BarayamalA measurable commitment to First Nations economic participation. Starting at 3%.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 3.8% of Australia’s population, yet First Nations businesses and founders still face structural barriers to capital, procurement, lending and investment. The 3% Pledge sets a clear minimum benchmark: dedicate at least 3% of relevant investment, lending, procurement, opportunities or visibility to genuine First Nations businesses and communities. This is not charity — it is an accountability framework.
The gap, in one chart
$45B+ — 3% of funds under management across the listed super funds below. Australia’s super system holds about $4.4T; 3% of APRA-regulated assets alone is roughly $94B.
Every organisation has a 3% to give
The pledge began with venture capital in 2020, expanded to superannuation and the banks, and now applies to any organisation. Choose the doorway that matches your balance sheet — then commit to a staged pathway toward 3%.
Investment
Work toward 3% of funds under management supporting First Nations businesses — a natural next step beyond your RAP.
3% of FUMCapital
Work toward 3% of committed capital backing Indigenous ventures and founders, reported annually.
3% of the fundLending
Set 3% investment and lending targets for Indigenous economic development across your book.
3% of lendingSpend & visibility
Dedicate 3% of procurement, opportunities or visibility to First Nations people and businesses.
3% of spendWhere the institutions stand
Publicly tracked, updated as commitments land. A Reconciliation Action Plan is noted — but only a pledge with a number counts as pledged.
Superannuation funds
3% of listed funds’ FUM ≈ $45B+| Fund | FUM (approx.) | 3% commitment | Status | Channels | Do Gooder action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AustralianSuper | $410B+ | $12.3B+ | Invitation open | Tweet AustralianSuper → | |
| Australian Retirement Trust | $370B+ | $11.1B+ | Invitation open | Tweet ART → | |
| Aware Super | $210B | $6.3B | Invitation open | Tweet Aware Super → | |
| UniSuper | $166B | $5.0B | Invitation open | Tweet UniSuper → | |
| Hostplus | $134.5B | $4.0B | Invitation open | Tweet Hostplus → | |
| HESTA | $105B+ | $3.2B+ | Invitation open | Post about HESTA → | |
| Rest Super | $105B | $3.2B | RAP, no pledge | Tweet Rest Super → |
Figures are indicative, based on the latest publicly available fund-reported figures at time of review; where a fund reports “over” or “approximately”, we apply the same wording and calculate 3% on the stated figure. Final amounts are confirmed with each organisation at onboarding. See the open letter.
Venture capital firms
Median funding to Indigenous ventures: $0| Firm | Reported capital / portfolio scale | 3% illustration | Status | Channels | Do Gooder action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blackbird Venturesportfolio value, not fund size | $9.9B* | $297M | Invitation open | Tweet Blackbird → | |
| Square Peg Capital | US$3B | US$90M | Invitation open | Tweet Square Peg → | |
| AirTree Ventures | $2.0B | $60M | Invitation open | Tweet AirTree → | |
| Main Sequence | $1.0B+ | $30M+ | Invitation open | Tweet Main Sequence → | |
| OneVentures | $1.0B+ | $30M+ | Invitation open | Tweet OneVentures → |
*Blackbird’s $9.9B is reported portfolio value, not committed fund size; figures mix AUD and USD as reported (USD marked) and are illustrative only. Context: the $0-median press release and SmartCompany’s coverage.
Banks
3% of investment & lending for Indigenous economic development| Bank | Reconciliation position | Status | Channels | Do Gooder action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANZ$240M penalty in 2025 — 3% could fund building instead of fines | RAP in place | RAP, no pledge | Tweet ANZ → | |
| Commonwealth Bank | RAP in place | RAP, no pledge | Tweet CommBank → | |
| Westpac | Stretch RAP 2025–2028 | RAP, no pledge | Tweet Westpac → | |
| NAB | RAP in place | RAP, no pledge | Tweet NAB → | |
| Macquarie Group | RAP in place | RAP, no pledge | Tweet Macquarie → |
Anyone can act: email a big bank with a pre-written message in two minutes.
