A key focus for Ventia's Indigenous participation approach, and in line with our commitments in our Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan, is in increasing our engagement with Indigenous suppliers and organisations. 

This approach is particularly evident in our Defence Base Services (DBS) contract in South Australia, who have engaged with A.R.T Employment Pty Ltd (now known as RAWsa).

RAWsa is a 100% Aboriginal owned and managed South Australian company, established to provide commercially competitive solutions that enhance Aboriginal workforce participation in the state. 

The contract team engaged RAWsa to source suitable employees, which has resulted in a number of employment opportunities for local Indigenous people on the contact.

Indigenous Engagement Advisor Bessie Fredberg says that Earnest Gollan and Reymond Landers were working casually as contractors on site through A.R.T initially, but after demonstrating positive skill sets and delivering high quality work, they both transitioned as direct employees on the contract working with the Arborist and Grounds Maintenance team.

"As a company which is dedicated to engaging Indigenous businesses, I am thrilled to have RAWsa employment as a main supplier," Bessie says.

I feel it's extremely important to provide local Indigenous jobseekers with opportunities to develop skills and experience in their chosen field to effectively prepare them for the workforce.

"Engaging with organisations like RAWsa allows us to also identify the appropriate person for the job." 

Bessie says that through working in collaboration with RAWsa and other providers we aim to ensure economic participation for all Indigenous people as well as structured on-the-job training for Indigenous jobseekers.