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Reconciliation Action Plan
Acknowledgement of Country
Coates acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which our branches and offices are based. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and extend our respect to all Elders and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Australia.
From our CEO
Reconciliation is a journey we walk together. As Australians, this journey calls on all of us: individuals, families, communities, organisations, and the nation as a whole. At the heart of it are meaningful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - grounded in respect, truth, and shared purpose.
Through our Reflect and Innovate Reconciliation Action Plans, we’ve taken important steps forward. We’re proud to have:
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Launched our Reflect RAP at a company-wide event that brought together our people, customers, and communities to acknowledge our commitment.
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Developed strong connections with First Nations business networks, including Supply Nation, Kinaway, the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce, and the Noongar Chamber.
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Introduced an Acknowledgement of Country guide, supporting our people to recognise and respect the Traditional Owners of the lands where we live and work.
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Made cultural awareness learning available to all employees, recognising that education is key to change.
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Earned the trust of First Nations customers through genuine support and a long-term commitment to their success.
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Renewed our partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, continuing to support young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men through education and employment pathways.
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Increased First Nations representation in our workforce - ensuring more voices and lived experiences are reflected within our teams.
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Marked National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week with meaningful celebrations that honour culture, resilience, and history.
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Expanded our engagement with First Nations suppliers by more than 500%, resulting in a 400% increase in our spend, deepening our partnerships.
These actions matter - and we’re proud of our achievements and grateful for the lessons learned from these rich experiences. But our path hasn’t been without challenge. We’ve faced the need to shift mindsets, build internal understanding, and navigate complexities that occur when creating real change. To continue our progress, we remain focused on:
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Helping our people, especially decision-makers, to understand the full value of partnering with First Nations businesses.
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Supporting the delivery and growth of services under national contracts.
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Embedding reconciliation into the core of how we do business - not as an initiative, but as a way of being.
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Coordinating efforts across our national footprint while maintaining cultural integrity and focus.
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Improving our ability to track outcomes in procurement and employment.
Looking ahead, we know that reconciliation is more than the actions outlined in this plan - it’s a deep, ongoing commitment. We will continue to listen, learn, and show up with respect. We must focus on building stronger connections with local First Nations communities and empowering our employees with the knowledge and tools to walk this path meaningfully.
As an Australian-owned company, we are part of this story. We stand with Reconciliation Australia, our Board, employees, customers, and the communities who place their trust in us. Together, we move forward - committed to a future that acknowledges the past and builds a more inclusive Australia.
Murray Vitlich
Chief Executive Officer,
Executive Director
Our RAP
The Coates Innovate RAP 2.0 has set key targets to achieve by 2027 across three focus areas: Employment & Inclusion, Engagement with Indigenous suppliers and customers, Cultural Education & Community.
It is our intention to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the locations where we operate, ensuring that our commitments foster respectful relationships and create meaningful, sustainable opportunities. We will also work closely with our top-tier clients to explore opportunities for our First Nations suppliers and customers.
Our key partnerships
We’re committed to building meaningful, long-term partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. We’re proud to have forged strong relationships with several organisations across the country, including:
Clontarf Foundation
Coates has a national partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that exists to improve the education, discipline, self-esteem, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men, and by doing so, equip them to participate more meaningfully in society.
Our partnership helps support over 150 Clontarf Academies across Australia, many in communities where both Clontarf and Coates co-exist, with more than 12,000 students enrolled. We also provide opportunities such as work experience and apprenticeships and have so far employed 15 Clontarf graduates.
NSWICC - APIC Partnership
The NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC) supports Coates' Aboriginal Participation in Construction (APIC) Partnership.
Their vision is for a state that embraces its rich Aboriginal history and culture, and values Aboriginal entrepreneurship, innovation and enterprise as an important pillar in a strong NSW economy.
Their mission is to fuel a culturally rich and economically prosperous NSW.
They aim to achieve this via the APIC policy that has been developed to support greater participation by Aboriginal people in government construction projects across NSW. The aim of the policy is consistent with OCHRE (Opportunity, Choice, Healing, Responsibility and Empowerment), the NSW Government’s plan to improve outcomes for Aboriginal people across all sectors of the community.
OCHRE recognises the need for a new approach and direction to support Aboriginal economic development across NSW, built on the strengths of the state’s Aboriginal communities and their long history of successful enterprise and trade as part of their own economic systems.