Improving Indigenous wellbeing and increasing participation in the economic life of Australia are key priorities under the Australian Government’s ‘Closing the Gap’ strategies.

Employment and business opportunities arise from economic engagement. For Indigenous Australians living in the more regional and remote areas of the country, employment opportunities are very limited. However, these are often the areas where construction, mining and other resource development industries have a presence and, along with tourism and pastoral activity, can provide opportunities for Indigenous employment.

There are also opportunities for enterprise development through the provision of the goods and services that construction and mining operations require.

It has been the identification of this opportunity that has lead to the concept of an Indigenous Business Services Directory – the “Digedi”.

I am proud to support the development of Digedi because it enables mine site managers, construction and logistics personnel, and government procurement managers to

easily identify local Indigenous owned or operated businesses that provide the goods and services they need to support their operations.

It is hoped that Digedi will help in creating direct relationships between key managers and Indigenous business owners at the local level. It also represents a means by which major corporate players, such as mining companies, can demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility, and to buy local and support the communities in which they operate.

Queensland Digedi follows the success of the Northern Territory edition which was released in September 2008. Plans are also underway to produce editions for other states. I commend Digedi to all who share the vision of increased opportunity for Indigenous Australia.

Further information or hard copies can be obtained by contacting digedi@ret.gov.au.