Noongar Chamber Welcomes 200th Aboriginal Owned Member

Media Release

14 July 2021

Noongar Chamber Welcomes 200th Aboriginal Owned Member

• The Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) welcomes Boodjah Contracting as the 200th Aboriginal owned member.

• Membership of NCCI has now grown to over 400 companies in total with over half being at least 51% Aboriginal owned.

• Aboriginal businesses are an increasing economic force in the Western Australian economy

NCCI now has over 200 majority Aboriginal owned members with a total membership of over 400 organisations who are committed to supporting Aboriginal economic development. This month we welcomed Boodjah Contracting as our 200th Aboriginal owned member.

In an economy where support for industry associations and local chambers has been waning, the NCCI is seeing continued growth in membership. This increasing membership, particularly of Aboriginal owned businesses, is demonstrating a demand from our Aboriginal community to participate in the economy on their own terms and in a way that aligns with their spiritual, cultural and community values.

Aboriginal owned businesses are drawing together as a community and look to NCCI as an organisation who provides both advocacy, support and also opportunities to connect with other like-minded businesses through our broader 400 strong corporate membership.

With many Government agencies and large enterprises now moving to 10% Aboriginal employment and engagement targets, contracting Aboriginal owned businesses to undertake this work is integral to contract performance. NCCI assists government and private companies to connect with both Noongar and other Aboriginal owned businesses and builds the capacity of our members to respond to increasing market demands.

Comments attributed to Chairman of NCCI, Gordon Cole:

“As a Noongar man, owning my own businesses has provided the ability to support my family and community on my terms and in ways that have supported and improved my cultural connection to country.

“I am excited to see how each of these Aboriginal owned enterprises will create their own ripple in our community and economy.”

Comments attributed to Executive Officer of NCCI, Tim Milsom:

“Over the last 3 years, it has been inspiring to see how the support, coaching and mentoring from the NCCI team has helped Aboriginal entrepreneurs and enterprises achieve their goals”

“I am thrilled to welcome Boodjah Contracting as the 200th Aboriginal owned member of NCCI and look forward to working with them on their future aspirations.”

Media Contact: Jacqui Warnock 0438631608

NCCI Business Hub Launch 2020

New business hub provides home for Aboriginal Businesses

1 September 2020

MEDIA RELEASE

New business hub provides home for Aboriginal Businesses

Noongar business leaders have gathered with WA’s Treasurer and Indigenous Affairs Minister, Ben Wyatt, to celebrate the official opening of the Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (NCCI) Business Hub in Subiaco.

The hub is physically located in one of DevelopmentWA’s Subi East heritage buildings, Godfrey House, and is now fully tenanted to 10 Aboriginal-owned businesses.

NCCI Chair Gordon Cole said the opening marked a significant milestone for the organisation, which launched only two years ago, and now boasts 14 corporate sponsors and 360 member businesses.

“The overwhelming request we get from Noongar businesses, and other Aboriginal businesses, is that we need opportunities to learn from each other,” Mr Cole said.

“Co-locating in one space gives us the opportunity to talk to each other more frequently and share our experiences and our challenges as we try to grow our businesses and find success and economic freedom.”

NCCI was born out of the idea that local Aboriginal businesses needed an organisation of experienced cultural leaders to bridge the gap between the commercial world and Noongar community cultural values. 

The six founding Directors are all leaders in their fields and run successful businesses – including Oral McGuire, Dr Richard Walley, Karen Jacobs, Michael Hayden and Danny Ford. NCCI has gathered support from State Government (DevelopmentWA and Department of Finance), local governments and a range of corporate supporters from the resources, construction, telecommunications and professional services industries.

Mr Cole and executive officer, Tim Milsom, have also led roadshows to the South West and are in negotiations to start regional chapters of NCCI.

“There has never been a better time for Aboriginal people to gather their skills and know-how and start their own business,” Mr Cole said.

“Some of our tenants in Godfrey House include Des Headland’s occupational health service Spartan First, fashion designer Claire Helen and cleaning services from Codee Cleaning,”

“We have businesses among our membership who are providing electrical contracting services, urban design and landscaping and construction”

“The key purpose of NCCI is to help Noongar people create their own opportunities for wealth,” Mr Cole said. “I’m so excited by what we have manage to achieve in the two years since our official launch, I can’t wait to see where we get to in five or ten years’ time.”

Media contact: Jacqui Warnock 0438 631 608

Noongar Chamber welcomes the New WAy initiative

MEDIA RELEASE

23 November 2018

The Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) has welcomed an exciting new economic forecast for the State, which has highlighted Indigenous business as one of a cluster of opportunities for Western Australia.

The New WAy report was launched last night by Deloitte WA and identifies the nine new areas of growth as critical to the creation of 75,000 jobs and billions of dollars in economic potential.

The report authors have declared WA is better positioned than any other State in Australia, and potentially any jurisdiction in the world, to take advantage of the clusters of opportunity.

NCCI Chair Gordon Cole welcomed the report and said the identification of Indigenous business alongside other factors, such as WA’s biodiversity products, supported what Noongar entrepreneurs have been working towards in the development of their businesses.

“We know and understand the importance of Indigenous business as one of the ways that our State economy can continue to grow,” Mr Cole said.

“The time is right for our corporate investors to get on board to support Indigenous business, along with all the other opportunities Deloitte has identified.”

Since launching in August, NCCI has attracted member sign-ups from more than 200 Aboriginal-owned businesses and has started forming partnerships with corporate supporters. The State Aboriginal Procurement Policy launched in July this year and has started taking effect with more Noongar-owned businesses starting to secure Government contracts.

NCCI was formed by a group of passionate and like-minded Noongar business leaders, focused on building the capacity and wealth of Noongar people.

The founding directors of NCCI include leading Aboriginal performer and consultant Dr Richard Walley and established Noongar business leaders Oral McGuire, Karen Jacobs, Danny Ford and Michael Hayden.

Ends.

Media contact: Charlie Wilson-Clark, Cannings Purple, 0430 110 331

Noongar businesses protocols underpin culturally-based chamber of commerce

Noongar businesses have banded together in what is being touted as Australia’s first culturally-based Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Noongar Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NCCI) was launched recently by West Australian Treasurer and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Ben Wyatt.

NCCI chairman Gordon Cole said the organisation would promote the capabilities of Noongar people.