Testimonials
Dr Jeff McMullen AM
CEO, Ian Thorpes Fountain For Youth
"I have collaborated with David Liddiard and Andrea Harms for much of the past decade and watched them build impressive networks that will help change the social fabric of Australia and establish a much brighter future for all of our children. Aboriginal elders, whole communities, schools, educators, corporations and government representatives have been connected in innovative and highly effective programs. I see CorporateConnect.AB as a vital part of community building"
Bruce McQualter
Senior Manager - ANZ Trainees & Indigenous Employment,
Australia Division - ANZ Banking Group
"David Liddiard is a very personable operator that has a great strength in building relationships. He has a fantastic ability to connect people for the benefit of all parties involved based on his desire to bring better opportunities for Indigenous Australians. He is very passionate and energetic - qualities that really impact those he comes into contact with. Highly recommended"
The Hon. John Brown AO
Former Federal Minister
"David is truly a facilitor of change and has had a positive impact on many young Indigenous lives."
Alf Capito
Partner, Ernst & Young
"The community‐based projects are the most evident demonstration of the commitment of CorporateConnect.AB (CCAB) to sustainable business development initiatives. Our company has also made a commitment to at least one of these, and we see this as an opportunity to play a role in supporting Indigenous economic development as it aligns with our core business. CorporateConnect.AB (CCAB) understands the issues in communities which impact on and hinder economic enterprise, and they are playing a strategic role in assisting community in overcoming issues of lack of skills and expertise by engaging the corporate sector to develop relationships with specific communities, send mentors and skill share."
Ian Hudson
Manager, Indigenous Business, ICN Network
I have had the pleasure of working closely with David Liddiard and Andrea Harms of DLG and CCAB on projects since 2012. The various projects have involved working with companies and Aboriginal people to help them improve their financial and physical well-being. During those occasions I have watched as DLG have invested themselves in their clients in order to assist in whichever way they can. Making a financial return has usually been a secondary consideration. The commitment of DLG to Aboriginal people is evident in the programmes they have developed that aim to sincerely and sustainably ensure Aboriginal individuals are gainfully employed, develop new skills or improve financially. With their contacts they have often been able to readily bring about large-scale change that would otherwise have been very difficult or impossible for others. The partnerships the group has entered into have also been successful in harnessing the economic power of large procurement exercises to bring about lasting change. I wholeheartedly recommend individuals and companies to trust in the efforts of DLG to foster Aboriginal programmes that are well founded, well supported and innovative.
RE: David Liddiard - Statement of Support
To whom it may concern,
I write to you today in order to express my support for the David Liddiard Group, and its tireless efforts in assisting Indigenous Australian communities.
The Group's founder, David Liddiard, is a passionate Indigenous man who has sought to remedy the disadvantages faced by Indigenous people his entire life. His personal achievements working to combat social disadvantage are extensive, and the forming of the David Liddiard Group is an amalgamation of such admirable efforts.
I strongly support the approach of the David Liddiard Group to resolving the entrenched disadvantages of Indigenous communities; through the provision of education, skills and training, personal confidence and self-reliance is generated, which in turn creates opportunities for growth. Through their nuanced, empathetic and personal understanding of the Indigenous communities, businesses and government agencies they work alongside, the David Liddiard Group plays a quintessential part in working to distribute opportunities to Indigenous people that were once only afforded to the mainstream.
It is for these reasons and many more that I write to you with my personal support for the David Liddiard Group and strongly recommend them for future endeavours they may seek to be involved in.
