Ventia’s commitment to reconciliation is year-round, but there are particular times of year during which we take the opportunity to celebrate, recognise and learn more about Indigenous culture and participation. 

NAIDOC Week is one such time in which we shine a light on the work we do at Ventia to increase our cultural and historical awareness and build our relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations.

One way in which we’re adopting best practice to lead the way is through our Training, Employment Recruitment Care and Career Advancement (TRECCA) team, which supports contracts across our company to engage Indigenous communities, enhancing their participation and retention.

Across the DBS we employ over 65 First Nations teammates representing approximately 3.7% of our workforce across the contract. 

A notable success story is the all-Indigenous Reception Team at the Defence Accommodation Precinct Darwin (DAP-D). This team is a testament to Indigenous talent, the TRECCA team's effectiveness and their collaboration with Defence Base Services and Charles Darwin University (CDU).  

Commitment to Reconciliation  

The TRECCA team recruited and managed a culturally informed pre-employment and training program. In partnership with CDU they recruited and trained 12 local Indigenous participants from the Darwin / Palmerston community for the DAP-D Reception function. The participants demonstrated a strong desire to step out of their comfort zone to learn, reflect and improve completing a week of Skill Set, Cert III in Business and two units of competency in customer service skills. This program was a joint initiative between TRECCA, NT Government and CDU.  

Once employed, new team members at DAP-D received ongoing training from Ventia employees, strengthened by support from Aunty Carolyn, an Aboriginal elder providing invaluable mentorship. 

Stephen Mitchell, Project Director shares, “This activity was the 4th iteration of the pre-employment program that TRECCA has designed and executed over a period of four years."

"One of the most pleasing aspects of the program is that participants from year one or two who worked elsewhere or who went on to experience other things have returned in this year’s program with a view to getting employment at Ventia.”

Exceeding Customer Expectations

Since commencing in March, the DAP-D team has exceeded expectations, helping us redefine service excellence and receiving consistently positive feedback from visitors. They embody a commitment to exceptional service for Defence personnel, going above and beyond in problem-solving and service delivery.  

Andrew Bartlett General Manager Defence Base Services contract says, “Partnering with TRECCA and the all-Indigenous reception team at DAP-D is a true reflection of the beauty and spirit of the Northern Territory and exemplify our dedication to reconciliation and alignment with Defence's values."