Mob Jobs managing director Sara Stuart spoke with the Indigenous Business Review this week about her company's recent nomination in the Supply Nation 2025 Supplier Diversity Awards.
Ms Stuart said the Registered Supplier of the Year nomination was "overwhelming in the best way".
"To be recognised by our peers and by Supply Nation means so much. It's not just about the award; it's a reflection of the hard work our team puts in every day and the impact we're having in communities," she said.
Mob Jobs is a 100 per cent owned and operated First Nations business that provides culturally safe employment, recruitment, and training services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Mob Jobs also offers a range of tailored corporate development services and training designed to improve organisations' cultural capabilities.
The Registered Supplier of the Year category recognises a Registered Supplier (including sole traders) listed on Indigenous Business Direct that has driven significant growth in their business and has demonstrated ongoing engagement with Supply Nation and / or its members.
"It tells us we're on the right track, and that the vision we had to create more opportunities for mob is being seen and valued on a national stage," Ms Stuart said of the nomination.
"I am a proud Kamilaroi woman, mother of four and a passionate entrepreneur who is commitment to creating real long-term opportunities for our people.
"Mob Jobs was founded in response to a critical gap in workplace cultural safety and Indigenous recruitment. We also recognise that retention of Indigenous employees is one of the biggest challenges for corporate Australia, and our aim from day 1 has been to break this cycle through long term, sustainable employment opportunities in mainstream business.
"Our values – culture, community, and careers – highlight our commitment to centring culture through employment, as an enabler to self-determination. We aim to create a safe space for businesses to ask the tough questions and overcome biases in Indigenous recruitment and retention."
Ms Stuart says there have been many moments in which she has been incredibly proud of the team.
"There have been so many moments I'm proud of, but seeing the growth in our people is always the biggest win. Whether it's placing someone in their first full-time role or supporting an employer to become truly culturally safe, those are the moments that matter," Ms Stuart told the Indigenous Business Review (a National Indigenous Times publication).
"We've built strong partnerships across industries, expanded nationally, and continue to grow our reach.
"One key milestone has been collaborating with a leading national IT company to deliver a First Nations Traineeship Program, to create pathways for young mob to gain on-the-job experience while obtaining their qualification in a supported environment.
"Mob Jobs are providing cultural advisory and wrap around support to each participant, through culturally-equipped mentorship which aims to increase retention and longer-term outcomes."
Looking ahead, Ms Stuart said she is eager to see Mob Jobs grow, engaging in more projects each year.
"The future is exciting. We're working on expanding our training and pre-employment programs to ensure more job seekers are work-ready and confident," she said.
"We're also deepening our partnerships with businesses that are serious about becoming employers of choice for First Nations talent. There are plans to grow our presence in regional and remote areas, because our people deserve access to the same opportunities, no matter where they live. And we'll continue to advocate for systems-level change that puts culture, respect, and community at the centre of employment and training nationally."
