BHP spent more than $20 million last fiscal year delivering crucial social investment programs in partnership with Indigenous companies and communities across Australia.

The global miner's first Australian Indigenous Social Investment report released on Wednesday showed the company spent $17.6 million on Indigenous governance, economic development and advocacy programs.

A further $4.2 million was spent on education and training initiatives, while priority focus areas to drive future institutional partnering capability were also developed.

BHP said staff were supported to build capability through cultural awareness obligations, profiling partners, and supporting their advocacy efforts.

Other initiatives including the development of guiding principles that respect the rights of First. Nations peoples, in relation to heritage, knowledge and cultural expressions.

BHP president (Australia) Geraldine Slattery said the company's social investment partnerships aligned to its aspirations for positive intergenerational social, cultural, and economic wellbeing for First Nations.

"Purposeful and meaningful voluntary social investment to support positive outcomes for Indigenous peoples and communities is key to these ambitions," Ms Slattery said of BHP's Australian Indigenous Social Investment Strategy."

Polly Farmer Foundation students across BHP's 'Follow the Dream' programs totalled more than 13,000 hours of tuition.

More than 4100 women were engaged with the company's Ember Connect initiative, with a team committed to elevating Indigenous women.

"We believe we are successful when we work in partnership with communities to achieve long-term social, environmental and economic outcomes," Ms Slattery said.

"When it comes to Indigenous partnerships, contributing to the aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities within Australia is essential to the relationships we share with communities.

"In turn it helps support the sustainability of our operations."

BHP in September reported a record Indigenous procurement spend in 2023-24, almost doubling the value of its contracts with First Nations businesses across its Australian operations to $700 million.

The company's 2024 Economic Contribution Report showed 240 Indigenous suppliers had been engaged across its projects, a 12-month increase of 75 per cent.

The results position BHP on track to reach $1.5 billion of spend with Indigenous and Traditional Owner businesses by mid-2027, a target from its June 2023 RAP, and supported by a $20m investment for Indigenous initiatives, including the Dilin Duwa Centre for Indigenous Business Leadership.

BHP also increased its spend with Traditional Owner and First Nations businesses by 69 per cent the past financial year in Western Australia, its main footprint where $465 million was generated for First Nations.

First Nations services across BHP's WA Iron Ore projects ranged from mining activities, support services, engineering, project management, construction and other mine-related requirements.

Buru Rehab director George Todd, a Kariyarra Traditional Owner, said its mine rehabilitation contract with BHP in Port Hedland provided employment for locals and increased the company's capabilities.

"It's important to us that BHP provides local Traditional Owner businesses with opportunity to grow capability and capacity," he said.