First Nations Prosperity

PwC Australia supports reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and all Australi-ans. For many years we have proudly supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which includes a First Nations Voice to Parliament being enshrined in Australia’s Constitution.

PwC and PIC’s Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), documents this support, as well as our commitment to inform our people on the campaign for Constitutional reform. Our current Elevate RAP has been extended until June 2024, when we will launch the next iteration. Our ambition is to support empowerment and self-determination for First Nations peoples and communities including helping to catalyse the emerging Indigenous economy, by assisting clients and communities to come together to design and deliver better outcomes.

Our RAP efforts are focused on increasing economic participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, developing our own cultural competency, deepening our relationships via pro bono support and strategic partnerships and collaborating on issues of importance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, such as housing security and culturally appropriate housing. Our ability to deliver on our reconciliation commitments is only possible through our people engaging and working collaboratively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

In recognition of the impact of the global pandemic on our business, in December 2022 Reconciliation Australia granted PwC and PIC an interim plan and extended our Elevate RAP until June 2024. Our Interim Elevate RAP details the actions we have taken to accelerate our efforts in areas where they were disrupted by COVID, and also some new commitments.

In February 2023 we launched the First Nations Academy to enable First Nations employees to build their skills and grow their careers and in February 2023 we held a PwC and PIC First Nations Networking Summit on Gadigal Country. Supporting First Nations employees to enhance their networks, skills and knowledge is an integral part of the First Nations Academy, and in April 2023 we launched our mentoring and coaching offerings. We have connected Associate and Senior Associates from PwC and PIC with Directors and Partners as Mentors to develop their skills during the early stages of their career. For our Managers and Senior Managers, we have partnered with Ezra to provide access to Professional Coaches to support their goals as leaders or future leaders.

In partnership with Traditional Custodians and local community organisations, we continue to provide opportunities for our people to participate in Cultural Immersion activities. Delivered locally in each office location these immersive experiences enhance our people’s connections with the community and Country in which we work and live.

We also renamed key spaces in our Naarm (Melbourne) office using language words from the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung language as the local Traditional Custodians of Country. It’s a key commitment of our RAP and further offices will follow in FY24.

Together with PIC, we will continue to embed our new First Nations Academy and implement a PwC and PIC First Nations Impact Strategy that spearheads our direction and commitment to meaningful change and impact for First Nations peoples and communities.

Download reports

Elevate RAP Progress Report 2021 Elevate RAP Progress Report 2020 Elevate RAP Progress Report 2019

Elevate Reconciliation Action Plan

The PwC & Murra Boost Initiative

The PwC & Murra Boost Initiative is a partnership between PwC and the Murra Alumni of the Melbourne Business School, whereby we provide $30,000 in skills and expertise to support a winning Indigenous Business to support a specific issue that will allow for future growth.

Acknowledging the importance and impact of connection, for this year only, Indigenous Business Month co-founders are not facilitating the national Indigenous Business Month awards competition. Instead, individuals and communities across the country are encouraged to award exposure to their local Indigenous businesses and experience the collective sense of pride that is generated when we gather, together.

To this effect, the Murra Boost Initiative is postponed until 2024.

The winner of the 2022 PwC MURRA Boost Award for Indigenous Business Month is Healthy Dreaming. Healthy Dreaming provides culturally safe care and support to people with disabilities in the Port Augusta community.

Jacinta McKenzie, Managing Director of Healthy Dreaming said “We are honoured to receive recognition and we thank PwC Murra Boost award, this is a reward for all our efforts and commitment, this is for our community. We are grateful and also proud as this award gives us the opportunity to grow Healthy Dreaming and enhance our ways of working to fit our community needs,”

PwC commends all applicants who applied for the award during Indigenous Business Month. Partner Rosalie Wilkie said, “The quality of the applicants this year continues to be extremely high - and this demonstrates the growth in Indigenous businesses. This year's winner, Healthy Dreaming, has established an important presence in Port Augusta delivering health and allied healthcare services and support to the community. PwC is looking forward to supporting Healthy Dreaming in the next stage of their growth journey."

Healthy Dreaming will receive $30,000 worth of in-kind support from a specialist PwC team to support their growth.

PwC and the Melbourne Business School announced that Cedrent Enterprises have won the 2021 PwC MURRA Boost Initiative, which aims to strengthen Indigenous-led businesses and build capacity for future growth.

Cedrent Enterprises is a vehicle hire company with commercial utes, trucks, vans, buses, 4WD and passenger cars for hire in Adelaide, Alice Springs, Darwin Airport and City and a number of other locations.

April Lawrie, Director, Far West Coast Investment says "“Cedrent Enterprises, with the help of the Far West Coast Aboriginal Corporation and Far West Coast Investments has empowered the Indigenous economy by growing our Enterprise Rent-A-Car franchise throughout Australia, helping us to involve more Aboriginal communities and help us provide more opportunities for our mob. The profits generated from the franchise also go towards helping our Far West Coast youth with education programs and scholarships to help grow our future leaders.”

PwC MURRA Boost initiative winner, Cedrent Enterprises will receive $30,000 in kind support from a specialist PwC team to help strengthen their business practices and build capacity for future growth.

GWS Engineering and Construction is the winner of the PwC Murra Boost award for 2020. GWS Engineering is an Indigenous steel fabrication and supply company with completed projects at universities and railway stations.

“GWS Engineering and Construction is a fabrication and engineering company that supplies tier 1 clients in the transport infrastructure environment. Winning 2020 PwC Murra Boost award was a highlight for our company and the recognition inspires passion in further innovation and drive to inspire First Nations businesses across the Nation”, said Ashley Rayner, CEO of GWS.

