Strong partnerships with Indigenous businesses are helping create economic opportunities, build capability and deliver lasting benefits for communities across Victoria.

Through its Water business, Downer works with organisations including Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, Karnaji and Yakama to connect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and people with meaningful opportunities across major infrastructure programs. 

For Thomas Richardson, General Manager Water Victoria and Tasmania, these partnerships are about creating shared value. 

“Indigenous partnerships are critically important to us because it’s not just about meeting targets or compliance, it’s about building value both for our customers, our business and also the communities in which we operate.” 

Kinaway Chamber of Commerce, the peak body representing certified Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in Victoria, has partnered with Downer for more than four years, helping connect projects with Indigenous suppliers that match their needs. 

Chief Executive Officer Alex Martins said the relationship has delivered tangible outcomes for Victorian Aboriginal businesses. 

“We’ve seen over the journey of four years that they’ve been able to help businesses build capacity and capability,” he said. 

“Downer reached out to Kinaway because they wanted to be more involved with Victoria’s Aboriginal business community. They’ve been amazing to deal with because they’re opening up legitimate opportunities for our Victorian Aboriginal businesses to build capacity and capability.” 

One of those businesses is Karnaji, an Indigenous-owned supplier of electrical materials for large-scale infrastructure projects. 

Managing Director Frank Edwards said trust and consistency have been key to the partnership’s success. 

“Relationships and partnerships aren’t built overnight. It’s based on doing what you say and sticking together for that long period,” he said. 

“They treat us as a genuine business and not an Indigenous business that gets rolled in to cover off in a box-ticking exercise.” 

As Downer continues to deliver essential water, wastewater and recycled water infrastructure across Victoria, partnerships with Indigenous businesses remain a key part of creating long-term value for customers, communities and future generations. 

“The strength of this relationship comes from working together for many years and we’ll continue to engage with these businesses because of the quality outcomes, but most importantly the commitment to excellence,” said Thomas Richardson. “There are so many opportunities coming up now where we can make a real change and create long-lasting commitments and benefits.”