South Australian Business of the Month

September 2023

Birubi Australia (Birubi) has a deep commitment to fostering economic independence within Indigenous communities. Our team has achieved remarkable outcomes in each project. Our commitment and high quality projects have brought us recognition and celebration at the CCF SA Gala Ceremony 2023. Our crew is thrilled and proud to have been honoured with the Judges Award. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Birubi's unwavering dedication to excellence in civil construction and Indigenous community engagement.

We don't just talk the talk; we walk the walk when it comes to Indigenous empowerment. Our commitment to creating economic opportunities for Indigenous communities and individuals is not merely a slogan but a living, breathing reality of our organisation. Additionally, one of the standout achievements of Birubi Australia is our ability to achieve high levels of local Aboriginal participation in the projects we undertake. This has especially been reflected in the West Coast Homelands Roads Upgrades project that provided sufficient evidence of our commitment and value for the local Aboriginal people and our client the Department for Infrastructure and Transport.

QUICK SNAPSHOT OF OUR AWARD-WINNING PROJECT

Our West Coast Homelands Roads Upgrades project was aimed at repairing and upgrading the roads that connect ten Aboriginal homelands. Addressing long standing issues such as dust, corrugations, rutting, and poor drainage. By revitalising the road network, the project aimed to enhance accessibility and the overall quality of life for the communities residing in these remote areas. Birubi Australia integrated local Aboriginal individuals into the workforce, the project not only addressed critical infrastructure needs but also fostered a sense of ownership and purpose within the communities themselves.

Also, our stakeholder management made a significant contribution to the development of this project, especially the relationship developed with the Ceduna Aboriginal Corporation (CAC). By collaborating with CAC during the planning phase of this project, we were able to create a methodology that leveraged the available resources as much as possible to assist in the completion of the project. Birubi Australia actively involved Aboriginal peoples by focusing on training, upskilling, work experience, and personal development, to empower our workforce and leave a legacy in the community. Through these efforts, Birubi successfully achieved our goals where, 85% of the onsite workforce were Aboriginals, with 82% of these staff coming from the communities we were working in. This was caused by our engagement with the local community, our internal staff members (Dunbar and Anthony), and working closely with CAC. The collaboration with CAC ensured we could engage with partnerships, such as Eyre Plus, to increase engagement in the community, and allow as much as possible for the value of the contract to go back into the communities we were working in.