Blackwoods is actively working to partner with a range of Indigenous suppliers, including those providing essential worksite safety gear and help drive sustainable growth for these businesses.
This makes it easy to choose products that meet Blackwoods’ stringent quality standards and support your company’s Indigenous procurement targets.
Where quality and culture meet
When you choose a Blackwoods Indigenous supplier, you know it’s at least 50% Indigenous owned and controlled, with benefits returning to Indigenous communities. It all stems from Wesfarmers’ commitment to reconciliation, including the Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), which provides targeted support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander procurement.
Blackwoods is also a founding member of Supply Nation. Supply Nation is a database of verified Indigenous businesses that Blackwoods uses to identify goods and services. Between 1st July 2020 and 30th June 2025, Blackwoods has spent more than $23 million with Indigenous owned suppliers and contractors and remains committed to strengthening these partnerships.
Indigenous suppliers in the spotlight
Two key Indigenous partners for Blackwoods in the safety space are Keipa Hydr8 and Luke Penrith Arts & Designs.
Employers are obligated to ensure workers are not exposed to hazards, including illness from working in the heat. Founded by proud Noongar man Gino Matera, Keipa Hydr8 works to prevent or reduce the severity of heat stress, helping workers to stay safe, focused and productive.
The range of electrolyte sachets and icy poles is designed to hydrate workers in some of the country’s harshest conditions, using native Australian flavours like Kakadu plum, lemon myrtle, desert lime, bush berries and wild orange and mango. The company’s mission is to connect their cultural heritage with a vision for the future, ensuring a safe working environment by preventing heat stress and maintaining worker health.
Luke Penrith is the founder of Luke Penrith Arts & Designs, a NSW business supplying customised workwear. His ancestry is connected through Wiradjuri, Wotjobaluk, Yuin and Gumbaynggirr Nations. His mission is to protect workers while promoting collaboration, dialogue and understanding. Yet it’s also intended to break down unconscious bias, encouraging relationship building between diverse team members, and across cultures.
The Luke Penrith range includes quality hi-vis shirts, vests, caps and workwear to help protect workers on rough, rugged and remote work sites. Through embellishment on Yarning Circles apparel, Luke creates original custom workwear with targeted messaging to boost team respect and collaboration.
Why choose a Blackwoods Indigenous business safety supplier partner?
When you buy from an Indigenous business, you also support their supply chain and communities. In addition:
- Enjoy a competitive price, quality and product range.
- Meet your company’s RAP, and procurement targets.
- Celebrate diversity and cross-cultural relationships.
Nicole Crnko, Indigenous Affairs Lead for Wesfarmers Industrial and Safety, says Blackwoods has a growing range of products available from Indigenous safety suppliers. “We’re excited to introduce customers to quality safety products showcasing native Australian botanicals, art and culture. Blackwoods is proud of being proactive and bold in promoting Indigenous business, and boosting their economic empowerment.”
As Australia’s largest provider of industrial and safety equipment, Blackwoods has all your job requirements covered. Shop for Indigenous safety suppliers on site, or contact your local technical safety specialist for more information on the options.
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