Indigenous Engagement
ADG acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and pay respect to them and their cultures, and to their elders both past and present.
The content of the video embody traditional ritual knowledge of the Larrakia, Yolngu, Njaml, Mendheyangal people and peoples from the Torres Strait Island community. It was create with the consent of the custodians of these communities who worked collaboratively with participants of The Youth Mill.
Indigenous Engagement
ADG is building on its solid foundation. It is learning, developing, and collaborating to build new Aboriginal policies and programs in areas that will have longlasting benefits for intergenerational change – in education, in employment, in environmental initiatives and, in tourism.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CULTURE
EMPLOYMENT AND PROCUREMENT
Indigenous Training Academy
TOURISM
ADG initiatives
Indigenous and Community
Projects Manager
In January 2021, ADG appointed its first Indigenous and Community Projects Manager to develop and implement ADG’s Indigenous Engagement Strategy.
The key initiatives for the Indigenous and Community Projects Manager are in education, employment, world class experiences and joInt ventures, development of an Indigenous Advisory Committee, and facilitation of Indigenous community engagement.
Indigenous Advisory Committee
The Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) is an advisory group to the
management of ADG with the aim of educating and advising management on the views of Traditional Owners, community leaders and stakeholders, in order to support ADG’s purpose and IES.
The committee consists of Aboriginal stakeholders and representatives from IFM Investors (ADG part-owner) and ADG, and provides advice to assist ADG improve cultural connections and employment outcomes for Indigenous people.
Cross-cultural education
Cultural education of ADG staff is seen as key to the organisation’s commitment to Indigenous engagement and to this end Cross Cultural Consultants (CCC), an Aboriginal owned and managed business, has been engaged to provide this service.
CCC teaches how to recognise and appreciate the unique cultural perspective of Aboriginal people and discusses how different cultural perspectives can influence doing business, competing for opportunity, making decisions, and viewing time.
Indigenous Participation
ADG’s undertaking to improve Indigenous participation is based on a three-pronged approach. This commitment not only initiates employment targets within the Closing the Gap agreement, but also, more importantly provides platforms of opportunities that empower individuals toward self-determination.
Procurement
ADG has recently enlisted a standalone internal procurement function with the engagement of a Procurement Manager who is in the process of further developing not only ADG’s procurement strategy, policies and procedures but also further expanding our Indigenous Participation (IP) through procurement and our supply chain network.
In addition to the recent appointment of a Project Director and in conjunction with ADG’s Indigenous and Community Projects lead, this team will work together to develop and implement an Indigenous Procurement Charter to ensure IP across our supply chain and provide effective IP reporting across all areas of the business.
Several initiatives have been implemented in support of the development of ADG’s procurement plan which includes but is not limited to:
- Gaining Ally Member with the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network, the peak body representing Indigenous business in the Territory.
- ADG have joined, Industry Capability Network (ICN), a procurement and supply chain network with a data base that includes a separate Aboriginal Content Locator (NTACL).
ADG are committed to the development of their IP Charter, and plan to have it fully implemented in the first quarter of 2024.
Direct employment
ADG employment opportunities currently exist through full-time, part time or casual employment.
As of June 30, 2023 Indigenous Employment stands at 8.1% up from 1.9% when we purchased the Airport Hotel.
ADG’s strategies to increase Indigenous employment include:
- Providing education and employment pathways through our Indigenous Training Academy. As of June 30, 2023 21 Indigenous students are engaged in our training programs.
- Employment tours for community groups including schools, local jobs providers and organisations such as the Smith Family.
- Embracing established relationships with employment providers
- Communicating job vacancies to effectively reach Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to communicate job vacancies.
- Engaging with our team to inform our recruitment, retention, and professional development strategy.
ADG INDIGENOUS TRAINING ACADEMY
ADG has committed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inclusion and involvement. ADG have established an Indigenous Training Academy to enable education and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians. In time our Indigenous Training Academy will deliver nationally recognised qualifications in hospitality, tourism, aviation, and construction sectors.
Tourism
As the owner of three Northern Territory airports, including Darwin International Airport, the main gateway to the NT, ADG has been a major tourism contributor for more than 20 years. In partnership with Aboriginal groups, ADG’s new tourism portfolio is part of an initiative to not only showcase this unique and ancient culture, but to provide Indigenous Australians with training and employment.
Cultural Landscape
The Larrakia Ranger
Engagement Program
DIA has taken the lead in engaging stakeholders for the management of the significant Rapid Creek Reserve, part of which is on airport land.
This catchment is an important Darwin ecosystem for freshwater, as well as a community asset for recreation and cultural significance. As part of this, work began with the Traditional Owners in 2019.
A strong working relationship between
ADG and the Larrakia Rangers has built a platform for cultural knowledge transfer and increased the Rangers’ capacity to undertake further projects on airport land.
Fauna and Flora
Conservation
Since acquisition, ADG has undertaken wildlife surveys at DIA and ASA every five years.
Located on approximately 3,500 hectares, ASA is Australia’s largest airport by land size. Due to its size
and the value of its biodiversity, ADG understands the importance of being good custodians.
During the last assessment of the land fifty-five native fauna species were recorded during the monitoring and six new species were added to the ASA survey list.
Airport Gardens
Sharing their gardening knowledge, cultural information and suggestion for a name, Larrakia people have been key contributors to the success of Matboerrma Garden at DIA, nestled between the terminal carpark and the airport hotels.
Similarly, ASA has the Anetyeke Garden. In the local Arrernte language, the garden has been described as mwerre anetyeke – a good place to sit. Aboriginal language, plant names and stories are featured in the 42 signs which include plant
identification, welcome and interpretive signs.
Community Engagement
Indigenous Cricket Program
For the last 2 years, ADG partnered with Northern Territory Cricket (NT Cricket) to deliver an innovative new program for Australia’s best emerging players to head north in winter and develop their game.
As part of the Program, in June, July and August, Cricket 365 players held gala days and skills clinics at schools in Darwin and Katherine. The program
engaged more than 500 students from eight primary and secondary schools and the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre.
Arts
ADG has a long history of involvement, support and sponsorship of the Arts,
and in particular Aboriginal art. In the Territory, this relationship is unique.
Showcasing Aboriginal art at ADG airports, is not only celebrating Aboriginal culture, but also providing
for many a first impression of the significance and importance of Aboriginal art and culture to a national and Territory identity.
Arts Sponsorhip
For more than 15 years, ADG has been a proud sponsor of festivals and events that showcase and celebrate diverse Indigenous cultures across the NT. ADG’s current sponsorship includes:
- Darwin Festival, a vibrant arts and cultural event featuring Indigenous and multicultural artists
- Parrtjima, the Aboriginal light festival in Central Australia,
- FabAlice, a weekend-long community event featuring drag queens and cabaret in Alice Springs to celebrate diversity and inclusion
ADG acknowledges past and present Larrakia, Arrente and Warumungu peoples, Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we operate.
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