It makes sense that a major development in Greater Shepparton that aims to increase the involvement of Traditional Owners in the local economy is being led by a First Nations-owned construction company.
TVN On-Country is a 70 per cent First Nations-owned company based in Wodonga and has won the contract to construct the $30 million Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence in Shepparton.
The company says it is committed to closing the gap between First Nations and non-First Nations employment rates in Australia and that includes in Shepparton, where it is taking on its biggest project to date.
Managing director Jebb Hutchison, a Wiradjuri man originally from Hilston in NSW, and the company’s majority owner, says the firm has been around for just over five years, with the majority of its work being in the Commonwealth space for the Department of Defence.
“This is our first, I’ll say landmark building, a new build to this magnitude,” he said.
“This is our largest project to date and I’m just extremely proud to be given the opportunity and I guess the trust in building this thing, through all the key stakeholders, DPC (Department of Premier and Cabinet), Munarra, Kaiela Institute, Rumbalara Football Netball Club and first and foremost, the community too behind this.
“We’re extremely proud to be given that opportunity, and I always say we only need an opportunity and let us show you what we can do.”
An initiative of the Rumbalara Football Netball Club, the centre partners the club with the Kaiela Institute and University of Melbourne, with support from the Victorian Government and Greater Shepparton City Council.
It will combine typical educational outcomes with traditional lessons to be learnt from Yorta Yorta culture.
Its intention is to foster social and economic prosperity in the Goulburn-Murray region as the home of the Academy of Sport, Health and Education for Yorta Yorta youth.
Mr Hutchison said Traditional Owners would not have to wait until the centre opened to see its benefits, saying he was looking to hire as many First Nations workers and businesses as possible during construction.
“We have a highly skilled and experienced team that obviously you need to deliver projects like this, and are always looking for local subcontractors, and in particular, First Nations businesses,” he said.
“I’ve got a vision to grow First Nations businesses, obviously they’re 100 times more likely to employ Indigenous people, so where possible we give opportunities to Indigenous businesses, and that was a part of our business model from day one.”
Mr Hutchison said the project was likely to see direct employment of more than 25 people and up to 150 indirectly, including sub-contractors.
He said it was a proud milestone for the company.
“Extremely empowering,” he said.
“Five years ago, I’d probably never dreamed that this is where we’d be, but hard work pays off. I always say, ‘Surround yourself with good people and great things will happen’.”