Indigenous business services

Our northern offices have worked with First Nations communities, organisations and businesses throughout Australia. BDO (NTH QLD) has extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, organisations and businesses, including in remote areas, promoting mutually respectful and genuine two-way relationships of shared significance.

Our team brings a wealth of experience, including high-level program development, strategic, corporate and organisational planning, economic development and community consultation. Our specialties also include industry and regional economic development, organisational and government feasibility studies and reviews, investigations and financial literacy and governance training. Our services include:

• Consulting and business advisory services
• Bookkeeping and accounting services
• Taxation advisory
• Audit and assurance services
• Strategic and business planning
• Governance training and support
• Business and financial literacy training
• Feasibility studies
• Business and organisational administration assignments
• Business recovery and external administration
• Mentoring and advice
• Native title and cultural heritage management
• Financial planning.

Talk to our team to find out how we can assist.

Cultural awareness, creating pathways and recognising Indigenous businesses

BDO (NTH QLD) understand that First Nations people are strong and resilient and continue to promote their culture in a shared sense of national unity and identity in the community. We are proud supporters of a variety of organisations that strengthen the growth of Indigenous communities, businesses and youth, today and for future generations.

In conjunction with local Elders, BDO (NTH QLD) has undertaken various forms of Indigenous Cultural Awareness Training. Outside of formal settings, we also appreciate the opportunity to simply sit with Elders and others in the community, listening and learning about Australia’s oldest culture. Our team continues to learn and grow with these engagements and welcomes every opportunity to do so, building trust and friendship along the way with Traditional Owners.

As well as attending First Nations events and functions, we also host our own events to increase our understanding. Whilst we share experiences with our existing Indigenous business clients, we are also ensuring that we become better aware of other local Indigenous businesses that we can engage with. 

We actively seek pathways for First Nations students to gain employment, such as attending and presenting at schools; talking with Indigenous employment agencies about potential opportunities; and engaging with local universities to connect with First Nations students studying in accounting and business. We also seek opportunities to support our current staff with personal and professional growth. 

BDO (NTH QLD) regularly engage with Traditional Owners for guidance and valuable support in specific areas and engage their time as consultants on assignments. 

Reconciliation Action Plan

BDO (NTH QLD) understands the importance of reconciliation and we are mindful of this occurring in a mutually respectful and genuine way. In addition to many forms of Cultural Awareness Training that we have undertaken, we have completed our Reflect RAP, and are now working through our Innovate RAP. 

Download the 2024 - 2026 Innovate RAP (3.64MB).

Download our RAP Reflect (5.32MB PDF).

Reflect

As part of our RAP journey, local artist, Susan Reys, painted for us the artistry pictured. We are very appreciative of this beautiful piece of art that reflects our story and our connection to our people, clients and community, and we are proud to display the original painting in the reception of our Cairns office.

Artist, Susan Reys, spent some time in our office to gain an understanding of our business, our people and our values. Susan created an artwork that depicts our nine Partners and their strong historical connection or roots into our community. 

The Bukul vine represents Henrietta Marrie, local elder and academic, who has been our mentor and guide. The leaves on the Bukul vine represent the knowledge and wisdom received from Henrietta as well as that which our experts share with clients in our region. The cassowary footprints represent guidance. Guidance received throughout our Reconciliation journey and also the guidance that we provide to our clients.

BDO’s five values: ONE, BOLD, HUMAN, STRIVE and HEART are depicted in red, through the centre of the artwork. Susan has incorporated the icons into her design. The colours, BDO’s corporate colours, represent the lands throughout our region. Gold and Burgundy for the outback, Emerald for the rainforest, Ocean for the Reef and Red for our people and our firm. Finally, the Water Lilies are representative of the Indigenous name of our very own Nareeta Davis. Nareeta was given her Indigenous name by the late Oodegeroo Noonuccal, an Indigenous Australian political activist, artist and educator.

Susan Reys was born and raised in Cairns with her parents Diana (nee Barnes) and Stephen Stanley Reys who was a member of the Jirrbal cultural group. On her mother’s side through her grandmother Eva Sweetland Coates, Susan is a descendant of the Butchulla people (aka Batdjala) who were forcibly removed from K’gari (Fraser Island) to Yarrabah in 1904, and her grandfather Charles Sweetland Coates was a Guugu Yimithirr man from the Daarrba clan around the Morgan River. Her Indigenous name given to her is Duliny which means Owl. Susan’s totems are the Waandaar (White Cockatoo) and Dolphin. She is privileged to know her family history and bloodline and to continue her people’s ancient tradition of painting and storytelling from her home studio where she works with stoneware glazes, textile designs and canvas paintings.

Susan has been producing and exhibiting her artwork since 2001 and has opened ‘K’gari 3 Sisters’ Aboriginal Art gallery in Cairns with fellow artist, Hendrick Fourmile. During 2003 to 2006 Susan also taught Indigenous art and design at Kangan Batman TAFE College in Victoria. Susan describes her artwork as “An expression of my Aboriginality, identity, history and new understandings in my journey in life through oil and acrylic paint; and clay.”

Innovate

“To hear and nurture with compassion artwork does not stand alone. It is entwined with an acrylic painting Reflect: A journey of reconciliation that was commissioned in 2019 depicting a story of when BDO begins to share their journey in making a commitment towards the reconciliation of First Nations People in Australia and the land in which they work and live. We meet again. I feel so welcome and safe in this space. I listen deeply to the stories shared around the table. What do I hear?

The Partners share their ways of doing, being and seeing. I could hear compassion and wisdom. My spirit feels a gentleness of mothers embrace as he said, I’ve learnt so much from our Elders, in this instance, Henrietta Marrie AM and friend Nareeta Davis. I’ve learnt Reconciliation is not just about celebrating First Nations People during NAIDOC. Our approach is celebrating First Nations People every day.

Whilst listening to these stories I instantly felt what this artwork would look like and represent. It’s a very tall ceramic vessel, a nurturing womanly figure. A sturdy wide base, full body with robust shoulders. Its curves are wavey and continuous. The fingerprint design around the leaves of strength and wisdom are representative of BDO’s commitment and determination to be innovative and with an everlasting imprint of a hands-on approach of compassion and action for change and brighter futures. Innovation. I’ve tried many times to throw a 60 cm tall vessel but failed. This instance provided me the opportunity to keep trying.

When we don’t have the tools and skills, but we want to create and change, we must keep trying. We must practice and apply ourselves to overcome the obstacles and challenges presented before us. This is the very principle of BDO in their Innovate RAP. We need to deeply listen. As a service provider we need compassion and wisdom and apply innovative ways to create brighter futures for our First Nations People. 

I’m very protective and gentle with this creation. I tread steadily and cocoon her on my lap as a mother would supporting and nurturing her infant, as I adorn this form with markings symbolising a healthy environment surrounded in principles of listening, growth, wisdom, and opportunity.”

- Artist: Susan Duliny Reys

Community involvement

BDO has a strong commitment to supporting the local community and fostering opportunities for development across the region. We do this through genuine relationships established across all areas of our community. We are proud supporters of a variety of organisations that strengthen the growth of communities, businesses and youth, today and for future generations.