Indigenous

A netball-based education and community initiative is helping Aboriginal girls to shoot for the stars.

Ngarda Civil & Mining, a pioneering indigenous contractor that employed more than 300 people at its peak, is being wound up, though curiously the listed company that owns a 50 per cent stake is still claiming Ngarda is a big employer.

Gumala Aboriginal Corporation executive officer Jahna Cedar has been named the 2017 Business News 40under40 First Amongst Equals, taking the top honour ahead an impressive field of Western Australia’s young business and community leaders. 

BHP Billiton has extended its partnership with indigenous organisation Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa, following the announcement of a $14.7 million contribution to the Martu Ranger program over the next five years.

Indigenous contractor Guma ICRG has won a contract for work at Gina Rinehart’s Roy Hill iron ore mine in the Pilbara for an undisclosed amount.

Initiatives to encourage indigenous entrepreneurship such as accelerators, incubators and a government-backed venture capital fund were part of a suite of policies recommended by KPMG at the recent Indigenous Business, Enterprise and Corporations Conference held at the University of Western Australia.

Guildford-based BYAC Contracting has been placed into liquidation after losing a long-running contract at the Murrin Murrin nickel project and failing to establish itself as a training provider.

A Federal Court ruling that was the first ever assessment of native title compensation in Australia is expected to lead to more claims by Aboriginal groups.

Welshpool-based Indigenous Construction Resource Group has been named 2016 business of the year at the Perth NAIDOC Awards.