A partnership approach to support remote First Nations communities

Learn how Coates partnered with the Australian Army and Indigenous Civil Group to deliver vital infrastructure and facilities to South Australia’s Amata community

The project

In June 2024, a team of Australian Defence Force personnel began a 5-month program to build new accommodation for visiting health professionals, contractors and government service providers, upgrade flood management infrastructure and create training opportunities for the Anangu people of Amata – a remote First Nations community in South Australia. This project, delivered through the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP), aims to help meet the needs of remote communities and improve the lives of Indigenous Australians.

“To access dialysis and diabetes treatment, the people of Amata currently visit Alice Springs, which is almost a 1,000km round trip,” says Adam Spink, National Partnerships Manager at Coates. “The new accommodation hub will connect the community with visiting health professionals, reducing the need to travel for the healthcare that people need. The construction of a flood management system to redirect floodwater around the town will also make a big difference to the community’s quality of life when the region experiences heavy rainfall.”

To support early construction works, the Army needed help sourcing and transporting a range of heavy equipment to site. Coates accepted the challenge, partnering with ICG, an Indigenous-owned civil construction and plant hire business, to deliver on this requirement.

The challenge

Home to approximately 400 people in the APY Lands, the Amata community is situated 1,407kms northwest of Adelaide and just 20km south of the Northern Territory border. The remote nature of this location made transporting heavy equipment and other materials to site particularly challenging.

Coates’ nearest branch, Port Augusta, is 1,170km away, so the transport fleet had to travel a significant distance to get equipment to site. The journey included navigating 200km of unsealed roads, towing equipment loads of up to 25 tonnes, while travelling at speeds of just 20-30kmph.

The solution

Together, Coates and IGC were responsible for sourcing and transporting the required heavy equipment, along with everything the Army will need to power and maintain this fleet over the next five months.

This solution includes:

• Hitachi ZW150 Wheel Loader

• Grader with GPS

• 36T excavator GPS

• Cat 308 Excavator

• Cat D8 Dozer

• Mobile Cone Crusher

While Coates has worked previously with the Department of Defence, this project was a great opportunity for Coates and ICG to put their new partnership to the test. “Having been in this industry for a long time, I find it refreshing when big businesses legitimately want to work alongside established Indigenous businesses like ours,” says Phil Jackson, Director and Founder for ICG, and a proud Yorta Yorta man.

“Over time I’ve felt like many of these opportunities are driven by necessity, rather than a genuine desire for long-term change. But we really liked the way that Coates approached working with us, and from the beginning there was clear synergy around our values which resonated strongly with me,” Phil continues.

Coates and IGC were responsible for sourcing heavy equipment for the 5-month program

The impact

Early during the project, Coates and ICG travelled to Amata to see the equipment in use. “This trip provided unique insight into the importance of these Defence initiatives and the value of investing in remote communities,” says Adam. “It was also humbling for the Coates team to see first-hand the broader social impact of the Army’s community building work, and how it not only enriches lives, but connects directly with First Nations communities.”

This experience was equally impactful for Phil. “This is a massive opportunity for IGC to directly support a First Nations community,” he says. “I believe the Amata community valued having us there and appreciate the willingness of others to immerse in their culture and community.”

Sustainable partnerships for sustainable change

Through its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Coates continues to build partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses. In working through the recent ‘Innovate’ stage of its RAP journey, Coates has identified ways to support First Nations businesses, not only through the procurement of goods and services but also by supporting businesses to grow their capabilities while utilising Coates’ equipment and services.

While the newly formed partnership with ICG helps Coates to deliver on its RAP, Phil believes its approach goes far beyond this commitment. “The genuine passion and drive that Coates has to ethically engage Indigenous businesses really wasn’t what I expected from a business of this size,” he says.

“Working with Coates has also connected ICG to the Army’s work in this region and given us a clear understanding of how to target our growth around the opportunities that exist. On top of the commercial benefits, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know Coates, its people, and getting a better feel for what they’re about,” Phil continues.

“I’ve been buoyed by the whole experience and by what we have been able to achieve. And as our relationship grows, I hope that we can lead the way, setting a benchmark for how big businesses and Indigenous businesses can work together to achieve meaningful outcomes.”

To learn more about how Coates is partnering with First Nations’ businesses and communities, contact Adam.Spink@coates.com.au