Indigenous

Sheffield Resources has launched an indigenous employment program for its Thunderbird mineral sands project near Derby, as it deals with an appeal by a local Aboriginal group against recent project approvals.

The impact of a WA initiative that empowers young Aboriginal women was recently showcased at the World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education.

Western Australian indigenous and community leaders are pleading with the prime minister to urgently expand cashless welfare card rollouts, releasing a graphic video depicting "war zone" conditions across the state.

Northern Minerals has received backing from the federal government for an $8.1 million Aboriginal training-to-work program at its Browns Range project in the Kimberley.

Gumala Aboriginal Corporation is taking legal action against its former chief executive, Steve Mav, for allegedly breaching his duties while he was at the helm of the indigenous group.

Fortescue Metals Group, Chevron and Rio Tinto have announced six new deals with indigenous businesses and charities, with the winners including Pilbara contractor Wirlu-murra Yindjibarndi Enterprises and Perth stationery supplier Kulbardi.

SPECIAL REPORT: Indigenous businesses across WA are pursuing opportunities across a range of areas from mining and agriculture, to hospitality.

SPECIAL REPORT: A joint venture between a major contractor in the Mid West and a traditional owner group has been many years in the making.

The state and federal governments have announced a $12.8 million grant to build custom-designed indigenous accommodation at St Catherine’s College at the University of Western Australia.

Indigenous employment group Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation is continuing its push into hospitality and tourism, unveiling plans to develop a tourism hub at Cossack, a historic ghost town located around 15 kilometres from Roebourne.

Iron ore miners Rio Tinto and Fortescue Metals Group have announced initiatives designed to assist local suppliers, with Rio establishing a dedicated procurement team and FMG shortening payment terms.

An inquiry will be held into the management of an Aboriginal trust that has claims to areas in Western Australia's mineral rich Pilbara region. 

Contractor Indigenous Construction Resource Group has suffered two setbacks, with its half-owned joint venture ICRG North expected to go into liquidation owing creditors about $4 million.

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

Accessibility and funding are two issues that have compromised the ability of WA’s Aboriginal tourism sector to satisfy unmet visitor demand.

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.

40under40: First Amongst Equals winner Jahna Cedar has built a career blending her business acumen and indigenous heritage.

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. 

Employment provider Programmed hopes to increase the number of indigenous employees in the national workforce by 5,000 within a decade, the company said at an announcement with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Generation One founder Andrew Forrest in Canberra today.

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 Construction Resource Group has diversified its business by purchasing consulting group NANA Australia, the local offshoot of a giant Alaskan native corporation.

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.

A new sandalwood oil processing facility has been opened in the Goldfields.

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.

Western Australia’s largest indigenous contractor has parted ways with chief executive Jeff McGlinn, less than a year after the former NRW Holdings boss was lured out of retirement.

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.

Indigenous corporations in Western Australia have experienced a fall in average income for the first time in five years, though the state’s largest Aboriginal corporations, listed in the BNiQ Search Engine, have defied the downturn.

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.

A subsidiary of TFS Corporation and a joint venture between a Melbourne oils producer and a local indigenous business have been shortlisted for wild sandalwood oil processing contracts with the state government.

A long-awaited state government report on the future of remote indigenous communities doesn't overtly refer to closures controversially flagged in late 2014, but promises to direct funding towards 10 of the biggest.

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

Western Australia’s largest indigenous contractor has elected a new chairman and confirmed plans to lift both Aboriginal ownership and Aboriginal participation on its board.