The Western Australian Government is supporting 12 Aboriginal businesses to co-exhibit in the Aboriginal Business Pavilion at Energy Exchange Australia (EXA) 2026 at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
EXA 2026, held between 10-12 March, is a major conference that attracts more than 6,000 attendees from 33 countries. The event recognises innovation across the energy sector – from oil and gas through to renewables and clean energy solutions.
This year’s co-exhibitors include RC Construction, SYNC (WA), Laawun Energy Solutions Australia, Nyul Nyul Asset Management, Ngeebril Seadragon, Indigivision, Djookian, Mujari Group, WAIEW, Pilbara Solar, Rope Access Technical Services, and KingKira Group.
The Aboriginal Business Pavilion will provide local businesses with the opportunity to showcase their products, technologies, innovation and services to domestic and international markets.
Energy and Decarbonisation Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson says by supporting Aboriginal businesses to engage directly with major operators and supply chain partners, the state government is helping to create real economic opportunities and long-term partnerships.
Aboriginal Affairs Minister Don Punch says the state government is aiming to build economic opportunities for the wider community.
“The Aboriginal Business Pavilion is an exciting opportunity to highlight the skill, innovation and resilience of Western Australia’s Aboriginal businesses on a national and international stage,” Punch says.
Closing the gap
As Mining.com.au reported, indigenous participation in Australia’s mining sector is evolving following the federal government implementing a $707 million investment to its Close the Gap scheme in early 2024. The program aimed to create 3,000 new jobs in remote communities.
Closing the Gap is a national strategy implemented by Australian governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, to improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Australians.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, employment and education targets include increasing the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth between ages 15 and 24 years to 67% by 2031, and increasing the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between ages 25 and 64 who are employed by 62% by 2031.
The Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP) connects First Nations people to jobs, career advancement opportunities, training, and job-ready activities, in the hope of contributing towards these targets. The Youth Express Association is a New South Wales based project that provides skills development and employment placements for First Nations youth, with an activity value of $8.71 million.
This drive for First Nations youth to enter the mining sector is evident as Bravus Mining and Resources reports that 9.7% of all mining apprentices and trainees identified as Indigenous in 2023 – almost doubling that of other industries.
The Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia’s (CMEWA) Diversity and Inclusion report outlined a 3% increase of Indigenous peoples in management roles in 2024, indicating a 2.1% increase since 2021.
In mid-2025, the Western Australian Government committed $250,000 towards expanding the capacity of indigenous businesses in the Goldfields-Esperance region.
The funding was deployed under the state government’s Aboriginal Business Leadership Initiative, for its first return since the 2018-19 program. The program is a tailored learning experience that aims to meet the needs of Indigenous leaders and businesses to develop leadership skills.
Western Australia’s Government has supported 72 Aboriginal start-up businesses in the Mid West, Goldfields-Esperance, Wheatbelt, Great Southern, South West, and Gascoyne regions in Western Australia since its first delivery in 2017.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Energy Exchange Australia & IMARC
