A major Perth road infrastructure site became an unlikely backdrop for Aboriginal connection to Country on Friday morning, as construction workers briefly laid down their tools and site plans for a lesson on truth-telling.

IPS hosted a NAIDOC Week celebration at the Stephenson Avenue Extension project site office on Friday morning.

The occasion featured a powerful Welcome to Country and cultural session by Noongar language teacher, Jayden Boundry.

The interactive session explored local language, dreaming stories and the importance of truth-telling — all framed within this year’s NAIDOC theme of “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy – 50 Years of NAIDOC Week.”

“Today was a really special opportunity to celebrate NAIDOC Week here at the S2M Project office,” said IPS Executive Director and Noongar man, Cameron Wood.

“We had Jayden Boundry come out to share cultural knowledge, and we explored language, connection to Country, and the significance of NAIDOC."

"It was a chance to bring the team together — to connect over food and conversation and reflect on the importance of Aboriginal history and identity.”

The event was held at the office site of the Stephenson Avenue Extension infrastructure project, which is delivering a new connection from Cedric Street to Scarborough Beach Road.

The project includes an interchange at Mitchell Freeway with a southbound Smart Freeway on-ramp and new local road links to Ellen Stirling Boulevard — a critical piece of Perth’s transport puzzle aimed at easing congestion and improving access in the northern corridor.

As part of its partnership on the project, IPS provides end-to-end support across three pillars: Aboriginal Workforce Activations, Aboriginal Engagement, and Aboriginal Procurement.

In Workforce Activations, IPS supports culturally safe recruitment, employment programs and mentoring, while helping subcontractors meet Aboriginal participation targets.

In Engagement, the team works closely with Elders and cultural consultants to embed cultural awareness across the project.

Through Procurement, IPS connects contractors with Aboriginal businesses in construction, helping deliver real economic impact in line with the Indigenous Participation Policy (IPP).

“There are so many incredible Aboriginal businesses working in infrastructure,” Wood said.
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It’s been a privilege to help this project connect with them — and to support long-term, meaningful inclusion at every level.”

Jayden’s session highlighted the role of language in respect and reconciliation.

“I live for the day I walk into Bunnings or a coffee shop and hear someone greet me with ‘Kaya’ ('hello' in Noongar),” he told the team.

“Language is a part of our identity — it’s how we’ve spoken to country forever, and we should still be using it."

"It’s a simple way to show respect and grow together.”

He also spoke about the importance of truth-telling in building understanding and trust.

“If you went to school here, you probably didn’t learn much about the real history of this land,” he said.

“We learned about atrocities overseas but swept our own under the rug."

"We have to talk about what happened here so we can heal — that’s what truth-telling is.”

Jayden closed by sharing stories connected to the land, explaining how the footprints of spirit ancestors shaped country — and how those ancient song lines still influence the rhythms of place today.

“There are spots across this country where you just feel good — because they’ve been places of gathering, ceremony and healing for tens of thousands of years,” he said.

“When each of us brings our puzzle piece, we create something powerful together.”

Staff at IPS Management Consultants swapped their keyboards for paintbrushes today as part of a NAIDOC Week celebration that brought culture, creativity and community into focus.

The Aboriginal art session, led by respected Aboriginal Hall of Fame Artist Lesley Murray, alongside three other Aboriginal artists and storytellers, tied into this year’s NAIDOC Week theme — “The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy – 50 Years of NAIDOC Week.”

“We’ve come together to make sure everyone has a positive experience with Aboriginal art,” Ms Murray said.

“This session was about finding togetherness and continuing our journey towards reconciliation.”

“The ultimate objective today was for everyone to reflect on their legacy — their connection to culture and what message they want to bring into the world for their family and community.”

NAIDOC, which stands for National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee, began as a movement in the 1930s, when Aboriginal leaders organised the Day of Mourning to protest the treatment and exclusion of First Nations people.
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By the 1970s, it had evolved into a week-long celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements, recognised across Australia.

At the IPS-led art session, the focus was on creative expression and cultural healing — a chance to pause and step away from technology to reconnect with self and story.

“I use art with my children — it’s where I can ground myself,” said IPS Aboriginal staff Shaquille McKenzie.

“It’s a way to get away from everything going on in life and just sit, reflect, and think about growing up and where I’ve come from.”

“I’m really enjoying it and loving the fact that we’re all doing this together.”

​The session explored the significance of art as a way of imparting knowledge around Aboriginal culture.

It also touched on the ongoing inter-generational trauma of the Stolen Generations and reflected on how art can serve as a healing and educational tool — fostering deeper connection, intergenerational dialogue, and cultural continuity.

“We only get one week a year to celebrate our culture, but we walk in our shoes every day,” said Ms Murray.

“Events like this help people reconnect — not just with culture, but with their inner child."

​"It helps us reset, cope better, and support our mental health.”

IPS Executive Director, Cameron Wood (above photo, left), a Noongar man, said the event was a valuable way to strengthen team bonding and deepen cultural awareness.

“We were very privileged to hear from some of our Elders,” he said.

“It was inspiring — not just to listen, but to express ourselves through art.”
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"It was a really powerful way of bringing the team together.”
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At IPS, we believe in walking alongside people, businesses, and communities to create better futures.

Over the years, our work has evolved - growing deeper in impact, broader in scope, and more targeted in purpose.

To reflect this journey and sharpen how we communicate our value, we’re proud to unveil our rebranded services.

This rebrand is more than a visual refresh - it’s a strategic realignment that ensures our services continue to meet the needs of our partners, across sectors and systems, in a rapidly changing world.

Why We Rebranded

Our purpose at IPS has always been clear: to empower people to thrive on their own terms.

As our team and partnerships grew, so too did the diversity of services we offered. But we heard from our clients that navigating those services wasn’t always easy.

That’s why we’ve streamlined and restructured our offerings - to be more accessible, intuitive, and impact-driven.

Introducing the New IPS Services:

🔹 Leadership & Peak Performance
🔹 Workforce Transformation
🔹 Small Business Support
🔹 NDIS Support Services
🔹 First Nations Advisory
🔹 Insights & Impact
🔹 Project Strategy & Delivery
🔹 Power & Innovation
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Driving Australia’s clean energy transition and emerging industries through advisory, partnerships, and innovative support.

At IPS, we know that great leadership doesn’t just happen—it’s developed, nurtured, and continuously refined.

That’s why we’re proud to deliver programs that go beyond theory and create real, lasting impact across organisations and communities.

Executive Lead Jeremy Sorenson (below photo) has been working closely with the Public Transport Authority (PTA) to deliver the First Level Leadership Program—a targeted initiative designed to strengthen leadership capability at the State transport agency.

The goal? To build high-performing teams that drive better outcomes not just within PTA, but for the Western Australian public who rely on its services every day.

“The program is all about improving the effectiveness of leaders,” Jeremy explains.

“By equipping people with the skills to lead themselves and their teams more effectively, we can make a real difference—both in the workplace and beyond.”

The program begins with a diagnostic assessment, helping participants identify their individual strengths and areas for growth.

Through a series of workshops spread over four months, emerging leaders are guided to reflect on their leadership approach, challenge their assumptions, and develop practical strategies they can implement immediately.

One of the core focuses is on “leading self”—a concept Jeremy believes has transformational power.

“It doesn’t just change how you work; it changes how you live,” he says.

The program’s structure encourages long-term, systemic change.

By replicating the training with multiple cohorts over several years, IPS helps PTA build a critical mass of skilled leaders capable of positively influencing organisational culture.
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“That’s how culture shifts—in a real and sustainable way,” says Jeremy.