Conpower

CPP Civil Operations Manager, Anthony Di Cello’s approach to engaging Indigenous contractors and employees is grounded in respect, understanding, and meaningful participation — not compliance or “tick-box” outcomes.

Across major infrastructure projects, Anthony has seen first-hand seen the positive impact of creating genuine opportunities for Indigenous people to participate, develop skills, and build long-term careers. This includes supporting individuals from entry-level roles through to traineeships, leadership positions, and ongoing employment, resulting in stronger outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

“A key factor in successful engagement is taking the time to understand cultural context and lived experience, building trust through honesty, and fostering inclusive relationships on site. By creating environments where people feel respected and supported, barriers are reduced and engagement becomes more effective and sustainable.”

Anthony has also seen the benefits of Indigenous participation on projects, including improved local knowledge, stronger community relationships, and greater cultural awareness within project teams. On sites where Indigenous employees and contractors were actively involved, community sentiment improved, site culture became more inclusive, and teams reported higher morale and pride in their work.

Anthony said that sometimes, literacy and handwriting could be a challenge for people, especially when completing things like timesheets, leave forms, and pre-start paperwork. To support them, the team worked alongside them to show them how to fill everything out properly. A shared laptop with a Word template for the pre-start was organised so people could type instead of writing by hand. That made documents easier to read, helped with spelling, and made the process less stressful and upskilled individuals, especially those who hadn’t really used a laptop before.

Innovative engagement initiatives have included:

• Hosting culturally led wellbeing initiatives on site that supported mental health, connection, and open conversation for all workers.
• Partnering with Indigenous artists to create large-scale public artworks on construction infrastructure, providing opportunities for local artists while enhancing the project’s visual and community presence.
• Supporting Indigenous trainees through structured rotations across different work areas, ensuring exposure to meaningful tasks and real skill development.
• Introducing practical supports to improve accessibility and inclusion, such as collaborative learning tools and mentoring.

Importantly, these experiences have shown that engaging Indigenous contractors and employees does not detract from project delivery — even on complex, high-pressure sites. With planning, leadership buy-in, and the right support structures, inclusion becomes part of everyday project operations rather than an additional burden.

CPP’s experience reinforces that meaningful community engagement is built through action: creating opportunity, listening to local voices, and embedding inclusion into how projects are delivered — leaving a positive, lasting impact beyond construction.