Nyoongar company Marawar has been named National Registered Supplier of the Year at Supply Nation’s Supplier Diversity Awards.

Established in 2018, Marawar is an Aboriginal-led construction business that has a 55 per cent Aboriginal workforce and a supply chain that involves largely local indigenous businesses.

The company has completed large-scale government projects as well as projects across the private sector, including Bunnings in Albany, Fremantle apartments by Match, the Armadale Emergency Health Service, the Department of Finance and Fremantle Ports.

Marawar received the award from non-profit organisation Supply Nation, which aims to support the growth and long-term viability of the indigenous business sector.

Supply Nation’s award program honours companies, government agencies and individuals who are helping to create a prosperous and sustainable indigenous business sector, with entries judged by an independent panel and audited by an independent firm.

Marawar received the National Register Supplier of the Year award, for driving significant growth and demonstrating ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and its members.

In its entry submission, Marawar referenced the low numbers of Aboriginal people working in the construction industry.

Additionally just 90 of the 33,000 apprentices across Western Australia training for building trades are Aboriginal.

“A lack of understanding, support and Aboriginal role models within the construction industry results in a low number of Aboriginal people looking to join the industry,” Marawar’s winning submission noted.

“Without Aboriginal people joining the industry, the lack of understanding and negative perceptions of Aboriginal people that still exist in many larger construction companies persists. And so, the cycle continues.”

Marawar demonstrated how it broke that cycle.

Nyoongar Traditional Owner and Marawar director Gerry Matera believes conventional business models that do not consider the extreme and unique challenges of Indigenous employees are destined for failure.

Mr Matera said Marawar’s substantial and genuine commitment to its people had proved highly effective for the company.

“Many of Marawar’s trainees and apprentices have never been exposed to basic skills such as budgeting or finance,” he said.

“Most of these young kids are just surviving and their main concerns are things that others take for granted, such as mobile phone credit, bus money and how they are going to get to work.

“Our engagement model seeks to blur the lines between commercial operation and social enterprise. We invest heavily in our people, which means addressing individual challenges at great depth, whether that’s ensuring they have petrol for their car, support for their family or a sense of self and community.”

Marawar attributes part of its success to having a dedicated Aboriginal engagement role at the core of its business.

That position is responsible for addressing each employee’s unique challenges, while championing staff to perform their jobs to the best of their ability.

By Katie McDonald, Business News, 27 May 2021.