Diona Partners with Kinaway
Overview of the Partner’s business
At Diona, our purpose is simple: to enable communities to thrive through the provision of essential community infrastructure. This commitment is rooted in our belief that accessible and sustainable infrastructure is key to community well-being and prosperity. We specialise in the water, stormwater, wastewater, gas, power, and transport sectors.
Our comprehensive capabilities encompass the full project lifecycle, from early advisory and planning stages through to design, execution, commissioning, and final project closure. We achieve this by not only delivering high-quality infrastructure but also by contributing to the social and economic wellbeing of communities, emphasising sustainable and community-focused development.
How has the Partner engaged with the Indigenous sector? What actions have they taken to reconciliation?
In 2023, Diona continued its journey towards reconciliation by initiating its first ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and forming an internal RAP Working Group. This move was part of our ongoing commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement and participation.
A recent initiative we are very proud of and eager to replicate in Victoria is the partnership we developed with TAFE NSW while working on embankment upgrades to Lake Cargelligo. In the small, regional towns of Murrin Bridge and Lake Cargelligo, Diona engaged with the local Aboriginal community and TAFE to provide valuable training opportunities for students. The program not only encompassed class-based learning but also included on-site visits to our active construction site, providing insights into plant and equipment operations. Diona also facilitated information sessions on career pathways and training requirements for key site roles. From this program four local Aboriginal individuals were upskilled and onboarded into Diona’s blue-collar workforce on this project. Diona also actively engaged with the local Murrin Bridge community, developing strong relationships with the Local Aboriginal Land Council, Elders and community, and have supported local suppliers and businesses. As a result of the ongoing relationship with the local Aboriginal Elders and wider community, Diona project team members were invited by the Local Aboriginal Lands Council to join them in their annual parade celebrating NAIDOC.
This initiative is one example of our commitment to offer immediate opportunities and also to foster long-term, sustainable benefits for these communities. Our goal is to progress to an ‘Innovate’ Reconciliation Action Plan by 2025 as we continue our reconciliation journey.
Why did the Partner sign up with Kinaway? What was the driving factor?
In expanding our operations into regional Victoria, Diona is eager to utilise Kinaway's expertise to enhance our engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and communities.
Kinaway's extensive network and resources align perfectly with our strategic goals to foster inclusive growth and meaningful community engagement. Additionally, the events offered by Kinaway are a valuable source of education for our employees to increase their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and how to foster respectful and meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and businesses.
What is the Partner’s mission or aim in supporting the Indigenous economy? How will Kinaway member businesses benefit from this partnership?
Diona is dedicated to creating genuine, long-lasting, meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and businesses. Our partnership is focused on offering employment and upskilling opportunities, as well as aiding the growth of Indigenous businesses. We intend to work closely with Kinaway member businesses on future projects, aiming to achieve mutual growth and collaborative development to build sustainable relationships and contribute positively to the Indigenous economy.
How does the Partner hope to benefit from their partnership with Kinaway?
Through our partnership with Kinaway, Diona seeks to establish valuable connections with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers, contractors, businesses, and individuals in Victoria. These connections will not only enhance our projects but also contribute to our broader social responsibility goals. Additionally, we look forward to leveraging Kinaway's expertise in demonstrating robust strategies for social procurement and local participation, thereby enhancing our tendering processes and industry practices.
Diona RAP Artwork - Beeliar Yerrigan is an artwork showing the waterways in the Whadjuk Noongar Country in the south west of Australia.
The title of the work comes from Noongar words for river and estuary or flow of water. The waterways are the lifeline of the area. The artwork depicts the rich soil and vegetation surrounding the river providing a constant and abundant food and water source.
Bradley Kickett is a local Noongar artist. He was born in Northam and grew up in Perth. He is descended from the Kickett clan in York, Western Australia. He began painting in 2007. Bradley’s style of art is abstract with paintings depicted from an aerial view and illustrated in a fluid style that he has developed over the last few years. Bradley’s art pieces are influenced by experiencing Noongar country, from the oceans to the rivers and seeing the wildflowers and the land from the air and showing the flow and the shapes of the earth. These images are all interwoven with the history and the stories that are shared and passed down to him from his family and Elders.