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.
Having completed our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2021 and our first Innovate RAP in 2025, we’ve taken important steps forward. We’re proud to have:
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Launched our Reflect RAP in 2020 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 and 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.
As we continue our reconciliation journey with our Innovate 2.0 RAP (2025-2027), we remain focused on:
- Helping our people, especially decision-makers, to understand the full value of partnering with First Nations businesses.
- Supporting the delivery and growth of services under national contracts.
- Embedding reconciliation into the core of how we do business - not as an initiative, but as a way of being.
- Coordinating efforts across our national footprint while maintaining cultural integrity and focus.
- 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
Innovate 2.0 has key targets to achieve by 2027 across three focus areas: Employment & Inclusion, Engagement with Indigenous suppliers and customers, Cultural Education & Community. We actively collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in the locations where we operate to build respectful relationships and create meaningful, sustainable opportunities aligned with these commitments.
Download our RAP
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 the Clontarf Foundation and NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce (NSWICC).
Clontarf Foundation
In 2024, Coates invested in a second three-year national partnership with the Clontarf Foundation, which has been matched by Federal and State governments.
The Clontarf Foundation is a national 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 150 Clontarf Academies across Australia, many in communities where both Clontarf and Coates co-exist, with more than 11,500 students enrolled.
Through this partnership, Coates employees have invested over 1,500 hours into supporting Clontarf academies and students, with more than 15 Clontarf alumni successfully transitioning into roles within our organisation.
About the Clontarf Foundation
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.
