Additional support for First Nations companies

A First Nations business is a business that is 50% or more Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander owned. 

When lodging an application for accreditation under the Scheme, applicants can indicate that their business is Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander owned. This will add you to our list of potentially eligible companies for the additional support. 

To be eligible for the fast-tracked process for First Nations businesses, the OFSC will also cross-reference the Supply Nation Indigenous Business Directory. Both 'certified' and 'registered' status on the Supply Nation register will be considered sufficient evidence. 

Working in building and construction is dangerous. Over the last 5 years, an average of 29 construction workers a year have been killed at work. 

To drive higher safety standards, when building work is funded by the Australian Government it requires the head contractor builder engaged to undertake that work to be accredited under the the Scheme (subject to certain monetary thresholds and exemptions). The Scheme requires head contractor builders to demonstrate an effective Work Health and Safety Management System (WHSMS) and on-site implementation of the system to manage construction hazards and high-risk activities.

• Builders accredited under the Scheme have lower injury frequency rates than the building and construction industry average. 
• Accredited builders pay less in workers’ compensation premium rates over time. After six years of accreditation, 61 percent of companies reduced their premiums by an average of 38 percent.  
• Accredited builders are eligible to work as head contractor on any Australian Government-funded building works.  
• Federal Safety Officers (FSOs) provide accredited builders with ongoing advice and information during audits to better improve their WHSMS and ongoing compliance with the Scheme.

Accreditation under the Scheme requires a head contractor builder to satisfy the Federal Safety Commissioner (FSC) that they have and are implementing appropriate work health and safety policies, procedures and safe work practices. This requires a head contractor builder to: 

• have a documented WHSMS
• have experience in managing construction hazards and high-risk activities
• have a positive workplace safety record with low rates of injury, particularly serious injuries
• demonstrate through an onsite audit that the head contractor builder’s documented WHSMS complies with the FSC Audit Criteria and is being implemented on a live construction project
• declare they are complying, and will comply with, the performance requirements of the National Construction Code (NCC) that relate to building materials, as specifically required by the Scheme.  

Newly accredited head contractor builders are generally accredited for 3 years. To maintain accreditation, head contractor builders must: 

• at all times have and implement appropriate WHS policies, procedures and safe work practices
• undergo regular audits to confirm ongoing compliance with the FSC Audit Criteria (audits are typically every 6-12 months)

•  report to the FSC: 

   - every 6 months on the builders’ safety performance and contracted works by submitting a Scheme Biannual Report that covers a range of project data and WHS performance indicators (such as workers’ compensation premium rates and claim incident rates) 

  - on notifiable safety incidents that occur on their projects involving their own employees and subcontractors.  

• comply with the performance requirements of the National Construction Code relating to building materials. 

For more information refer to:

• Auditing
• Accredited Company Reporting
• Formal Notification of Changes to WHS Accreditation Scheme Reporting Requirements – June 2023
• What does accreditation mean for Subcontractors?

The OFSC is committed to continuous improvement and adapting its processes to best support its audience. The interim process launched in March 2025 is a new process and the OFSC wants to ensure that the process adequately meets First Nations companies needs. 

It may therefore make some small changes to the process as time goes on to better support these businesses.