Creating opportunities for Indigenous businesses

Small Indigenous business owner Julie Okley knows how challenging competing in the marketplace can be, but she says the support of Supply Nation and the Government’s new Indigenous Procurement Policy is helping to change that.

Julie’s company, Dilkara Essence of Australia, was one of more than 60 Indigenous businesses represented at a recent Meet the Supplier event in Canberra. It was an opportunity for businesses to showcase their goods and services to more than 220 Commonwealth Government procurement officers.

“A lot of people are very fearful of making that first approach to Government, so I think this event has opened the gates and created the opportunity to really have your business showcased,” Julie said.

The event was co-hosted by Supply Nation, a non-government organisation that connects Indigenous suppliers with government and corporate buyers. Indigenous businesses can promote their services by registering with Supply Nation’s Indigenous Business Direct–something Julie encourages everyone to do.

“This is our first year with Supply Nation and I’m really impressed. They’re great at creating opportunities to connect,” she said.

Under the Indigenous Procurement Policy, the Australian Government has committed to award three per cent of all new Commonwealth contracts to Indigenous businesses by 2019-20.

Julie said this was great news, not just for businesses but for communities as well.

“At the end of the day, it’s not just about the money for us, it’s about the community,” she said.

“It’s about what we can do for the community. It’s about how we can employ Indigenous people in business.

“We source our ingredients from communities, so there’s an on-flow effect into community. When our business grows, it helps with the community’s economic development as well.”