Indigenous Opportunities Policy: Support for Tenderers

The Indigenous Opportunities Policy which comes into effect in July 2011 may require you (as an applicant to an Approach to Market) to have a DEEWR-approved, Indigenous Australian Training, Employment and Supplier Plan in place and prior to signing an Australian Government contract.

Further information on developing a plan is available by contacting iop@deewr.gov.au.

Resources

A list of resources to assist you in developing an Indigenous Training, Employment and Supplier Plan is provided below.  Please note this list is a guide and therefore not inclusive of all programs and services available:

• Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICC's) - ICC’s build targeted and flexible solutions to community-identified priorities by bringing together Government, organisations and the community as partners.
• SkillsInfo is designed to provide skills-related information for industries and regions, as well as on education and training and skills issues. The website is built around five themes: Education and Training, Industries, Regions, Skills Issues and Skills Links. The home page gives the user the option of selecting a region of interest, an industry, education and training and skills issues.
• Defence and Industry e-portal is a conduit to explore with Industry what is required for the One-Stop Shop.  The goal of the the D+I ePortal / One-Stop Shop is supply quality data about Defence long term procurement plans to industry.

Australian Government Training and Employment Services

• Adult literacy programs - An example of an adult literacy program is the Workplace English Language and Literacy (WELL) program. The main aim of the WELL Program is to assist organisations to train workers in English language, literacy and numeracy skills. This funding is available on a competitive grants basis to organisations for English language and literacy training linked to job-related workplace training and is designed to help workers meet their current and future employment and training needs.
• Australian Apprenticeship Access Program - The Australian Apprenticeships Access Program provides vulnerable job seekers who experience barriers to entering skilled employment with nationally recognised pre-vocational training, support and assistance. The Access Program is delivered locally by brokers and providers who work closely with employers to deliver training that meets industry needs.
• Indigenous Australian Apprenticeships - The Making Indigenous Australian Apprenticeships your business resource kit has been designed to provide a range of practical resources to assist Indigenous employment and training service providers in improving access of Indigenous people to Australian Apprenticeships. It is also relevant to service providers who support Indigenous Australians in other employment and training situations.
• Indigenous Employment Program - The Indigenous Employment Program (IEP) supports a broad range of activities that are responsive to the needs of employers, Indigenous Australians and their communities including supporting employers to provide sustainable employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
• Indigenous Portal – Australian Government programs and services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People - A gateway to information on Australian Government Indigenous Australian initiatives and programs.
• Productivity Places Program - Under the Skilling Australia for the Future initiative, the Australian Government has funded the Productivity Places Program (PPP) which will deliver 711,000 qualification commencements over 5 years. These qualifications are being delivered in an industry-driven system, ensuring that training is more responsive to the needs of businesses and participants.

Employer services /networks

• Aboriginal Employment Strategy - Through a three-way partnership between Government, Corporate Australia and Aboriginal people AES implements recruitment services and training programs that delivers real jobs and addresses industry skill shortages across Australia.
• Australian Employment Covenant - The Australian Employment Covenant (AEC) is an initiative aimed at securing 50,000 sustainable jobs for Indigenous Australians.
• Business Leaders Forum Network
• Dare to Lead for Business - A national strategy dedicated to driving and supporting the sustained and systemic change needed to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage. The focus is on improving education and employment outcomes. Dare to Lead for Business works with business, government and community organisations to develop and implement best practice workplace strategies that embrace the goals of Reconciliation. 
• Indigenous Jobs Australia - Indigenous Jobs Australia is a national employment website dedicated to connecting Indigenous Australian job seekers with employers searching for Indigenous employees.
• Industry Capability Network - Industry Capability Network (ICN) is a not-for-profit organisation that introduces Australian companies to the supply chains of major projects.
• Information for employers about working arrangements and conditions 
• Job Services Australia – Find a Provider - To help deliver Job Services Australia, the Australia Government has contracted a range of organisations to provide employment services in more than 2000 locations across Australia.
• Supplier Access to Major Projects (SAMP) Program - SAMP provides funds for networks and specialist consultants to work with project developers to identify supply opportunities for capable and competitive Australian companies. SAMP seeks to increase opportunities for Australian industry, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to participate in major projects and increase access to global supply markets for major projects.

Indigenous business directories, business links and organisations: The Indigenous Opportunities Policy currently defines an Indigenous business as a business that has an ABN and 50% Indigenous ownership. Please note that not all the Indigenous supplier directories listed here use this 50% definition.

National

• Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Exploration and Energy - Aboriginal Enterprises in Mining, Exploration and Energy is an incorporated not-for-profit company set up to grow Indigenous Australian businesses in Australia and overseas in mining and allied industries.
• Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce - The Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce has been established to promote and serve the interests of Indigenous Australian business.
• Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council - The Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council (AIMSC) connects corporate and government purchasers with certified Indigenous Australian businesses that can supply them with goods and services. 
• Black Pages is a free national on-line Indigenous business and Community Enterprise Directory
• Digedi - Digedi is an Indigenous business directory focusing on the construction and resource industry. The directory provides information on Indigenous Australian businesses supplying goods and services to the mining and construction sectors in the Northern Territory, Queensland and South Australia.
• First Australians Business www.indigenousbusinesses.com.au is an Australian online Indigenous Business and Community Directory.
• The Indigenous Stock Exchange (ISX) - The Indigenous Stock Exchange website is a free market for listing and showcasing Indigenous business ideas, products, investment opportunities and people.
• Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations - The Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations supports and regulates Indigenous  Australian corporations.

New South Wales

• NSW Aboriginal Business Directory - This directory provides a means by which to search for Aboriginal businesses in NSW.
• Mandurah Hunter Indigenous Business Chamber Inc. - Mandurah Hunter indigenous Business Chamber (Mandurah HIBC) support and enhance the employment, economic and social prosperity of Indigenous peoples across the Hunter region by building the capacity of Indigenous Businesses.

Victoria

• Koori Business Network - The Koori Business Network is the Victorian government's lead agency in the growth and promotion of Indigenous Australian business development. It publishes the Victorian Indigenous Business Directory.

Queensland

• South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce - The South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce provides a directory of Indigenous Australian businesses in the South East Queensland region.
• Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation (CYBDC) - Balkanu, together with other Cape York organisations and our sister organizations – Cape York Partnerships Welfare Reform, Cape York Land Council, Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership – actively drive the implementation of a broad spectrum of economic, social and cultural development programs that support sustainable long term outcomes to improve the lives of the Aboriginal people of Cape York Peninsula.

Western Australia

• Pilbara Aboriginal Contractors’ Association - The Pilbara Aboriginal Contractors’ Association is the Pilbara’s peak industry representative body for Aboriginal contractors and businesses.

South Australia

• Adelaide Indigenous Business Centre - The Adelaide Indigenous Business Centre provides a number of services through its business advisory and support service.