Why join Supply Nation?

Supplier diversity has significant and measurable long-term business benefits – the data clearly indicates that diverse supply chains are more sustainable, flexible and innovative.

But more importantly, supplier diversity is designed to harness planned and budgeted procurement spend and redirect it to traditionally under-represented businesses where it can create greater social good.

As a not-for-profit, you understand the importance of leveraging dollars to ensure the greatest possible benefit from the least possible spend – so if you can spend the same amount and create up to four times the social return, that seems like a smart investment.

What is supplier diversity?

Supplier diversity is a global movement designed to harness planned and budgeted procurement spend and redirect it to traditionally under-represented businesses where it can create greater social good and give businesses a strong competitive advantage. Supplier diversity offers under-represented businesses the same opportunities to compete for business as other qualified suppliers and drives a range of business benefits, including sustainability, flexibility, innovation and value. A proactive approach is required to change entrenched organisational processes: historical practices and commercial habits tend to limit opportunities for new suppliers.

Supply Nation’s world-leading 5-step verification process provides peace of mind that the businesses listed on Indigenous Business Direct are truly Indigenous owned. Supply Nation membership provides the support to provide a level playing field for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suppliers.

Unlock membership benefits:

Supply Nation offers two membership options for not-for-profit organisations registered with Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC).

Standard membership provides:

Access training and development to build your supplier diversity program based on global and local best practice

A dedicated professional Relationship Manager to work with you to develop a tailored supplier diversity action plan for your organisation

Opportunities to meet, connect with and mentor Supply Nation Certified and Registered Indigenous business owners and managers to explore opportunities to work together

Attend networking events to learn and share information about supplier diversity with individuals and companies with the same goals and challenges

Select membership provides:

Access to Indigenous Business Direct, Australia’s premier online database of Indigenous businesses to explore opportunities to work together

Attend networking events to learn and share information about supplier diversity with individuals and companies with the same goals and challenges

Supply Nation standard membership includes:

  • Guidance and support based on your organisation’s supplier diversity journey, on a range of different areas such as IPP and policy guidance, second tiering arrangements

  • Business matching support and advice to help you find the right Indigenous businesses for your organisational requirements

  • Complimentary access to bite-sized supplier diversity

  • Supplier diversity policies and procedure development support and feedback

  • Support reviewing procurement spend and forecasting future procurement opportunities

  • Yearly reviews and check-ins throughout the year

  • In-house training to drive greater procurement outcomes

  • Enhanced search functionality on Indigenous Business Direct including member-only data-set (employee numbers, revenue, insurances, and more)

  • Support in developing short and long-term roadmaps with your Membership Management Plan

  • One complimentary attendee per calendar year at ‘First Step’, a full day supplier diversity action planning workshop

  • Invitations to exclusive networking events, including meet-the-supplier and Trade Fairs across the country

  • Discounted tickets to Supply Nation events, including the annual Connect conference and tradeshows

  • Eligibility for nomination in the Supplier Diversity Awards presented at Connect each year

  • Access to the Supply Nation member logo for use on RAPs, marketing materials, websites, email auto-signatures, tender documentation etc.

  • MOB (Member Opportunity Board) promotes your organisation’s tenders, RFQs and EOIs to all Indigenous businesses with direct targeting to Certified Indigenous businesses

Supply Nation select membership includes:

  • Enhanced search functionality on Indigenous Business Direct including member-only data-set (employee number, revenue, insurances, and more)

  • Discounted tickets to Supply Nation’s events, including the annual Connect conferences and tradeshows

  • Invitations to exclusive networking events, including meet-the-supplier and Trade Fairs across the country

  • Tender and RFQ support through access to various independent, third-party procurement platform services

                           

Membership add-ons

Need more support? Members can also access on-demand services

Service Inclusion
In-house First Step First Step training hosted at your office for up to 25 employees.
Supplier Diversity support Block time support (up to one day) Relationship Manager supplier diversity support on your projects, tenders and opportunities.
Training support Half day Relationship Manager workshop provided to your team up to 25 staff members. Includes training preparation by the Relationship Manager.
Event support Relationship Manager support and attendance at your supplier diversity event for up to half day (includes up to 2 hours preparation and support).
SupplyStream API The SupplyStream API provides your organisation real-time, accurate data with automated access to Supply Nation supplier data (exclusive to members only). This means you will receive any change to Indigenous business information as soon as we have it all in your own system.
             

Member exclusive tools

SpendTracker is an easy-to-use tool to track and measure spend with Supply Nation’s Indigenous businesses. Set your own goals and measure your achievement. Produce reports and illustrate year on year progress. Exclusive to Supply Nation’s members, SpendTracker makes tracking your spend with Indigenous businesses easy and reporting for your RAP simple and intuitive. (Available to all NFP memberships)

JumpStart is a business mentoring program that links skilled volunteers from Supply Nation member organisations to Indigenous businesses in need of support or guidance. Through Jumpstart, volunteers from participating member organisations can offer professional skills and experience to help build capability within Indigenous businesses. This makes a real difference by providing a network of advisors for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business owners which otherwise doesn’t exist. (Not available on a Select membership)

SupplyStream allows you to connect to the Supply Nation database in real time, permitting data about the suppliers on our database directly into your procurement/purchasing system. SupplyStream creates a link between our system and yours for an integrated database​ making it easier than ever to procure from Indigenous businesses. (Available to full membership NFP)

  • Our events

    Supply Nation runs events all year to provide members with learning and networking opportunities.

    Connect


    Connect is Supply Nation’s annual flagship event for the Indigenous business sector. The event brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, corporate organisations and government departments for a one-day event to foster new business opportunities and celebrate the success of the sector.

    Supply Nation Members and Registered and Certified Suppliers are entitled to discounted tickets to Connect. Find out more at connect.supplynation.org.au

  • Our events

    Supply Nation runs events all year to provide members with learning and networking opportunities.

    Bite-sized training


    Through our dedicated Relationship Management team, we actively listen to the needs of our members. Our bite-sized training series is held around Australia with topics addressing current challenges and best practices to embed supplier diversity into your supply chain. These 2-3 hour sessions are open to all members, and are complimentary.

  • Our events

    Supply Nation runs events all year to provide members with learning and networking opportunities.

    Meet Indigenous businesses


    Throughout the year, Supply Nation and our partners hold trade fairs, networking event and opportunity briefings to which our members and suppliers are invited. We typically include these invitations within our monthly newsletter communications.

Join Supply Nation

As a not-for-profit, you are committed to creating a better Australia.

Leveraging your procurement spend to create positive social change makes sense, and Supply Nation membership will help you develop sustainable supplier diversity programs.