What a 3% commitment delivers
Five outcomes, straight from Barayamal’s open letter to Australia’s superannuation funds.
Stronger, more sustainable returns
Backing organisations that prioritise social and environmental results alongside financial performance.
Culturally appropriate employment
Enabling Indigenous Australians trapped in poverty to establish prosperous futures for themselves and their communities.
Direct community impact
Investment drives business expansion and job creation in regional and remote areas as well as cities.
Environmental stewardship
Indigenous-led stewardship is strongly linked to protecting Country, biodiversity and long-term environmental management.
Closing the gap
An enormous contribution to closing the wealth gap — actively helping to decolonise wealth in Australia.
A story worth telling
30,000 years of innovation — the world’s first bakers, the oldest aquaculture at Budj Bim, David Unaipon on the $50 note. Your members will get it.
Three steps to a public commitment
Commit
Board-level sign-off on a staged pathway toward 3% of relevant investment, lending, procurement, opportunities or visibility.
Publish
Announce the target and baseline publicly. We list your organisation in the pledge directory above.
Report
Share progress annually against the 3% Pledge impact measurement framework — independently visible, RAP-compatible.
Individuals: you don’t need a boardroom. Historical Super Fund petition, email a bank, or join the selfie wall.
Request a confidential scoping call
A 30-minute call to define your baseline, eligible asset classes, tier and first-year reporting pathway. We confirm scope, then list your organisation in the directory above.
Request a scoping call Choose a Do Gooder action Prefer email? Write to d.foley@barayamal.com — we confirm scope, baseline and directory listing.Pledge tiers
Start where you are and climb. Every tier is public, baselined and reported annually against a clear starting point.
Publish your baseline and a 12-month target.
Reach 1% of relevant investment, lending, procurement or visibility.
Reach the full 3% benchmark.
Exceed 3%, with independent annual reporting.
What counts — and who checks
Pledges count spend and investment directed to businesses that are at least 51% First Nations owned and controlled (consistent with the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy) or ORIC-registered, with Supply Nation or community verification where relevant. Genuine ownership, not black cladding. Progress is reported annually against a clear baseline and made independently visible via IndigiReviews.
Claims get scored. Pledges get counted.
Barayamal’s ReconciliACTION board already rates 190+ organisations on whether their reconciliation claims hold up. The 3% Pledge plugs into the same accountability engine — via IndigiReviews — so a pledge is never just a press release.
Browse the ReconciliACTION scoresFAQ
Why exactly 3%?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 3.8% of Australia’s population (ABS, 2021). 3% is a clear minimum benchmark and it mirrors the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Procurement Policy, which sets a 3% target from 1 July 2025, rising toward 4% by 2030. The pledge extends that same, already-accepted benchmark to capital, lending, procurement and visibility.
Is this charity?
No — it’s an accountability framework and an investment thesis. Organisations that prioritise social and environmental outcomes alongside financial performance can build stronger, more sustainable returns, and Indigenous-led stewardship is strongly linked to protecting Country, biodiversity and long-term environmental management. See the capital constraints research.
We already have a Reconciliation Action Plan.
Good — the 3% Pledge is the natural next step. A RAP states intent; the pledge attaches a number, a baseline and annual reporting. No Australian super fund with a RAP has yet publicly committed to investing directly in Indigenous businesses.
How is progress measured?
Through the 3% Pledge impact measurement framework, with annual public reporting and independent visibility via IndigiReviews and the ReconciliACTION scores. Read the framework.
What counts as a First Nations business?
At least 51% First Nations owned and controlled, consistent with the Commonwealth Indigenous Procurement Policy, or an ORIC-registered corporation — with Supply Nation or community verification where relevant. Genuine ownership, not black cladding. Barayamal can help verify during onboarding; see Dean Foley on black cladding.
3% is where reconciliation
becomes arithmetic.
Institutions: request a scoping call to define your baseline and pathway. Individuals: take a 60-second action. Either way, you move the number.