration are key.
- Mutual respect: Building trust takes time and effort. We focus on transparency and open communication to foster long-term partnerships.
- Policy: Despite the success of initiatives like the Indigenous Procurement Policy, many social programs are not aligned with the needs of communities and cultures. There are calls from all corners to reduce bureaucracy and listen to Indigenous leaders on matters of Indigenous engagement.
- Remote access: Much of our work takes place in regional and remote areas, so we’re familiar with how challenging it can be to access things we take for granted in cities. That’s why we seek ways to benefit the community and our clients when undertaking projects like building access roads or rehabilitating mine sites.
The future of Indigenous engagement in economic development
In the last 10 years, the number of Indigenous-owned businesses has boomed. So has their contribution to economic, employment, cultural and heritage outcomes.
We believe this is the start of a new era in Australian business.
As more companies recognise the value of inclusive practices, Indigenous businesses will see increased opportunities and support. Indigenous people will have better access to careers and education. Indigenous voices will be louder – and listened to more often.
The key is maintaining momentum. Every step Australia takes in Indigenous engagement fuels a positive cycle that we hope will lead to exponential gains across the board.
Our ongoing commitment to Indigenous engagement
Cundaline Resources remains dedicated to advancing Indigenous engagement.
We will continue to build meaningful partnerships, provide employment and training opportunities, and promote cultural sensitivity in all our operations.
Our goal is to create a lasting positive impact on the communities we serve and to set a benchmark for excellence in Indigenous engagement.
The future is bright if we work together
Indigenous engagement has a profound impact on economic development. Collaboration with Indigenous organisations and communities unlocks a wealth of benefits for businesses, people and the national economy.
We believe those benefits won’t simply stack up. They’ll compound.
However, we’ve still got challenges ahead. Private businesses, policymakers and local communities need to work together to make Indigenous engagement a priority at all levels of Australian society.
For us at Cundaline Resources, “success” goes far beyond financial results. We’re only successful if our work empowers Indigenous voices and the communities we serve.
That’s our mission, and it’s why we’ll keep championing Indigenous engagement in everything we do.
If you’re interested to learn about Indigenous engagement at Cundaline Resources, you can find more details here.