The PwC Murra Boost initiative in partnership with the Melbourne Business School, celebrates and promotes Indigenous business. GWS Engineering and Construction will receive $30,000 of specialist services from PwC, to support their future growth.

The theme of the 2020 Indigenous Business Month; Invigorate, Build, Maintain was a practical call to action to keep the Indigenous business sector strong and to encourage, motivate and sustain the Indigenous business sector in the face of the challenges of 2020.

BlackCard, a leading national cultural capability training provider, was one of two winners of the 2019 PwC & Murra Boost initiative, receiving skills development and expertise valued at $30,000.

“Working with PwC has created opportunities for us to scale and increase our impact both quickly and sustainably, developing our resilience as a business that has set us up so well for these unusual times under COVID. The mentoring and business development to ensure BlackCard was able to pivot our business model to a digital environment was of great value to the BlackCard, authenticity and skills of the PwC team was absolutely amazing. I have no doubt that these relationships will continue for even longer than the project itself,” said Mundanara Bayles, Co-Founder and Managing Director of BlackCard.

BlackCard’s approach is based on a cultural competency course developed by Lilla Watson and Mary Graham, Aboriginal Elders and Educators and long-time course developers and lecturers for the University of Queensland. The founders of the BlackCard have developed and taught core university subjects such as “Aboriginal Perspectives” and “Aboriginal Approaches to Knowledge” both at an undergraduate and post-graduate level since the 1970’s.

The demand for their knowledge and expertise as educators has grown beyond the university sector to the broader business and community sectors. This led the founders to develop the BlackCard. The BlackCard builds cultural competency to work effectively with members of the Aboriginal community. BlackCard’s approach requires strengthening ethical behaviour enabling all people to understand and undertake respectful relationships with each other using Aboriginal Terms of Reference.

The Boost Initiative, founded by PwC Australia and the MURRA Alumni, is designed to help strengthen business practices and build capacity within an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander organisation.

Working with PwC, BlackCard developed a strategy and implementation plan to translate the introductory model of their existing facilitator-led cultural competency training to a self-paced online course, allowing them to scale their offering and reach far more people.

Kakadu Tiny Tots is a wholly First Nations owned company that creates authentic Aboriginal clothing, accessories and artwork. Kakadu is one of two winners of the PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative in 2019, receiving skills development and expertise valued at $30,000.

“I truly love the Gheorja, Damien and Kylie PwC / Kakadu Team. The time that we have spent on my brand’s DNA has been remarkable. Pivoting to reflect and capture my customer segment is so exciting. I can’t wait to relaunch as KAKADU, the eco-friendly gift hamper site.” said owner Kylie-Lee Bradford.

The company was founded to provide Australia with quality Aboriginal-based children’s clothing, that showcase and acknowledge the talents of the Aboriginal people of Australia. All Kakadu designs are uniquely handcrafted and originate from First Nations communities in the Northern Territory.

Since establishing, Kylie-Lee has expanded the product range from baby clothing to wellness and food products that are recognised globally for their quality and authenticity.

The Boost Initiative, founded by PwC Australia and the MURRA Alumni, is designed to help strengthen business practices and build capacity within an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander business.

Working with PwC, Kakadu Tiny Tots has undergone a major strategic shift from focusing on products that attract domestic and international tourists, to a range of gift sets that authentically bring a bit of Kakadu to the rest of Australia and overseas.

Kakadu Tiny Tots has completed a brand refresh and is currently in the process of setting the strategic plan for growth over the next three years. The plan will improve strategic positioning, sharpen focus on key products that align with the company brand and strengthen internal operations to enable Kakadu to grow sustainably and give back to the Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Marrawah Law, an Indigenous owned legal practice is the 2018 winner of the PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative, receiving skills and expertise valued at $30,000.

Marrawah Law is a multi-award winning legal practice formed in July 2018, Marrawah Law represents the combined strengths of three firms with over 75 years’ experience in the practice of law for government, corporate and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients. Their expertise in the areas of native title and cultural heritage law are recognised nationally. The Firm is home to five lawyers and three administrative staff across two offices in Cairns and Brisbane.

"We are very excited to win this year’s PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative and look forward to working with PwC. It’s a fantastic opportunity for us to reach our goals of increasing market share and social media engagement", said Principal Solicitor Leah Cameron.

"On behalf of PwC, I would like to congratulate Leah Cameron at Marrawah Law for winning the PwC & MURRA Boost initiative. PwC and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting are thrilled to help grow and strengthen Marrawah Law business practices and contribute to their future success.” Kim Cheater, PwC National Reconciliation Governance Group Co-Chair.

Established in 2002, Naturecall Environmental is a one hundred percent Aboriginal owned business founded by Managing Director and Muruwari man, Steven Noy. Naturecall Environmental is committed to environmental sustainability, business growth of Indigenous owned companies and Aboriginal education and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth.

"Naturecall Environmental are thrilled to win this year’s PwC & MURRA Boost Initiative. Being given this opportunity to work with PwC will allow Naturecall to take our commitment to social responsibility and Indigenous engagement to the next level and this is something we are very excited about.” Steven Noy, Managing Director at Naturecall Environmental.

"On behalf of PwC, I would like to thank the organisations that applied for the PwC & Murra Boost Initiative this year and congratulate Steven Noy and the team at Naturecall Environment. This is a fantastic opportunity for PwC and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting to help grow their capability and contribute to their future success.” Kim Cheater, PwC National Reconciliation Governance Group Co-Chair.

First Nations Prosperity

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The PwC & Murra Boost Initiative

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