Indigenous-owned businesses in Australia directed a record $5.83 billion to verified Indigenous suppliers in the 2024–25 financial year, up $1.23 billion from the prior year, signaling substantial growth in the sector.

Supply Nation treats supplier diversity as a practical path to real commercial outcomes while delivering meaningful community impact, especially during global economic uncertainty.

Supply Nation’s flagship event, Connect 2026, will take place in Boorloo (Perth); more details are available on their website.

Approximately 90% of the $5.83 billion flowed to small and medium-sized enterprises, underscoring their role in local job creation and reinvestment in communities.

Beyond economics, the initiative strengthens cultural connections, boosts youth entrepreneurship, and encourages communities to invest in their own futures, helping reduce economic disparities.

Mining led procurement spend with $1.64 billion, followed by construction at $1.26 billion; facilities management exceeded $284 million, and financial and insurance services reached $145 million.

Since 2009, Supply Nation has connected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses with buyers, channeling over $26 billion in procurement spend to verified Indigenous enterprises.

The report The Sleeping Giant Rises shows that for every dollar of revenue earned by Indigenous-owned businesses, $3.66 of social and economic value is created in the broader economy.

The $5.83 billion comprises commercial contracts where corporates and government departments purchase goods and services directly from Indigenous-owned businesses within their supply chains, not through grants.

Supply Nation CEO Kate Russell says the milestone reflects commitment from members and Indigenous suppliers to economic empowerment and positive change through collaboration, despite global disruptions.