Many Connections, One Goal: Closing the Gap

Leonie Napaltjarri. Tingari Dreaming, 2006 © Leonie Napaltjarri. Licensed by Viscopy, 2009.

The BCA’s policy research and advocacy on business engagement with Indigenous Australians is led by its Indigenous Engagement Task Force.

The BCA aspires for Australia to be the best place in the world in which to live, learn, work and do business. This is an ambitious vision, all the more so because we believe it must apply to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians alike.

At a dinner in 2008 marking the 25th anniversary of the Business Council of Australia, BCA President Greig Gailey announced a number of BCA initiatives aimed at delivering better opportunities and outcomes for Indigenous Australians, in turn benefiting all Australians.

One commitment was to annually report on the Indigenous engagement strategies, outcomes and experiences of BCA member companies from 2009.

Part 1 of this report marks the BCA’s first effort to fulfil that obligation. It summarises the results of a survey prepared and conducted by KPMG in conjunction with the BCA.

Part 2 updates progress against the BCA’s Indigenous engagement initiatives and includes a ‘Statement of Intent’ issued by the BCA Indigenous Engagement Task Force.

Some BCA member companies have significant, well-established and successful Indigenous initiatives in place. And engagement among the broader membership is gaining momentum. While there are many reasons for this, BCA members indentify the Apology in February 2008, and the federal government’s ‘closing the gap’ commitments, as important catalysts.

Explicit government expectations about the role of business in improving Indigenous disadvantage, particularly through employment, have also influenced business action.

The aim of this report is to raise awareness of the actions of BCA members to enable Indigenous Australians to better participate in and benefit from our national prosperity. A priority is to draw out lessons and experiences to improve the effectiveness of strategies and to promote collaboration.

By highlighting these strategies and actions, it is hoped that more businesses will be encouraged to contribute to resolving one of Australia’s most entrenched economic and social failures.

While this report focuses on actions being undertaken by some BCA members, more businesses will need to become engaged individually and in collaboration with others if we are to close the gap on Indigenous disadvantage.

• Many Connections, One Goal: Closing the Gap