How we verify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status

The veracity and integrity of the businesses on Indigenous Business Direct is essential to Supply Nation. We only accept and showcase businesses that have provided proof of their Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander ownership.

We verify Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander status in 2 main ways:

1. Confirmation letter from a recognised institution

A confirmation letter – which confirms that the individual having the beneficial ownership of at least 50% of the business:

  • is of Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander descent
  • identifies as an Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander person; and
  • is recognised and accepted as being an Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander from a specific Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander community.

On receipt of the confirmation letter, our experienced registration and verification team performs ASIC and other ownership checks and fraud checks prior to accepting the business onto the directory. This information is also regularly audited to ensure the information provided by each business continues to be accurate.

2. Supply Nation confirmation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent form – statutory declaration

Supply Nation’s confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander form is a legally binding statutory declaration, and false or misleading statements are punishable under section 136 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) and section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 (Cth).

The form must include two referees who may be contacted to verify the information in that form. Referees must be at least 18 years of age and of sound mind, memory and understanding. Referees listed must be from a recognised Indigenous organisation or another organisation that is deemed by Supply Nation to have the public standing and credibility to attest to the veracity of an individual’s claim to be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent.

By signing the form, the signatory is confirming that they are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander as it is understood by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Act 2005, which states that to be recognised as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a person:

  • is of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent,
  • identifies as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, and
  • is recognised as such by their community.

Do you have information that suggests a business should not be listed?

Supply Nation requests that any concerns are reported to us as a first action. All feedback is thoroughly investigated by Supply Nation following a process set out in the complaints policy in our Code of Conduct.

If Supply Nation finds that a business should not be registered, the business will be immediately de-registered. In cases where there may have been fraudulent activity leading to registration, legal proceedings, or referrals to the police in relation to suspected criminal offences, may also be considered.