At Cater Care, we recognise that building strong partnerships with Indigenous communities, suppliers, and traditional owners is essential for driving meaningful social and economic change. Led by Indigenous Participation Manager Kevin Alley, we remain steadfast in our commitment to reconciliation and advancing the goals outlined in our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). To achieve this, we’ll vigorously pursue our goals for our Indigenous Procurement Plan, which has grown tremendously in recent years
Indigenous Procurement Plan performance update
In the past quarter, we have made significant strides in increasing the number of Indigenous businesses in our supply chain. Through collaboration with Supply Nation, our Procurement Team has diligently worked to identify and onboard several new Indigenous suppliers. One notable addition is Dreamtime Tuka, a business owned by founder Herb Smith, a proud Wiradjuri man, who shares our passion for creating good food. As many of his products contain native ingredients, they also complement our Native Flavours and Ingredients program, making quality food products infused with native ingredients.
Dreamtime Tuka recently supplied Cater Care with bespoke chocolate brownies, flavoured with wattleseed, which were gifted to our 5,000 residents across our aged care sites nationwide for Mother’s Day. This initiative not only showcased the delicious flavours of Indigenous cuisine but also highlighted our ongoing commitment to supporting Indigenous businesses and promoting cultural diversity within our operations.
Meet the Buyer: the first event
Additionally, as part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen partnerships with Indigenous suppliers, our Meet the Buyer initiative, supported by Supply Nation under the direction of our Procurement team, is running strong. Created to empower suppliers, this program provides a structured platform for Indigenous suppliers and contractors to showcase their products and services directly to our Procurement team. In 2023, we held our first face-to-face introductions between Indigenous suppliers and Cater Care buyers, further cementing our commitment to Indigenous procurement and economic empowerment.
The first event saw great attendance, and we were excited to see so many potential partners. Looking ahead, we’ll host another Meet the Buyer event and attend Supply Nation’s Connect trade show in Brisbane this August. We’ll proactively engage with potential suppliers, aiming to find more authentic Indigenous partners to collaborate with. We’re excited about this event already!
Building partnerships for change
As we reflect on our progress and achievements in Indigenous procurement, we are reminded of the importance of collaboration, respect, and mutual benefit in driving positive change. By continuing to prioritise partnerships with First Nations communities and businesses, we reaffirm our commitment to reconciliation and creating a more inclusive and prosperous future for all Australians.
Kevin Alley
Indigenous Participation Manager
Ph: 0424 175 945
kevin.alley@catercare.com.au
