Over 88 employees have been placed within Ventia contracts by TRACKS Indigenous Services to date, as we celebrate twelve months of successfully working together on Indigenous workforce engagement and participation across Northern Territory. 

Over the past year Indigenous company TRACKS has provided Ventia with labour hire services across our Defence contracts in the Northern Territory, and we are exploring opportunities to extend nationally.

Through filling roles such as chefs and cleaners through to mechanics and hospitality utility workers, Senior People and Capability Business Partner Kezia Smith (Defence Base Services contract) says we are aiming to be an employer of choice and create pathways for local people.

Kezia says that under the Defence Base Services (DBS) Indigenous Employment Strategy we have increased Indigenous participation by 6% since 2019.  By working with companies such as TRACKS we can improve employment outcomes.

From a vendor perspective, the Northern Territory Defence contracts are top performers.  Over 31% of vendor spend was for works delivered by Indigenous companies.

Supporting career development

Local Indigenous woman Lynette Stewart is one of many who has been engaged through TRACKS at RAAF Base Darwin as a cleaner. Due to her dedicated work commitment and strong performance, she has been identified as suitable to transition from TRACKS to Ventia as an employee. 

Kezia says this gives the candidates an opportunity to build a meaningful and long-lasting career with Ventia.  "In our Defence business we are always looking for opportunities to build local and regional capability," she says. "Whether that be through workforce capability or local supplier engagement."

Partnerning to support the Indigenous workforce

TRACKS is an Indigenous owned and operated business headquartered in Darwin with offices throughout Australia. With services ranging from traditional labour-hire through to mentoring, counselling, training facilitation and engagement consultation, TRACKS is a full-service Indigenous workforce provider - the acronym TRACKS stands for 'Training and Recruiting, giving Aboriginal Careers a Kickstart'.

The organisation is now developing a RAP and seeks to work collaboratively with its staff and clients building strong relationships, respect and opportunities from within.

At the helm is Director Nicole Thompson, a proud Mak Mak Marranunggu woman from the Litchfield region in the Northern Territory. Nicole has dedicated her life and work to the progression of Indigenous Australians, through her early years work in policing and social services, and now more recently through her passion for employment participation and workforce development through TRACKS.

Deputy Project Manager Byron Davis from our TRECCA Indigenous employment business has worked closely with the hiring managers to ensure the continued success of the Ventia and TRACKS partnership. 

Indigenous recruitment often requires an enhanced level of pastoral care," Byron says. "It's not as simple as putting out an advertisement and placing someone in a role.

He notes that TRECCA understands that non-traditional methods of recruitment are not always suitable for Indigenous engagement and participation due to cultural diversity differences. Through our relationship with TRACKS, this creates a pathway into our operations for Indigenous candidates.

TRACKS' Relationship Manager, Kerry Weisshaupt provides candidates with support and pastoral care where required. Appreciating the human element in the work she does, Kerry has been integral in the TRACKS workforce success, dedicating numerous hours to personal and professional mentoring and support. 

It's this level of care and dedication coming from both sides of the partnership that has led to this successful relationship.