Kangaroo Transport hops into action

Australia loves when battlers beat the odds. Young Wiradjuri man Corey Carr - the proud founder and director of Kangaroo Transport and Haulage – is one of those success stories.

Corey endured more than his fair share of hardships, growing up in public housing around Redfern and Waterloo. He left high school in Year 10 to start work as a heavy machine operator, but suffered from depression and anxiety and felt directionless in life.

However, Corey said that things changed with the birth of his first son in 2012. He wanted more – he wanted to be successful and a figure for respect.

 “Most of all, [to] make my son proud of his dad and know I'll build something for him to lean on,” Corey said.

Corey invested all his savings into three business courses - an online course for new Indigenous businesses through Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), a business development course for Indigenous companies, and a full-time Certificate IV in business.

"I could see the need for more Indigenous representation within the construction sector here in NSW,” said Corey.

“That’s when I registered my business Kangaroo Transport and Haulage in 2018.”

Corey also met his mentor and good friend Peter Eather, founder of another Indigenous business, Eather Group. The subsequent business relationship with Eather Group led Corey to an opportunity that he considers the highlight of his career so far - working on the NOVO Rail project at Redfern Station, under Transport NSW.

Corey said it was an “incredible accomplishment”.

“From living in housing commission there, to being an Aboriginal entrepreneur and business-owner, delivering quality services right in my old neighbourhood,” he said.

Building on the company’s success, Kangaroo Transport and Haulage recently received $250,000 through the Federal government's Indigenous Local Employment Fund in order to support capability expansion as well as the recruitment and upskilling of new employees.

The grant allowed for the purchase of two new heavy machines and the creation of two new roles at the company. Kangaroo's employees are all local and Indigenous workers.

To Corey’s surprise and delight, two of his younger cousins have expressed a desire to follow in his footsteps.

“To see how far I have come, and for my younger family, friends and Indigenous community to be inspired by how I’ve persevered and succeeded, it's truly a proud moment,” Corey said.