Spec Indigenous

Maximising opportunities for Indigenous participation

Spec Indigenous is focused on providing opportunities to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by improving their education pathways, employment prospects, and ongoing career development. We are committed to empowering Indigenous Australians to make informed decisions about their employment and financial future. Spec Indigenous aspires to support a generation that is better educated, more engaged and focused on professional development. We believe that supporting Indigenous participation and empowerment is a critical step in fighting discrimination and creating positive change for Indigenous-owned businesses.

Supporting the Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health Centre

Since 2018, Spec Indigenous, through our collaboration with the Spec Services cleaning team has proudly supported Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services by providing reliable and respectful cleaning services.

Winnunga delivers culturally safe, holistic healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across the ACT and surrounding regions. As a national leader in Aboriginal community-controlled healthcare, they continue to set the benchmark for quality improvement, operational excellence and governance. We are honoured to play a small part in supporting their vital work.

Collaboration with Danielle Mate

Danielle Mate was commissioned to create a bespoke artwork representing the ocean, colours and commitments of Spec Services and Spec Indigenous. The artwork is now featured throughout our Reconciliation Action Plan, The Fyshwick Office, on our fleet and most importantly on our uniforms, sustainably printed by Indigenous business Yarn Promo.

“We have taken inspiration from Danielle’s artwork to update our Spec Indigenous logo which now represents more strongly the link between Spec Services and Spec Indigenous.”

– Katie Hale, Managing Director

We aspire to create a safer space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to work, free from discrimination and where pathways to empowerment are created.

Our Vision for Reconciliation

Our vision for reconciliation is one where the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their histories in Australia is valued and celebrated. Where there is truth telling in education and an acknowledgement that Australia always was and always will be Aboriginal Land. The partnership between Spec Services Commercial and Yarraman Group to create Spec Indigenous is a small but important step, that more corporates need to take towards reconciliation.

As part of our commitment to support Indigenous participation, we have developed a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) which is reflecting Reconciliation Australia’s five inter-relationship dimensions.

This RAP will drive Indigenous education, engagement, collaboration, and knowledge sharing within Spec Indigenous, Spec Services and local industry.

  1. Race relations
  2. Equality and equity
  3. Unity
  4. Institutional integrity
  5. Historical acceptance

Spec Services will update this RAP on an annual basis to ensure our Indigenous Participation objectives are being met and align with Government requirements.

Our Reconciliation Action Plan is an agreed strategy on how Spec Services intends to contribute to reducing the gap in living standards between ATSI and non-ATSI Australians.

Increased Indigenous Procurement

Spec Indigenous is currently developing an Indigenous Procurement Policy and Indigenous Participation Plan which reflects our commitment to employing, training, coaching, and mentoring Indigenous employees through the Spec Indigenous Employee Development Program (EDP). The Spec Indigenous EDP has been designed to upskill our Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander employees to a level where they are better equipped to confidently take their next career steps.

Spec Indigenous is passionate about creating long lasting intergenerational legacies for our Indigenous suppliers and we use Indigenous products and services where we can. These businesses are innovative, flexible, and grateful for the opportunity to prove themselves.

We find Indigenous-owned businesses often step up and go above and beyond to deliver exceptional quality in products and services and we are happy to support them in growing their businesses.

Australia’s business population includes just 0.6% of Indigenous-owned businesses. Spec Indigenous believes that these businesses should not carry the burden of fighting discrimination and creating positive change on their own. We also ask our non-Indigenous suppliers whether they have a RAP or an Indigenous Participation Plan and what they are doing to support Indigenous-owned businesses.

We have integrated Indigenous procurement targets into our Supplier and Subcontractor Selection Procedure and use Supply Nation to search verified Indigenous-owned businesses to support Spec Services.

“The social value or impact you get from buying a product or service from an Indigenous-owned business is important for our future generations.”

– Pete McCann, CEO Yarraman Group