In a powerful showcase of technology, culture, and opportunity, Ethan Indigenous launched a groundbreaking initiative this week to create pathways into digital careers for First Nations communities.
In a bipartisan ceremony hosted by NSW Parliament on Wednesday, a live laptop handover to Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation marked a vital step forward for First Nations representation in the information and communications technology (ICT) industry.
A Supply Nation-certified ICT provider, Ethan Indigenous has developed a solution with a no-barrier cadetship model that employs and trains unemployed First Nations youth.
"We've cracked the code on what works and the social return on investment is unmatched," Managing Director Rachelle Towart OAM said.
"Every dollar in ICT procurement spent with Ethan Indigenous contributes to life-changing digital literacy and economic empowerment. Partnering with Ethan Indigenous means more Indigenous youth can look forward to a brighter future with a rewarding professional career.
"When we invest in Indigenous capability, the benefits ripple across communities."
Their circular economy model features a technology cadetship with no barrier to entry, training First Nations youth to refurbish devices which are then distributed to schools and community programs.
So far, the initiative has delivered more than 3,200 laptops and generated over 50,000 hours of professional employment for cadets, achieving a 100 per cent retention rate in Australia's first fully Indigenous-delivered onsite data erasure service.
Cadets also gain real industry-recognised qualifications through the program, allowing "cadets to function and have professional, long-standing high-income careers," said Cassandra Rose, Indigenous cadetship program lead.
It's a model that kills two birds with one stone, according to Ms Rose.
"In Australia, we need about 300,000 more tech workers by 2030, but here's the contradiction: we have 1000s of Indigenous Australians who are currently locked out of this opportunity, and our country has a massive skills shortage, and that's the problem that Ethan Indigenous was created to solve," she said.
"We don't just talk about the solutions, we deliver them."
For Narang Bir-rong Aboriginal Corporation, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) providing culturally safe and stable homes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, receiving the laptops will be transformative for their education.
"When you talk about the digital world that we're currently living in, these laptops for our after school program can provide opportunities for these kids to learn more about the digital world..this is going to be a massive, massive resource for us, and a resource that we wouldn't have access to if it wasn't for Ethan Indigenous," said Noelle from Narang Bir-rong's Culture Connection team.
The initiative also gained strong support from parliamentary members in attendance, who said it reflects the importance of digital inclusion and Indigenous-led innovation in shaping Australia's future.
"At the very heart of what we should be about is inclusion," said NSW Minister for Digital government Jihad Dibb.
"It's not just about giving the laptop. It's about making sure there's accessibility, making sure there's connectivity. It's all interconnected."
David Harris, the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, also commended Ethan Indigenous for its role in advancing Closing the Gap Priority 5 - a reform unique to NSW focused on economic development and employment.
"The New South Wales Government, started by the previous government and continued by the Minns' government, has prioritised closing the gap," he said.
"Priority number 5, we're the only state that has it, and it's about economic development and employment, and one of the most important parts of that is actually encouraging training and employment, but also people starting up their own businesses."
Aileen Macdonald OAM, Shadow Minister for Youth Justice, the day's event "isn't just a ceremonial handover of laptops".
"It's a handover of opportunity. It is economic empowerment in action. Ethan Indigenous is proof of what happens when First Nations leadership is backed not with rhetoric, but with respect, investment and real partnership," she said.
Beyond its Indigenous cadetship program, Ethan Indigenous is now turning its sights to systemic reform - calling for national procurement policies that embed Indigenous participation in ICT. It's the next step forward in proving that when First Nations leadership drives innovation, the benefits extend far beyond the tech sector.
