Shipbuilder to support Indigenous employment

Shipbuilder ASC has recently contracted Indigenous-owned business Intract Australia to manage repairs and remediation works at its yard at Henderson, in WA, a deal worth more than $800,000.

The contracts to Intract Australia, which has more than 100 full-time Indigenous employees across Australia, is the largest contract ever awarded by ASC to an Indigenous supplier.

ASC’s support for Australian businesses has gone from strength to strength in the past three years, supporting local jobs and building sovereign industrial capability.

Latest figures show the number of Indigenous-owned businesses that ASC has contracted to deliver services in the past three years has more than doubled, from nine to 22. As well, ASC’s spending with Indigenous businesses increased by 400 percent in 2024, compared with 2022.

ASC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Stuart Whiley has encouraged Australian businesses interested in supplying to ASC to register via the company’s Sovereign Supply Chain Hub.

“ASC has a long-standing commitment to supporting local jobs and growing Australian industry capability, and we’re proud of recent achievements to significantly increase our investment with Indigenous-owned businesses,” Mr Whiley said.

“We encourage all Indigenous businesses to consider registering their interest with us, so we learn about their capabilities and seek to identify potential collaboration opportunities.

“Visit our Sovereign Supply Chain Hub – ASC’s one-stop-shop for Australian small-to-medium enterprises that are interested in participating in the Collins Class sustainment program and future programs.”

Intract Australia National Business Development Manager Luke Taylor said Mmeaningful partnerships with businesses like ASC allows Intract Australia to grow our workforce and capabilities across the country.

“And this job in WA has allowed us to grow our capability in the West,” he said.