The Ochre way: building genuine, respectful relationships

Indigenous business leader Kerrod Toby, a proud Gangulu and Iman man, is at the helm of the Ochre Australia group, inclusive of both Ochre Australia and Ochre Social Performance.

Across the two companies, Ochre Australia is a critical delivery partner for major mining, civil and energy projects and provides support through the delivery of a diverse range of services that span rehabilitation, civil, cleaning, and workforce solutions through to delivering leading practice, place-based and community-centered stakeholder engagement and social performance. What sets their approach apart, is opportunities being delivered in partnership with Traditional Owners, regional communities and local First Nations peoples. Ochre is committed to building genuine and respectful relationships between industry, Traditional Owners and local community.

Founded seven years ago by Kerrod, the organisation was established to close long standing gaps in Indigenous engagement and ensure work on Country is guided by the correct cultural authorities. With a strong operational background and genuine passion for mob, Kerrod has always been passionate about connecting industry with Traditional Owners to build sustainable Indigenous business leadership capability and employment opportunities. In 2024, he partnered with Central Queensland local social performance specialist Katrina Grange who shared the same passion to support regional communities. They established Ochre Social Performance to ensure respectful engagement and socio-economic development opportunities were developed with Traditional Owners and local communities early in project development and to support genuine community capability and employment in these critical areas.

Nobody knew what to do, or who to speak to, and I really just wanted to support that.

Playing representative rugby league and Indigenous carnivals in his younger years, Kerrod had built a lot of connections within community and wanted to harness those relationships for the better. So, he went out and started Ochre, with no initial idea of how, but was confident he had good connections with the industry and wanted to use his knowledge and skills for the better.

A lot more work still needs to be done, but we can see that it's working. I'm not doing this work to progress my business, I'm actually doing this to help all Indigenous businesses and Traditional Owner businesses. There's always been a purpose behind what we're trying to do, and it's about building capability, communities, supporting communities and making sure that when there are developments or something happening on Country, that Traditional Owners get that opportunity.

Ochre's mission

At the heart of Ochre's mission is capability building. The business prioritises community benefit over profit, supporting Indigenous enterprises and partnering with other organisations to deliver specialised scopes of work. This collaborative model gives clients confidence that they are engaging the right people, in the right way.

The Ochre Way

Central to the organisation’s operations is The Ochre Way, a respectful, cultural framework that requires formal endorsement from traditional owner groups before any project begins. This approach ensures respectful engagement, strengthens cultural authority, and keeps decision‑making rooted in community priorities. Workforce development is also a key focus, with Ochre investing in practical training so skills remain in community long after external partners depart. Profits from the business are also partially contributed back to the Traditional Owner groups to provide financial benefits and training opportunities for the community.

Recruitment and pathways

While Kerrod says platforms like Seek and social media play a role when it comes to Ochre’s recruitment, most opportunities are sourced through word‑of‑mouth and trusted local connections. Kerrod intentionally seeks out disadvantaged community members, using projects as hands‑on training grounds to develop inexperienced workers into highly skilled, long-term professionals.

Ochre Social Performance recently led the innovative Traditional Owner led employment pathway program  Which Way, Your Way led by local mob for mob. The first stage of the program has been an outstanding success with 22 job-ready local Indigenous candidates put forward for opportunities on major energy projects in the region.

Through culturally grounded practice, community‑first recruitment, and a commitment to ‘true and genuine’ partnership, Ochre Australia continues to build trust, capability and long‑term economic participation across the region.

Get in touch

Ochre Australia: kerrod@ochreaus.com.au

Ochre Social Performance: yarn@ochresp.com.au

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