Tiwi Islands

A collaboration between Tiwi Port and Marine, Department of Defence and Viva Energy.

In December 2024, Viva Energy Australia announced an important collaboration with both Tiwi Port and Marine Pty Ltd and the Department of Defence to ensure ongoing operations of the Melville Island Fuel Facility.

The 30-million-litre fuel facility, located 80 km north of Darwin, plays a critical role supporting various industries in the region whilst also enhancing fuel capability and resilience for Defence.

Through this partnership, Tiwi Port and Marine (an Indigenous led organisation), will take over the port operations (which was previously at risk of closing) to the benefit of the local community.

The deal involves Viva Energy having a long-term exclusive licence to run the fuel facility, providing certainty for this crucial port business activity, supported by a storage agreement with Defence.

While this commercial deal will benefit all parties, self-determination has been a core consideration in its development. The partnership has allowed Tiwi Port and Marine to acquire the overall port facility, with a portion of future storage revenue going directly to the Tiwi-led organisation once a certain level of storage is achieved.

Melville

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative

In March 2024, Viva Energy launched a three-year community partnership to help connect First Nations families living in Wathaurong’s region, by funding a local bus to provide access to health, education and cultural services.

Viva Energy is enabling Wathaurong to improve access to health and community services by facilitating the purchase and covering the operating costs of patient transport and a community bus. This service provides vital patient transport for First Nations people in the greater Geelong region, including Colac, Lorne, Portarlington, Ocean Grove, Little River, and Werribee. The community bus will enable First Nations residents to participate in a range of cultural activities ranging from on Country visits, community events and Sorry Business (funerals). It is anticipated that annually 1,500 First Nations people access patient transport services, and a further 2,000 First Nations People will access the community bus.

This formal partnership was developed through an ongoing relationship with Wathaurong. This includes Simon Flagg, Wathaurong’s CEO participating in Viva Energy’s RAP Working Group, a team of Viva Energy volunteers helping at the Wathaurong’s NAIDOC week events and Viva Energy sponsoring the local Aspirations and Careers Day providing the ability for 200+ First Nations school students from the Geelong region to hear about employment and education opportunities.

Watharong aboriginal co-operative

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Koorie Heritage Trust (KHT)

Since the partnership began in 2018, Viva Energy has played a key role in supporting the critical work of the KHT to protect, preserve and promote the living culture of the First Peoples of south-eastern Australia.

Since Viva Energy has been involved, it has supported the digitisation of more than 2,000 oral recordings, ensuring that Koorie history is preserved for future generations. Additionally, Viva Energy has supported 50 public events, further contributing to the preservation and celebration of First Peoples culture.

Building on the success of the existing partnership, the currnet partnership contributes to:

  • Funding the employment of indigenous people at Koorie Heritage Trust as creative practitioners, presenters and facilitators for a range of exhibitions and public programs.
  • Keeping alive Victorian First People’s culture with Viva Energy being a corporate sponsor of KHT’s annual exhibition program, supporting events including the Koorie Art Show, Blak Design, Journey Among Me and other public programs.

Koorie Heritage Trust

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