First Nations engagement in the transition to Net Zero research project
Ninti One has partnered with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to lead an important research project: First Nations Engagement in the Transition to Net Zero.
The project set out to:
Identify opportunities and barriers for First Nations peoples to access training, education, and employment in the decarbonisation workforce
Assess cultural safety measures in decarbonising sectors
Pinpoint resources that create safer, more supportive environments for First Nations learners and workers
The project carried out desktop research, consultations with key stakeholders and case studies of promising practices, forming a clearer picture of the barriers, opportunities and culturally safe practices that support participation of First Nations peoples in the decarbonisation workforce.
Between July 2024 and April 2025, the Ninti One project team conducted 104 consultations involving 166 individuals across Australia, including regional and remote communities. Participants included First Nations peoples and community representatives, First Nations businesses and organisations, industry stakeholders, government agencies, and education and training providers. Of those consulted, 44% identified as First Nations. The remaining participants either did not identify or were non-Indigenous stakeholders working in relevant sectors or seeking to support First Nations participation.
Stakeholders consistently emphasised the need for employment that is stable, well-paid, culturally respectful, and aligned with traditional values and practices. Stakeholders strongly advocated for more respectful and meaningful engagement between industry and First Nations communities as a foundation for attracting and retaining First Nations peoples in the decarbonisation workforce.
The consultations reinforced the importance of ongoing cultural awareness, safety, and accountability in workplaces. To achieve equitable and lasting outcomes, stakeholders called for genuine partnerships, structural reform, and community-led solutions.
In response to the barriers and opportunities identified, the project team developed practical resources that can be found here.
The resources are designed to support job seekers, policy makers, registered training organisations (RTOs), and employers in building culturally safe environments and increasing the participation of First Nations peoples in the transition to a net zero economy.
These resources are grounded in the insights, knowledge, and experiences generously shared by stakeholders. While we recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing systemic barriers, we hope these tools will support greater awareness of pathways, promote constructive dialogue, and foster collaboration between First Nations communities, organisations, industry, and government.
August 22, 2025
First Nations engagement in the transition to Net Zero research project
Ninti One has partnered with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations to lead an important research project: First Nations Engagement in the Transition to Net Zero.
The project set out to:
The project carried out desktop research, consultations with key stakeholders and case studies of promising practices, forming a clearer picture of the barriers, opportunities and culturally safe practices that support participation of First Nations peoples in the decarbonisation workforce.
Between July 2024 and April 2025, the Ninti One project team conducted 104 consultations involving 166 individuals across Australia, including regional and remote communities. Participants included First Nations peoples and community representatives, First Nations businesses and organisations, industry stakeholders, government agencies, and education and training providers. Of those consulted, 44% identified as First Nations. The remaining participants either did not identify or were non-Indigenous stakeholders working in relevant sectors or seeking to support First Nations participation.
Stakeholders consistently emphasised the need for employment that is stable, well-paid, culturally respectful, and aligned with traditional values and practices. Stakeholders strongly advocated for more respectful and meaningful engagement between industry and First Nations communities as a foundation for attracting and retaining First Nations peoples in the decarbonisation workforce.
The consultations reinforced the importance of ongoing cultural awareness, safety, and accountability in workplaces. To achieve equitable and lasting outcomes, stakeholders called for genuine partnerships, structural reform, and community-led solutions.
In response to the barriers and opportunities identified, the project team developed practical resources that can be found here.
The resources are designed to support job seekers, policy makers, registered training organisations (RTOs), and employers in building culturally safe environments and increasing the participation of First Nations peoples in the transition to a net zero economy.
These resources are grounded in the insights, knowledge, and experiences generously shared by stakeholders. While we recognise that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to addressing systemic barriers, we hope these tools will support greater awareness of pathways, promote constructive dialogue, and foster collaboration between First Nations communities, organisations, industry, and government.
Kate Wilson
Senior Project Manager