Breaking down barriers to Indigenous employment. Supporting Aboriginal-owned suppliers and contractors. Helping clients fulfil their RAP obligations. And shattering myths and misconceptions about Aboriginal workers and businesses. This is our mission. This is our ripple effect.
Under the directorship of our co-founder and Nyoongar Traditional Landowner Gerard Matera, we set bold targets for Aboriginal employment and Indigenous business and community engagement.
The framework for achieving them is set out in our Aboriginal Engagement Strategy, our Aboriginal Supplier Development & Subcontracting Strategy and the Marawar Local Content Policy (LCP).
But what does all this mean? It means more opportunities for Aboriginal people and businesses.
More opportunities for Aboriginal people to work. To grow. To build careers and businesses. To challenge misconceptions. To break the circuit and bridge the gap.
And as we’ve done so, we’ve started a ripple effect that’s transforming our industry and the lives, prospects and potential of Aboriginal people and communities throughout WA.
It starts with indigenous employment.
Since Marawar’s inception, starting with just one Indigenous employee, we’ve employed more and more Aboriginal people every year. And we’re talking about careers, not the short-term, tokenistic employment Aboriginal people have traditionally had to accept.
What’s more, through our training programs, engagement initiatives and partnerships with Supply Nation and the Wirrpanda Foundation, we’re boosting Indigenous employment outside our business. Even outside our industry.
It flows on to Aboriginal-owned suppliers and contractors.
Our management strategies ensure we provide full, fair and reasonable opportunities for local Aboriginal businesses and communities to participate in our projects. In other words, we engage Aboriginal-owned suppliers and businesses wherever practicable. And with our support, our contracting partners expand their business and the positive effect they have on their local communities.
It means we can help our clients fulfil their RAP obligations.
Beyond our construction and building maintenance capabilities, as an Aboriginal-owned business we’re experts in developing effective Aboriginal employment and engagement strategies.
This means we’re uniquely qualified to advise our clients on how to make their Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) work, so they can engage with Indigenous people and communities in an authentic and meaningful way. Not only for the benefit of Aboriginal people, but their businesses.
It enables us to shatter damaging misconceptions. Together.
By winning long-term contracts, by creating employment for more Aboriginal people, by consistently meeting and exceeding our clients’ expectations, and by working collaboratively to earn our clients’ trust and their repeat business, we’re changing and challenging everything.
We’re changing the way businesses think about Aboriginal employees and businesses. We’re changing the way Aboriginal people think about themselves and their place in Australia. And that changes everything, for everyone, for the better.
Gerry Matera
NYOONGAR TRADITIONAL LANDOWNER & DIRECTOR, MARAWAR.
“I want to be a benchmark in Aboriginal participation in employment and I want to be the biggest employer of Aboriginal apprentices in the state.
“It’s the ripple effect – which we talk about a lot in Marawar – it only has to start small to create a big opportunity.”