Celebrating International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples
Today, August 9th, is International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Across the business we are working to support Indigenous communities through workforce inclusion, skills development, and business partnerships. 
In Canada, we were delighted to announce our new annual investment in Indigenous workforce development earlier this year. We will be investing $200,000 annually in STEM career opportunities, bursaries, co-op positions, internships, and apprenticeships for Indigenous students in fields related to the work we do.
We have also onboarded over 14 Indigenous businesses to-date onto our supply chain in Canada, to maximize Indigenous participation across the organization.
We continue to ensure all our business initiatives are in-line with Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92, ensuring we’re a good neighbour who positively contributes to society’s progress and supports the Indigenous communities in which we live and work.
This commitment has been reflected in our transition to Phase III Committed of the Progressive Aboriginal Relations certification framework. The framework guides the development of our policies and programs and ensures our relationships with Indigenous Peoples, communities, and businesses are based on mutual respect and meaningful benefits.
Our employees in Canada were also grateful to have participated in many Indigenous events and awareness days this year, including: the Moosehide Campaign, the South Island Treaty 4 Powwow, the fourth Annual Indigenous Aerospace and Aviation Showcase, Songhees Nation Career Fair, Southern Chiefs Organization’s Conference, and more.
In Australia, we recently recognized Reconciliation Week – a time for all Australians to learn about its shared histories, cultures, and achievements and to explore how much we can contribute to achieving reconciliation.
Once again, we celebrated our partnerships with organizations including Yalari and Engineering Aid Australia who provide support to young Indigenous Australians engaged in both school and university education. We are also proud to partner with Supply Nation as part of our commitment to greater inclusiveness and opportunity.
Our employees in New Zealand recently celebrated Matariki – a special occasion on the calendar which marks the start of the Māori New Year. Signified by the Matariki cluster of stars reappearing in our night sky, it is a time to reflect on the past year, celebrate the present, and plan for the year ahead.
We are proud of our diverse workforce and the contribution that Māori people make to our teams in New Zealand in support of our Air New Zealand and Defence customers.
Around the globe, Babcock aims to be an inclusive organization reflecting the nations we live in and the communities we serve alongside our customers. We’re committed to building meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities and continuing to positively contribute to society’s progress.
