Western Australian property group Hawaiian and cleaning contractor ISS Facility Services, have entered into a new agreement with Indigenous cleaning chemicals company, Wirrpanda Supplies.
Under the new deal, ISS is transitioning supply of several Wirrpanda Supplies’ chemicals to the Hawaiian WA retail portfolio.
ISS cleaners will use the environmentally-preferable chemicals from Wirrpanda Supplies to clean 14 Hawaiian locations in Perth.
Founder of Wirrpanda Supplies, and former West Coast Eagles player, David Wirrpanda said the company is product to be partnering with Hawaiian and ISS.
“Their commitment towards a holistic Indigenous engagement program, including procurement and employment is a credit to both organisations”.
Wirrpanda Supplies was created in late 2017 to deliver environmentally-sustainable cleaning supplies as well as close a loop between education and the employment of Indigenous youth.
The company is a joint-venture company between David Wirrpanda, and Chemform, a 40-year old family-owned Australian company that delivers cleaning products and services.
A percentage of all sales from Wirrpanda Supplies goes directly to the not-for-profit Wirrpanda Foundation (WF), which supports Indigenous communities and their youth in further studies and entry into the workforce.
WF offers a range of training and employment programs. Since its foundation in 2005, the Wirrpanda Foundation has supported more than 30,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people nationally through its outreach programs. Almost 700 jobseekers have gained employment through participating in a Wirrpanda Foundation program since 2008.
ISS CEO Scott Davies said the partnership resonates with ISS’ pledge to assisting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and communities.
“Our formalised Reconciliation Action Plan and Employment Parity commitments with the Australian Government mean we are dedicated to creating genuine Indigenous employment opportunities and initiatives, such as this, within our own organisation.
“ISS is delighted to partner with Hawaiian and Wirrpanda Supplies in this project and use our significant buying power to facilitate further opportunities for Indigenous Australians.”
Hawaiian CEO Russell Gibbs said Hawaiian is proud to be partnering with ISS and Wirrpanda Supplies to benefit the Wirrpanda Foundation.
“Our partnership is underpinned by an organisational goal of embedding diversity and inclusion within the Hawaiian culture. Hawaiian will continue to seek new ways to deepen our relationship with the Wirrpanda Foundation to positively impact the local WA community.
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