Inland Rail proactively supports local and First Nations small to medium enterprises (SMEs) and social enterprises to grow and diversify.
Business Capability Development Program
Our Business Capability Development Program provides local and First Nations SMEs and social enterprises located along the Inland Rail alignment with access to workshops, presentations and mentoring support aimed at improving their understanding of how to supply to Inland Rail.
The program helps these businesses:
- Prepare a business capability statement
- Create a business profile on ICN Gateway and register their interest in supply opportunities
- Improve their approach to tendering
- Understand Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) requirements, and
- Effectively manage their contracts
Other support programs
Businesses are also encouraged to seek assistance from the following organisations:
National
Australian Government – www.business.gov.au
Australian Industry Group – www.aigroup.com.au
My Business – www.mybusiness.com.au
Regional Development Australia – www.rda.gov.au
New South Wales
Business Connect – www.business.nsw.gov.au
SafeWork NSW – www.safework.nsw.gov.au
Queensland
Business Queensland – www.business.qld.gov.au
Construction Skills Queensland – www.csq.org.au
Toowoomba and Surat Basin Enterprises – www.tsbe.com.au
WorkSafe Queensland – www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/injury-prevention-safety/small-business
Victoria
Business Victoria – www.business.vic.gov.au
WorkSafe Victoria – www.worksafe.vic.gov.au
Support for First Nations businesses
We know that First Nations businesses are more likely to employ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff and bring a range of other social, cultural and economic benefits to First Nations business owners, their families and communities.
We are committed to supporting First Nations businesses to ensure they are prepared for and provided with opportunities to participate in Inland Rail.
We understand there may be challenges to overcome in achieving our First Nations participation goals for employment and business.
We know that success will take commitment, planning and strong partnerships with First Nations communities, industry and government.
To achieve our goals for First Nations businesses participation we will:
- provide information and access to support in a range of formats, including our website, industry and employment events and a network of regional and project offices
- work in project planning stages to understand the opportunities that will come from Inland Rail and the capability of local First Nations communities to take up these opportunities
- work with First Nations communities, industry and government agencies to support the design and delivery of training and development programs to improve local capability where this is needed
- work with key partners to link training and development programs with other projects and local industries to provide the greatest regional benefit
- ensure First Nations participation is included as a key element of all tender assessments
- include First Nations participation targets in our contracts and work closely with contractors to achieve agreed outcomes.
Additionally, we provide one-on-one support for First Nations businesses to improve their capability and service offering to Inland Rail.
First Nations support programs
First Nations businesses are also encouraged to seek assistance from the following organisations:
National
Indigenous Business Australia – www.iba.gov.au
Many Rivers – www.manyrivers.org.au
National Indigenous Australians Agency – www.niaa.gov.au
Supply Nation – www.supplynation.org.au
New South Wales
Aboriginal Affairs New South Wales – www.aboriginalaffairs.nsw.gov.au
Aboriginal Business Advisory Initiative – www.service.nsw.gov.au/business/aboriginal-business-advisory-initiative
New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council – www.alc.org.au
New South Wales Indigenous Chamber of Commerce – www.nswicc.com.au
YARPA NSW Indigenous Business and Employment Hub – www.yarpa.com.au
Queensland
Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships – www.datsip.qld.gov.au
South East Queensland Indigenous Chamber of Commerce – www.seqicc.com.au
Victoria
Aboriginal Victoria – www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au
Kinaway Chamber of Commerce – www.kinaway.com.au
Find out more
For more information about how we can help local and First Nations businesses, please email:
- Victoria: inlandrailvic@inlandrail.com.au
- New South Wales: inlandrailnsw@inlandrail.com.au
- Queensland: inlandrailqld@inlandrail.com.au
