March 19, 2026 in News
Towards an Inclusive Future
In the traditionally male-dominated building services industry, A.G. Coombs Group is writing a new narrative – one where diversity and inclusion is ...
May 12, 2026
Signalling a fundamental lift from corporate social responsibility to genuine economic empowerment, A.G. Coombs and its Indigenous partners have launched a capability partnership. With a mission to redefine how Australia’s construction and property industries engages with First Nations peoples and businesses, ‘Murrungar’ tells a story of deep cultural significance.
The word Murrungar originates from the Kirrae Whurrung language of southwest Victoria, meaning ‘to build, grow and nurture’ – a fitting foundation for an initiative that aims to do exactly that for Indigenous participation in the built environment sector.
A 10-year journey
The genesis of Murrungar [pronounced “ma-rung-gar”] goes back over 10 years to a relationship forged at the Richmond Football Club, where Aaron Clark, Executive Leader – Social Procurement, Inclusion & Engagement at A.G. Coombs, served as Director of the Korin Gamadji Institute, overseeing community work and the club’s reconciliation action plan (RAP). Under Aaron’s leadership, Richmond Football Club was the only sporting organisation to achieve ‘Elevate’ status for its RAP, the highest tier of reconciliation commitment.
Through this work, Aaron connected with Russell Telford, Managing Director at A.G. Coombs. What started as collaboration on reconciliation initiatives has evolved into a profitfor- purpose enterprise designed to transform procurement in the building services industry into an authentic force for Indigenous economic empowerment, community capability and cultural expression.
True economic empowerment
Murrungar represents a revolutionary approach that challenges the traditional paradigm of Indigenous engagement in corporate Australia. Rather than positioning First Nations businesses as recipients of charitable support, the initiative recognises them as commercially-viable partners.
“For too long, First Nations businesses have been misunderstood as social causes rather than an opportunity for economic success through differentiation,” says Aaron. “Murrungar aims to drive meaningful progress toward economic self-determination.”
The initiative taps into what the banking sector identified* as a potential 50 billion Indigenous economy by 2030, positioning Murrungar to capture opportunities in a sector where Aboriginal knowledge systems – particularly in environmental sustainability and land management – offer unique competitive advantages.
Russell Telford, Managing Director at A.G. Coombs sees this commercial approach as fundamental to Murrungar’s authenticity. “It completely shifts the dial from charity to commercial reality. For A.G. Coombs it’s about being true to who we are while recognising broader positive impacts for industry and strengthening Indigenous-owned businesses.”
The shift from welfare-based thinking to economic empowerment addresses fundamental issues of inequality through sustainable career opportunities rather than temporary assistance. “Murrungar harnesses the power of everyday procurement to enable Indigenous-led design, create skilled employment opportunities and reinvest value into First Nations communities through economic empowerment,” notes Aaron.
Profit-for-purpose
Central to Murrungar’s values is what Aaron describes as a ‘profit-for-purpose’ model of business where a percentage of revenue is funnelled directly into community outcomes such as STEM scholarships, career pathways and sporting leadership initiatives. This approach looks to nurture talent through reinvestment in Indigenous employment, leadership and sport-led community programs.
The initiative has targets that extend beyond simple employment metrics. Murrungar seeks to create careers rather than contracts, implementing targeted skills pathways, mentoring and leadership opportunities designed to uplift entire families. This approach recognises the collective nature of Aboriginal culture and the ripple effects of economic empowerment throughout communities.
An Indigenous business ecosystem
Operationally, Murrungar functions as a capability partnership between
A.G. Coombs and Indigenous professionals. The majority Indigenous-owned structure of Murrungar enables other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses to connect and collaborate within the broader A.G. Coombs network.
Murrungar looks to build best-in-class services that embed Indigenous capability from apprenticeships and project management to supply chain coordination and facility management.
“At our core is ensuring we embed Indigenous excellence into the supply chain validating our services as certified, quality assured and cost-competitive just like our non-Indigenous peers,” says Aaron. “Our approach is to build, grow and nurture a world-class Indigenous-led supply chain ecosystem that delivers high performance with fresh, culturally-guided thinking.”
In an increasingly transparent society, the construction sector faces mounting pressure to meet government social procurement requirements and corporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments. Murrungar positions itself as both facilitator and direct provider in meeting these obligations with integrity and impact, offering clients a sophisticated approach to Indigenous engagement that goes beyond token gestures.
A cultural bridge
Acting with purpose and leading with respect, Murrungar serves as a cultural bridge between corporate, government and community. It draws on Aaron Clark’s extensive experience in non-profit community work, creating a robust business model that nurtures partnerships that are culturally-respectful, values-aligned and built to last.
Murrungar aims to be an exemplar for how corporate Australia can move beyond reconciliation toward genuine economic partnership with First Nations peoples. In combining A.G. Coombs’ 80 years of industry expertise with 60,000 years of Indigenous knowledge systems, Murrungar is building something unprecedented – a truly collaborative approach to Indigenous capacity, growing pathways and nurturing culture.
