"We are known for our leadership in employing Indigenous Australians, and engaging with Indigenous businesses"
Each year, Perth-based Brierty and long-term Komatsu customer paints up a number of pieces of equipment, including a Komatsu WA320PZ-6 loader and a Komatsu HM400-1 articulated dump truck, in an eye-catching Indigenous design to celebrate NAIDOC week.
Brierty is apublicly listed engineering company providing civil construction and mining services solutions to government and private industry and has a strong engagement with WA's Indigenous communities, and Indigenous companies.
In 2012, the company commissioned local Aboriginal Artist, Peter Farmer to paint a representation of the Brierty story on one of its HM400-1 articulated dump trucks as part of its acknowledgement and celebration of NAIDOC week, said managing director Peter McBain.
In 2013, Brierty painted equipment, including the Komatsu loader, a service truck and a sea container, which it then exhibited with the co-operation of the City of South Perth where Brierty's headquarters is located.
This year, the company painted up another service truck, and an additional shipping container, both of which again went on display in co-operation with South Perth.
Peter McBain said that round 12-15% of the company's employees approximately 50 people are Indigenous, plus it has joint ventures with a number of Indigenous corporations in Western Australia, including theNgarluma Yindjibarndi Foundational Ltd (NYFL) and Karlayura Construction Services, a Pilbara-based Aboriginal company.
"Our Indigenous employment program, and these joint ventures are important in achieving our indigenous engagement vision and is important to our reconciliation action plan," he said.
According to Peter, this unique painting of its equipment is not only about celebrating NAIDOC week, and Indigenous culture with Brierty's Indigenous employees, but also aims to engage its non-Indigenous employees with Indigenous issues.
"We are known for our leadership in employing Indigenous Australians, and engaging with Indigenous businesses, so we are delighted to help in celebrating NAIDOC week," he said.
The repainted machines and equipment will remain in those colours for the remainder of their working lives with Brierty.