FIRST NATIONS ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGIC ADVISORY

One Ground offers First Nations-led Indigenous Engagement and Advisory, working across corporate, infrastructure, government and workforce sectors.

Practical. Accountable. Culturally Grounded.

We partner with organisations seeking to strengthen their Indigenous engagement capability, deepen community relationships, and deliver measurable employment and participation outcomes.

Led by Co-Founder Ray Thompson, a Torres Strait Islander man with extensive experience across community, performance, and workforce systems, One Ground works at the intersection of culture, strategy and operational delivery.

❋ Indigenous Engagement Strategy & Community Partnerships
❋ Indigenous Employment & Participation Pathways
❋ RAP Activation & Organisational Alignment
❋ Cultural Capability & Leadership Advisory

We help organisations move beyond intention -
into meaningful, accountable action.

Why Organisations Engage One Ground

All sectors. genuine engagement.

Across Australia, organisations are facing:

  • Increased regulatory and public expectations for genuine First Nations engagement

  • Heightened accountability around Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs)

  • Complex stakeholder landscapes in regional and remote communities

  • Greater scrutiny on Indigenous employment, procurement and participation outcomes

  • Internal capability gaps at executive and operational levels

Indigenous engagement is no longer reputational: it is strategic, operational and risk-sensitive.

Organisations require advisory that is culturally credible, commercially aware and governance-aligned.

our advisory services

  • We design structured engagement strategies that align cultural protocols with organisational governance and delivery timelines.

    Our work includes:

    • Development of Indigenous engagement strategies

    • Stakeholder and community mapping

    • Regional engagement frameworks for infrastructure and operational projects

    • Governance alignment and cultural advisory structures

    • Facilitation of respectful, structured consultation processes

    We build engagement models that are scalable, defensible and community-informed.

  • RAP commitments require operational discipline to achieve measurable outcomes.

    We support organisations to:

    • Translate RAP commitments into executable implementation plans

    • Strengthen executive and board-level oversight

    • Align internal governance and reporting structures

    • Develop measurable accountability frameworks

    • Build cultural capability across leadership and middle management

    We translate policy and commitment into structured, measurable action.

  • Economic participation is central to sustainable partnership.

    We design and advise on:

    • Indigenous employment activation models

    • Pre-employment and pathway programs

    • Supplier diversity and procurement frameworks

    • Community-to-work transition systems

    • Employer readiness and onboarding capability

    Our approach integrates employment systems, operational requirements and community realities, ensuring outcomes are viable and retained.

  • Cultural confidence must exist at leadership level to create genuine impact.

    We provide:

    • Executive and board-level advisory

    • Leadership intensives and capability programs

    • Site-based cultural alignment workshops

    • Strategic support during high-risk stakeholder environments

    • Community interface advisory and conflict resolution

    This strengthens leadership decision-making in culturally sensitive and high-exposure contexts.

Enquire Now

about Ray

founder & director | First Nations Engagement & Strategic Advisor

Ray Thompson is a Torres Strait Islander man and Founder and Director of One Ground, bringing cultural leadership, lived experience and operational expertise to Indigenous engagement and strategic advisory across sectors.

Supported by his business management team, Ray’s work sits at the cross-section of community, workforce systems and executive decision-making. He is recognised for his ability to navigate stakeholder environments and cultural integrity, while maintaining commercial and community insight .

With extensive experience across employment activation, performance environments and leadership development, Ray understands the realities of both community engagement and organisational accountability. His background enables him to bridge cultural expectations with governance requirements, ensuring engagement strategies are both respectful and executable.

Ray’s leadership ensures One Ground’s advisory is grounded in lived cultural experience, not theory - and delivered with the operational discipline required in corporate, infrastructure and government environments.

More about Ray

FAQs

How do we work?

We operate as both strategic advisor and delivery partner, ensuring momentum is maintained.

Listen
Understand regional context, stakeholders and organisational readiness.

Align
Develop strategy, governance frameworks and operational realities.

Activate
Deliver advisory, facilitation and program implementation.

Embed
Transfer capability and ensure continuity beyond engagement.

Sectors we work with

We’re highly experienced in community contexts and ensure our approach is relevant to your industry needs.

  1. Employment Services & Workforce Programs

  2. Infrastructure & Utilities

  3. Construction & Resources

  4. Corporate & Private Enterprise

  5. Government & Community Organisations

What makes you different?

We bridge community, leadership and operational reality.

  • Proven First Nations leadership and cultural credibility

  • Led by our co-founder Ray Thompson

  • Regional credibility, particularly across Queensland

  • Deep experience navigating employment and performance systems

  • Practical understanding of operational environments

  • Ability to bridge community expectations and corporate accountability.

Get in Touch

Let us know how we can help.

What people are saying

  • "At first I was unsure how I was going to feel but once I done the first day it felt like a safe place. Everybody listened. It was really good I do recommend it."

    Participant from our Yarn’N’Grow Fortitude Valley Program

  • "It was great doing this course and listening to the stories of other people and how they've overcome their struggles. Would highly recommend this course to people" -

    Participant from our Yarn’N’Grow Gympie Program

  • "The Yarn n Grow program was a very enjoyable experience and the trainers were very honest, open and helpful. I would definitely recommend it to everyone"

    Participant from our Yarn’N’Grow Cherbourg Program

  • "Was enjoyable and improved my  thoughts and mindful of many of us how small or large we can be in life can be a challenge.  We need to remind ourselves to please oneself rather than others because we are important and the joys of others will follow not what they expect of us. We  need to work on ourselves to help others in the long run which we excel in our own right"

    Participant from our Yarn’N’Grow Ipswich Program

  • "At first I was unsure how I was going to feel but once I done the first day it felt like a safe place. Everybody listened. It was really good I do recommend it."

    Participant from our Yarn’N’Grow Fortitude Valley Program

  • "What I love most is the flexibility. I can go at my own pace, revisit lessons, and keep learning whenever it works for me."

    Former Customer

  • "Even as a total beginner, I never felt lost. The step-by-step structure and encouragement along the way made all the difference."

    Former Customer

  • "This has been such a worthwhile investment in myself."

    Former Customer

How It Works

  • Browse our upcoming events to find the one that feels right for you. We host events year-round in all different locations and climates.

  • Sign up and pay all required fees to reserve your spot. If plans change, you can cancel up to 14 days before the retreat start to receive a 50% refund.

  • After booking, we'll send you a Welcome Packet with everything you need to know—detailed schedules, packing list recommendations, add-ons to consider, and more.

  • We'd recommend booking your transportation to and from the event as soon as possible, to ensure you can arrive without any complications or delays.

  • Now all that's left to do is pack your bags and get excited for your new adventure.

Book Your Stay

Register