To celebrate the announcement of this partnership, La Trobe is collaborating with Supply Nation to host its inaugural Indigenous Supplier Expo, to be held on Thursday October 25.
Membership of Supply Nation will see La Trobe improve our supplier diversity and provide opportunities to Indigenous businesses that are traditionally under-represented.
Supply Nation connects its membership to Indigenous suppliers to build a vibrant and prosperous Indigenous business sector by incorporating Indigenous owned businesses into the supply chain of Australian companies and government agencies.
“At La Trobe we have a strong track record and ongoing commitment to diversity and we want to build on this by supporting our Indigenous students and staff across all of our campuses,” said Professor John Dewar, Vice-Chancellor La Trobe University.
“This membership with Supply Nation builds on the University’s support for our Indigenous community, and we look forward to working with this great network of businesses.”
“We are delighted to welcome La Trobe University into the Supply Nation community and look forward to working with them to develop their supplier diversity footprint. The measure of our collective success will be in the value of transactions between La Trobe University and Indigenous businesses,” said Ms Laura Berry, Supply Nation Chief Executive Officer.
Supply Nation’s mission is to facilitate, encourage and promote business between corporate Australia and Government agencies and Indigenous owned businesses.
La Trobe University has worked with the following organisations and Supply Nation Indigenous businesses:
- Wathaurong Glass – glass artworks; platters; trophies
- Indigenous Hip Hop Projects – dance and well-being workshops
- Ngarga Warendj – art design and cultural products
- Yakuwa Graphic Design –design of logos
- Arbup Enterprizes – artwork for Indigenous Strategy & Education
- Gurwidji Neighbourhood House – Indigenous women’s art group
- Wayapa Wuurrk – well-being workshop and practitioner training
- Koori Heritage Trust – key Indigenous cultural organisation located in Federation Square
- Jarlo Visions – Wurundjeri Consultancy
- Koori Mail – National Indigenous newspaper
Becoming a member of the Supply Nation community also reinforces La Trobe’s commitment to diversity both within its workforce and procurement processes.
La Trobe University has a range of initiatives designed to help increase participation of Indigenous people in higher education, both as employees and students. These initiatives include; Gamagoen Yarrbat – the University’s Indigenous Strategy; Toom bal ang, the University’s Indigenous Workforce Strategy and the Toorong Marnong Accord – an agreement by nine Victorian Universities with the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI).
For more information on the La Trobe Indigenous Supplier Expo, visit https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/indigenous-suppliers-expo-supply-nation-la-trobe-university-tickets-50343864855
For more information on Supply Nation, visit http://www.supplynation.org.au/
Media contact: Claire Bowers - 0437 279 903 or c.bowers@latrobe.edu.au