Yours sincerely
Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP
Member for Hasluck Minister for Indigenous Australians
The Hon. Scot MacDONALD,
Tribute To David Liddiard, OAM (November 2018)
he Hon. Scot MacDONALD (11:14): I move:
(1) That this House notes that:
(a) On Friday 19 November 2018 at Barangaroo a commemorative celebration was held to mark the retirement of Indigenous leader David Liddiard, OAM, as President of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Authority and as a Director of RU OK? (b) For three decades Mr Liddiard has been committed to closing the education, health and wellbeing and employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians; (c) Mr Liddiard is a Ngarabal man from northern New South Wales and was a successful sportsman, playing in the National Rugby League, Parramatta, Penrith and Manly; was recipient of the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 1983; played in two grand finals for the Parramatta Eels in 1983 and 1984; and won the Premiership in 1983; (d) On returning to Australia from a stint with Hull Football Club, England, Mr Liddiard founded the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy [NASCA], which provides opportunities for Aboriginal youth in sport and education, having seen first-hand what opportunities can be opened through sport; (e)the NASCA has had impressive success with thousands of Indigenous youth being involved and this success has broadened into other areas, such as education, health and employment with one of NASCA's programs, ARMTour [Athletes as Role Models on Tour], taking high profile athletes out to remote communities and interacting with Indigenous communities, providing Indigenous youth with positive role models and encouraging completion of schooling and transitioning to a career; (f) In addition to his role as founder and chief executive officer of NASCA, Mr Liddiard has spearheaded initiatives, which provide practical support to businesses large and small with workplace participation strategies for Indigenous talent and has worked with programs at national, State and Territory levels, which focus on economic leadership development and has presented at numerous forums, conferences and events in this arena; (g) In 2004 Mr Liddiard was instrumental in the formation of the Indigenous owned business Message Stick, an Indigenous telecommunications company, and appointed as its first chairperson; (h)from 2008 Mr Liddiard led the Indigenous Corporate Partnerships strategy for Dare to Lead, working with Principals Australia to assist in building strong links between schools and business to further strengthen education, transition and employment opportunities for Indigenous youth; (i) In 2009 Mr Liddiard was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in the area of Minority Supplier Diversity and on his return he played a key role in the establishment of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, now named Supply Nation, and in 2010 he established CorporateConnect.AB, through which he engaged in Indigenous community economic development and employment initiatives in partnership with government and private sector support; and (j)Mr Liddiard has been recognised for his tireless work and commitment to Indigenous Australia and awarded the Gold Harold award in 2010 for services to Aboriginal Health and Education; the NSW Outstanding Community Service award in 2013; and the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to Indigenous youth, sporting and employment programs in the 2014 Australia Day Honours List.
(2) That this House acknowledges and commends Mr David Liddiard, OAM, for his outstanding service to Indigenous youth, sporting and employments programs and wishes him well in retirement (from the NASCA Board).
The Hon. Marie Ficarra
Tribute To David Liddiard, OAM (August2012)
Motion by the Hon. MARIE FICARRA agreed to:
1. That this House notes that:
(a) Mr David Liddiard has devoted himself to youth welfare and development, Indigenous health and education and Indigenous employment and participation for over 30 years,(b) Mr Liddiard is a Ngarabal man and a respected and well-known passionate advocate of Indigenous Australians,(c) Mr Liddiard was a successful sportsman, playing in the National Rugby League, was the recipient of the Dally M Rookie of the Year in 1983, played in two grand finals for Parramatta Eels in 1983 and 1984 and won the Premiership in 1983,(d) In 1995, Mr Liddiard founded the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy [NASCA], which provides real opportunities for Indigenous youth in sport and education,(e) The National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy has had impressive success with thousands of Indigenous youth being involved and this success has broadened into other areas, such as education, health and employment with one of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy's programs, ARMTour [Athletes as Role Models on Tour], taking athletes out to remote communities and interacting with Indigenous communities providing them with positive role models and positive information about the issues that confront them proving to be highly successful,(f) In addition to his role as founder and Chief Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy, Mr Liddiard has spear-headed initiatives which provide practical support to corporates and businesses with workplace participation strategies for Indigenous talent,(g) Mr Liddiard was the first chairperson of Messagestick, an Indigenous telecommunications company, and managed Indigenous Corporate Partnerships for Dare to Lead, and currently for his business CorporateConnect.AB. He has also established a new Indigenous business "Birubi" which takes on civil, building and construction works, and provides training and mentoring to support transition and retention of Indigenous people in workplaces. He has initiated numerous projects with many organisations to secure better opportunities for Indigenous Australians,(h) Mr Liddiard has been the key driver for the Gunya Tourism business, established at Titjikala community in remote Northern Territory, which is a community driven tourism enterprise for local employment,(i) Mr Liddiard was also a founding supporter of the Australian Indigenous Minority Supplier Council which supports Indigenous economic business development, andG) In recognition of Mr Liddiard's outstanding work for the Indigenous community over the last 30 years, he has been awarded (i) the Churchill Fellowship in 2009 for his work with the Indigenous Minority Supplier Council, (ii) the Gold Harold Award in 2010 for services to Aboriginal Health and Education.2. That this House acknowledges and commends Mr David Liddiard for his outstanding service and devotion to improving the health, education and well- being of Indigenous youth and Indigenous communities across the nation.