Recent News
World Expo 2025 Osaka
Te Aratini Indigenous Peoples Week at World Expo 2025 Osaka Kansai was a powerful showcase of Indigenous culture, economy and collaboration. It's fitting that this incredible week concluded on 9 August, the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples, when we acknowledge, pay respects and celebrate our global Indigenous communities. Building on the Expo's sustainable futures theming, the week featured an Indigenous business focus and explored opportunities for building a sustainable future society from the lens of Indigenous knowledges and expertise. First Nations Australians Day at the Australia Pavilion focused on Indigenous business and trade, showcasing the strength and power of Indigenous cultures, economy and collaboration on a global stage
We thank Japan as generous hosts of World Expo 2025 Osaka and the close collaboration between Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Canada, Chinese Taipei and the Jellyfish Pavilion on a second successful Te Aratini Indigenous Peoples Week.
Charles Darwin University's First Nations Sovereignty and Diplomacy Centre
DFAT is committed to weaving First Nations stories into Australia's diplomacy. As part of that commitment, Director of our Northern Territory Office and Wiradjuri woman, Suzy Wilson-Uilelea, invited Deputy Secretary Trade and First Nations Champion George Mina to hear from trailblazers at Charles Darwin University's First Nations Sovereignty and Diplomacy Centre. Discussions centred on shared efforts to share Indigenous knowledge with diplomatic networks, international investors and business leaders.
Supply Nation's Supplier Diversity Awards
Congratulations to all finalists and winners of Supply Nation's Supplier Diversity Awards during the Connect Gala Awards Dinner on 21 August.
WV Technologies was named the Indigenous Exporter of the Year at the 2025 Supply Nation Supplier Diversity Awards, held on Thursday 21 August at ICC Sydney on Gadigal land.
The award recognises WV Technologies' excellence in IT disposal and recycling, its success in exporting a significant portion of recovered devices to international markets, and its strong commitment to creating employment opportunities for Indigenous youth.
The Supplier Diversity Awards honour and recognise businesses, government agencies, not-for-profit organisations and individuals making a significant contribution to supplier diversity and excellence in driving a prosperous and vibrant Indigenous business sector.
The awards ceremony was part of Connect 2025: Beyond the Horizon, Australia's largest Indigenous business trade show, which drew over 4000 participants and featured 280 exhibiting businesses. The annual event celebrates the achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses and fosters collaboration with corporate and government sectors. See all award winners across categories here.
Upcoming Program and Grant opportunities
Australian First Nations Capability Booklet for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
This is a unique opportunity to promote your business in a targeted publication that will be distributed to government, industry, and commercial networks in the UAE.
This initiative will showcase the depth and diversity of Indigenous Business expertise to partners and stakeholders across the UAE and the GCC as part of the planned Australia-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (UAE CEPA) First Nations Action Plan. The Action Plan will support the First Nations business sector realise the benefits of the historic First Nations chapter of UAE CEPA, which will shortly enter into force.
We are seeking expressions of interest from businesses from the following sectors: Agrifood, Creative Industries, Green Economy, Critical Enabling Technologies, and Services. We are also seeking supply chain companies interested in sharing their story with UAE investors, particularly sectors featured in the UAE CEPA Investment MOUs, including Data Centres and AI Projects, Food and Agriculture, Green and Renewable Energy, Infrastructure Development and Minerals Sector.
Participation offers you the chance to raise your business profile, connect with potential partners, and position your company as a trusted collaborator in a fast-growing region - at no cost to you.
What's involved?
To feature in the booklet, simply complete the short form providing:
- A 100-word overview of your business
- Contact details
- Your company logo
- A professional headshot and 3-4 photos of your company's operations
If you would like to be included, please complete the form by 22 September 2025
We look forward to showcasing your capabilities and supporting your engagement with the UAE market.
Austrade Green Economy Mission to Thailand 1-2 October
Austrade invites Australian businesses with green economy capabilities across the supply chain to participate in our upcoming mission to Thailand from 1 to 2 October 2025. Thai conglomerates have shared their sustainability problem statements with us and Austrade has identified opportunities in energy, carbon and waste management, agtech, green skills, recycling, low carbon materials, bio chemicals and PM2.5 (haze) mitigation.
Express your interest now: EOI - Green Economy Mission to Thailand - Contact details
The Australian Government's Professional Placements Program, funded by DFAT under Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, is now open.
The program supports short-term work placements between Australia and Southeast Asia to build business relationships, develop cross-cultural skills, and explore new market opportunities.
Under this program, eligible businesses will receive support from the Australian government in sending or hosting work placements. Countries available for placements are Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
This is an opportunity for Australian and Southeast Asian businesses to strengthen business-to-business relationships, develop your team's expertise and secure access to new markets.
Businesses can host or send young professionals for placements ranging from 2 weeks to 12 months. Support includes assistance with travel, visas, insurance, and identifying counterpart businesses.
OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program 2026
The Indigenous Fellowship Program was launched in 1997 by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the context of the first International Decade of the World's Indigenous People. The aim of the program is to give indigenous persons the opportunity to gain knowledge about the UN system and mechanisms dealing with human rights issues in general and indigenous issues in particular. Trained participants are better equipped to assist their organisations and communities in protecting and promoting their rights. submit your online application well before the deadline of 15 September 2025.
Call for applications: OHCHR Indigenous Fellowship Program 2026
Modernising Australia's Southeast Asian free trade agreements for the future
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is conducting a comprehensive review of Australia's free trade agreements (FTAs) in Southeast Asia. The review will identify opportunities and priorities to upgrade, modernise and ensure our FTAs continue to deliver for Australian businesses and investors. The review will identify recommendations to help inform the Australian Government's future FTA upgrade priorities.
We are inviting public submissions to inform the review and welcome views from a wide range of stakeholders, including trade and investment exposed industries and representative organisations, state and territory governments, private sector, civil society, NGOs and the Australian community. We are particularly interested in views on how to better engage First Nations traders in our future FTAs.
Submission can be made until 31 December 2025. Information about the terms of reference for the review and making submissions can be found at Southeast Asian Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) upgrade and modernisation agenda.
What's coming up?
World Indigenous Business Forum 2025 - Melbourne
Registration is open for the World Indigenous Business Forum 2025 that will be held over 28 to 30 October 2025 in Melbourne.
For further information or to register, please visit: World Indigenous Business Forum Inc.