CPB Contractors: Indigenous Engagement in Gympie, Qld

At one of CPB Contractor’s major road projects in Gympie, Queensland, the project team committed to indigenous engagement on site, exceeding targets set by both CPB and our Client. The Project set clear expectations around engagement and took a collaborative and genuine approach to procurement for the duration of the project, focusing on building business relationships for mutual success.

Two key goals were set for the project, in addition to essential targets, ‘increase capability among Indigenous businesses in the Gympie Region supporting sustainable growth beyond the life of the project’ and ‘equipping the region’s Indigenous Australians with skills transferrable to other employment opportunities upon completion of the project’.

These goals and targets have been marked by the following achievements:

Indigenous Employment

Throughout the life of the project, an average of 7% of employees were Indigenous, exceeding the target of 4%. At the peak of the project, 11.1% of the workforce was Indigenous.

Indigenous Training

The project welcomed seven Indigenous trainees who collectively completed over 47,000 training hours.

Indigenous Business Spend

The project spent over $8.2 million on Indigenous businesses, achieving 126% of the target.  Seven Indigenous subcontractors provided a diverse range of services, including uniforms, plant hire, and civil works.