As part of a focus on building relationships with First Nations communities in South Australia to achieve greater social and economic wellbeing, AnglicareSA is developing and enhancing partnerships with an increasing number of First Nations businesses.

AnglicareSA has established a First Nations Procurement Standard which, through defined strategies, seeks provide opportunities for businesses to grow and honour the unique experiences, perspectives, and skillsets offered to our organisation through these partnerships.

Procurement Senior Manager, Cristina Giordano, said the team was continually building on its cultural capability to ensure that partner businesses were engaged and supported in a way that was culturally appropriate and aligned with AnglicareSA’s Strategic Plan commitment.

“As part of this commitment we want to increase the First Nations supplier diversity footprint across AnglicareSA,” Cristina said.

“We currently engage with a number of First Nations businesses as well as a number of other companies that have First Nations suppliers.”

One of those is COS, Australia’s largest family-owned and operated workplace and workplace supplies business, led by second-generation sisters, Belinda and Amie Lyone. Their father, the late Dominique Lyone, founded COS in 1977 as a small business with a vision for exceptional service and social responsibility.

Cristina said AnglicareSA was proud to partner with COS for office and janitorial supplies from its Muru range, due to a strong alignment with the organisation’s social and ethical values.

“COS prioritises suppliers that empower disadvantaged communities and promote local economic growth,” she said.

“The business thoroughly vets all suppliers to ensure alignment with values such as sustainability, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility.”

COS National Account Director – Enterprise SA, Alisha Cieslak, said the company’s vision for reconciliation was that First Nations people experienced equity when it came to education, careers, health outcomes, and quality of life.

“At COS, we are committed to expanding our contribution towards achieving reconciliation,” Alisha said. “We are excited to be part of a positive movement creating opportunities for First Nations people, their communities, businesses, and suppliers.

“Our First Nations brands are hand-picked for their strong commitment to providing local jobs and giving back to local communities.

“The Muru range, our largest First Nations partner, has grown to include office stationery, copy paper, and kitchen supplies – with each purchase of a Muru product providing direct social and economic support to First Nations communities around Australia.

Other First Nations businesses AnglicareSA is currently partnering with include Indigenous-owned food and beverage company Something Wild as well as maintenance and cleaning firm Killara.