It’s not at all uncommon for large corporate and government organisations to develop social responsibility practices and profiles. They have money, experts and resources on hand, and they understand the commercial benefits of engaging in this space. But, for small businesses with limited resources, the task of developing a social responsibility profile can seem overwhelming. This doesn’t mean you shouldn't.
Being socially responsible is not just good for your community, it’s good for your business. A strong, visible profile will strengthen your brand reputation, provide you with a point of difference and competitive edge, and expose your products and services to new markets. And, the best news of all, it needn’t cost you more than a little time.
But where do you begin? There are many worthy causes, so if you’re feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, why not start by supporting your local Indigenous community? Engaging with Indigenous businesses and community organisations means you are creating opportunities for Aboriginal people to generate their own social and economic prosperity.
Did you know that Indigenous businesses are 100 times more likely than non-Indigenous businesses to hire Indigenous people? By supporting them, you will help to improve race relations, break down harmful stereotypes, and unlock opportunities that have been unavailable to Aboriginal people since European colonisation.
And the simplest way to provide this support? By executing a clearly defined Indigenous engagement strategy that is tailored to the capabilities of your own small business. It’s as easy as one, two, three.
Step 1: Consult and collaborate with your local First Nations community
This is the most important step and should inform all of the decisions you make going forward. It’s about ongoing development, so you don’t need to have it all sorted before you launch your strategy, but you do need to be across it. Always remember that reconciliation is about equality, walking together, respecting and celebrating differences, and supporting self-determination.
Find out who your area’s First Nations people are. If you’re not sure, take a gander at the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia to find out and go from there.
Research local Indigenous-owned and operated businesses (Supply Nation’s supplier database is a great place to start) and community groups, and reach out to the ones that align with your business and values.
Consider Aboriginal cultural awareness training for you and your staff. There are plenty of online providers and face-to-face trainers that will share cultural insights and teach you how to respectfully engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Where possible, engage a provider from your area so you can understand the nuances of the local Indigenous culture.
Over time, create a network and build partnerships that foster a positive, two-way relationship. Attend local events, exhibitions, conferences and business launches, and remember the power of digital networking via LinkedIn and other social media platforms.
It’s really important to avoid making assumptions about how you can offer support to businesses and organisations. Always consult them first and collaborate together.
Step 2: Develop your strategy
Establish your framework
The key to any successful strategy is clearly identifying your objectives and how you want to achieve them. Consider your long-term goal, what's consistent with your business values and brand, and how you can realistically achieve success. Write up a strategic framework that clearly outlines:
The duration of your strategy (is it for one year? Two?)
Your vision (the overarching, long-term goal; why you are doing this)
Your objectives (the short- to mid-term goals that will help you to achieve your vision)
Your actions and deliverables (how you will achieve your objectives)
Your timeline (when you aim to have your actions completed)
Take a look at some Reconciliation Action Plans for inspiration and design a framework that you can share with clients and partners. The more public you make your commitment, the more accountable you will become, and this will increase the likelihood of success.
Play to your strengths
Don’t be tempted to bite off more than you can chew—you want to achieve success, so set achievable but meaningful targets. Do this by determining what it is your business can offer. Is it donations and sponsorships? Education-to-employment opportunities? Business partnerships? Time and expertise?
If you don’t have the capacity to support organisations through memberships and financial contributions, don’t despair. Instead, take simple steps, like:
Updating your procurement procedure to include mandatory consideration of Indigenous vendors for products and services.
Donating in-kind contributions to start-ups and community organisations (like surplus PPE, learning resources, furniture and technology).
Volunteering yours and your employees’ time and expertise on an ad hoc basis.
Re-sharing your partner and vendor social media content on your business platforms.
Attending networking events and showing support whenever you can.
There are so many ways you can build a profile in this space without having to break the bank. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just take a look at what others are doing well and try it for yourself.
Step 3: Measure your success!
Finally, be sure to track your successes and failures. This will allow you to understand what you’re doing right and where you can improve. Be elastic and tweak your strategy as and when needed. Consider using some of these easy ways to measure your outcomes and share your success:
Create a clearly defined action list with timeframes and deadlines that’s based on your strategic objectives and update it regularly.
Monitor your social media analytics (clicks, shares, likes and comments) and website traffic to see what is and isn’t working.
Record event participation, funds raised, items donated, hours volunteered, etc. Use this info in your annual report or reconciliation updates—and make it visible!
Look out for mentions from partner organisations (and share them!) and seek genuine testimonials to improve your credibility.
If you’re ready to seriously commit to reconciliation and building your long-term Indigenous engagement profile, why not consider creating a Reconciliation Action Plan with Reconciliation Australia. More than 1,100 corporate and government organisations nationwide already have, and they’re making waves. The RAP framework, templates, guides and resources are free to access, and Reconciliation Australia will also review and endorse your RAP for free.
The Indigenous business and community organisation sectors are vibrant, dynamic and growing at break-neck speed. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of getting involved in this exciting space, take a look at organisations like Supply Nation, CANWA, CareerTrackers and Girls Academy.
Now all that’s left to do is get started! May your strategies be as successful as they are rewarding!
Zoe has experience working in the Aboriginal engagement space in Western Australia's oil and gas industry. The insights she shares here are tried and tested.
Photo by Ian Schneider