Wirrpanda Foundation and Alcoa partner to bring support to Bunbury

It was a great turn out at the Dolphin Centre in Bunbury when the Wirrpanda Foundation’s Wirra Hub hosted their regional pop up hub to service Aboriginal businesses.

Attendees heard from their Bunbury Regional Pop Up major partner: Alcoa, about local procurement opportunities and an update on upcoming work in the South West region. The Southern Ports Authority and South West Gateway (Bunbury Outer Ring Road) also presented on the day.

Alcoa Global Procurement Director Adrian Jones said the company, which mines bauxite and refines alumina in the south west of the state, was committed to increasing economic participation opportunities for Indigenous Australians through both business and employment opportunities.

“It was great to meet people and start to build relationships that have the potential to not only help our business and other businesses but also the wider community,” Mr Jones said.

Wirra Hub business coaches were also on hand to provide expert advice and one-on-one coaching to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people wanting to start, grow or sustain their businesses and companies wanting to reach their procurement and employment targets.

Wirra Hub General Manager Shane Devitt said the coaches mentor businesses and entrepreneurs initially at the pop-up hubs and then on an ongoing basis to assist them by building capacity, identifying opportunities, and fostering networking.

“On average, between $5,000 and $10,000 worth of business services are utilised by the businesses coached by our Wirra Hub team,” Mr Devitt said. “These may include support with legal documents, accounting support, capability statements, assistance with compliance processes required for health and safety, website creation, or other services to enhance their business capabilities and preparedness.

“We will also help build links between local companies and opportunities and Indigenous businesses. Our coaches will identify existing and upcoming opportunities in each of the three identified areas and target relevant companies and businesses to participate in the pop-up hubs.

“They will work with these companies and businesses to understand their upcoming pipeline of work, facilitate tender briefings and workshops and create connections to help local Indigenous businesses engage in their supply chain, and also to develop relationships that may lead to further employment opportunities in the area.”

The Wirra Hub, in partnership with Alcoa and with the support of its global charity the Alcoa Foundation, will be visiting Kwinana on Tuesday 14^th September at the Jakovich Centre.

To find out more or to register for the upcoming pop-ups visit www.wirrahub.org.au

Media Contacts:

• Jane McGuire, Alcoa Senior Communications Advisor, 0410 694 676, jane.mcguire@alcoa.com
• Stephanie Puttick, Wirrpanda Foundation, stephaniep@wf.org.au