Aboriginal-owned, cross-sector commercial construction provider DICE Australia operates with a three Ps, and three Cs philosophy: people, planet, prosperity and Country, community, culture.

It's a vision and mission which has led the Darwin-based company to taking out the Indigenous Excellence Category at Telstra's 2025 Best of Business Awards.

Director Raymond Pratt started out working with his father, in the business he started 23, in the Tiwi Islands, doing his electrical apprenticeship.

By 23 himself, Mr Pratt went on his own starting DICE in 2004.

From commercial construction projects to public housing, essential services, electrical contracting and renewable energy installations, DICE delivers infrastructure projects across the Territory and other parts of Australia - from urban settings to remote communities.

They also work in the government and defence sectors.

"We're a construction company just with a very strong electrical arm," Mr Pratt told National Indigenous Times.

"Our vision and mission has changed. It's very simple now. It's just to power communities and empower people."

It's where the three Ps and Cs fit it - their version of ESG (environment, social and governance).

"When we say we power communities and empower people, we do it through holistic delivery and construction, electoral contracting and smart energy projects," Mr Pratt said.

"Really, what that boils down to, when we're talking about creating opportunities, it is the trade sector and people that are working with their hands."

Two decades into the business DICE has grown to employ over 70 team members, with 30 per cent First Nations employment.

Mr Pratt said they employ and train locally, and not just complete projects, but "everywhere we work, we try and leave capability and capacity behind".

Culture informs how they engage with clients and partners, he added, as well as part of their model contracting out to other businesses, many Indigenous-owned, in addition to what's achieved in-house.

"We lean into Aboriginal people because of my heritage and our background. But opportunities are there for for everybody," he said of DICE's operations, but sector opportunities for Indigenous businesses more broadly.

"Indigenous excellence, It's not aspirational for us. It's operational and it's not competitive, it's collective. That's why we look at creating this circular economy."

Often those they contract with a former DICE employees, gone out on their own.

"Skills stay local, value stays local, opportunities stay local. And that's kind of one of the proudest parts of this journey for us."

From office design and construction to new builds of remote community housing, refurbishments and new builds, DICE undertakes projects in remote NT communities, Aboriginal Housing groups and primary schools, per listed projects completed.

They're a previous Indigenous business category winner at the Ethnic Business Awards.

At the Telstra Business Awards, refugee health-focused founded Rahma Health, who deliver services to Arabic speaking families took out the top award as Business of the Year, among seven categories.

DJAARA (Dja Dja Wurrung Clans Aboriginal Corporation) Traditional Owners group took home the 2024 Business of the Year award.

"Winning the Telstra Business of the Year Award elevated DJAARA's profile nationally and opened doors to new opportunities," DJAARA interim chief executive Cassandra Lewis said.

"Since then, we've launched our Traditional Owner economic strategy and forged partnerships with business and government that enable growth at scale.

"This success strengthens the regional economy in Central Victoria and amplifies the voice of Dja Dja Wurrung People. The Awards process itself was invaluable - challenging us to bring out our best and inspiring us through the excellence of others."

Of their award this year, DICE's Mr Pratt said: Indigenous excellence isn't just about the business capability or the size of the business, it's how you show up for your family, culture, community and the legacy you're building, what you're leaving behind."

The recognition was "icing on the cake".