Jacobs Partners with Australian Indigenous-owned Businesses

Jacobs and the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) are partnering to provide opportunities for Indigenous-owned businesses to participate in the Australian defense and infrastructure industries.

Since 2019, this partnership has contributed the equivalent of US$31 million (AU$44m*) towards economic and social value in Indigenous communities and is making real change towards closing the gap between First Nations and non-Indigenous Australians. 

“Our partnership with iDiC is providing tangible benefits to Indigenous businesses and communities in Australia,” says Jacobs Critical Mission Solutions Asia-Pacific Vice President Mike Walkington. “Via our strategic relationship with iDiC, we have assisted Indigenous-owned businesses to participate in the defense industry and have welcomed three First Nations personnel into our business as part of an Indigenous development and employment program that develops professional skills, experience and business acumen.”

Jacobs and iDiC have a shared ambition to support a new generation of Indigenous businesses and people by actively developing capability and capacity of First Nations people.

“Our relationship with Jacobs in Australia has resulted in iDiC and our Indigenous businesses and people being able to meaningfully participate in the defense industry,” explains iDiC CEO and Director Adam Goodes (pictured above).

“iDiC has been on a journey with Jacobs for three years and, in that time, we have grown our capability and capacity and have been engaged in many projects with a direct supply chain spend by Jacobs of more than US$7.4 million (AU$10.5m). We have also engaged more than 40 consultants in above-the-line services for the Australian Government,” he adds.

The iDiC helps Indigenous owned and controlled businesses participate in the delivery of long-term Nation building projects to support Australia’s defense investment and modernization programs.

The partnership aims to help harness and nurture the rich diversity of talent in these communities and is an important part of Jacobs’ TogetherBeyond℠ approach to inclusion and diversity.

*A recent Supply Nation study shows that every AUS$1.00 spent with Indigenous businesses results in AUS$4.41 social and economic benefit to Indigenous communities, people and business: https://supplynation.org.au/