A NEW Indigenous brand of bottled water has been made available to all WA mine sites.
Yurrama Water has been developed by the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation (AAC), an organisation which finds and creates culturally appropriate employment, education and training opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Pilbara.
Sodexo, world leader in quality of life services, has made a commitment to progress the brand concept through the development and production stages.
Yurrama Water was officially launched in February and will be available in 600ml and 1.5L bottles.
In line with AAC’s mission, the sales from Yurrama Water will fund Indigenous youth employment programs in the Pilbara and provide an increase in Indigenous employment opportunities.
Sodexo indigenous and community general manager Sean Armistead said an important focus for the business was to build long-term business connections that produce sustainable outcomes.
“We know that through supporting Yurrama Water and, more broadly, creating a partnership with AAC, Sodexo is enabling an increase in Indigenous employment and spend,” he said.
The brand’s namesake is an Aboriginal term for a small soak dug near a dry, stagnant or contaminated water source.
The sand in the earth acts as a filter to produce clear and drinkable water.
Indigenous people have passed down the technique of digging a yurrama for thousands of years as a means of collecting clean water from harsh landscapes.
Further to employment service programs in the Pilbara, AAC owns and operates a number of enterprises, including Ashoil, Ashmulla Pastoral Company, Onslow Tyres and Mechanical Services and Ashburton Distribution and Logistics.
Sodexo’s ongoing partnership with AAC has seen the growth of its fresh oil sales and maintenance of its biodiesel production through provision of raw materials.
AC director Gayden Carey said that through the various enterprises that have been established by AAC, like Yurrama Water, many Indigenous people began to find their place in corporate Australia.
“Sodexo provided the business partnership needed for Yurrama Water to become commercially viable,” he said.
