A 100 percent genuine Indigenous-owned civil construction company has taken two giant steps forward.

Darwin-based AKJ Services, which was founded by Jessie Risk and her partner Antal Reti in 2018, has added development and building to its capabilities – and in a big way.

The company has formed a partnership with another iconic Northern Territory business, the Halkitis Brothers Group, to develop a new housing estate on the outskirts of Darwin.

The Parks, which covers 46.5 hectares in Litchfield adjacent to the Palmerston Regional Hospital, will deliver more than 540 homes over the next few years.

Work will create hundreds of jobs and award lucrative contracts to dozens of local subcontractors.

Ten percent of the multi-million-dollar development will be open space, including a high-quality playground, a kickabout oval, dog park and walking tracks, creating interconnectivity throughout the estate.

Stage 1 is already on sale with prices starting from $189,000 for 360 square metre blocks, making it the lowest-priced housing development in Greater Darwin.

The sales for Stage 1 have gone very well and Stage 2 is expected to go on sale soon.

Jessie, who is part of a large and respected Indigenous Territory family, is pleased that the below-average cost of land will enable more people to enter into the housing market.

And she is delighted that the long-term contract will enable AKJ to enhance its training program for young Indigenous and non-Indigenous Territorians.

“We want to help young people get into well-paid, fulfilling jobs in the construction industry,” she says. “We’re passionate about that.”

AKJ proudly invests in the future of the Northern Territory by hosting its self-funded annual Trade Day, a vibrant, hands-on event connecting students with real-world opportunities in civil construction. 

Designed to inspire and empower, the Trade Day opens meaningful pathways from school to work experience, apprenticeships and long-term careers in the local industry. 

The program works with Clontarf and Stars, not-for-profit organisations working to “close the gap” through education, discipline, life skills, self-esteem and employment prospects for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander boys and girls. 

“This contract has given the company stability of work, which means we can really concentrate on giving more young Territorians a chance in life. We want them to get a feel for the industry, whether it’s working directly for us or with our subcontractors. 

“There’s a shortage of skilled workers in the industry and this is a great training opportunity. 

“Training young people has always been one of our key goals. We’re passionate about investing in our own people.” 

AKJ, which employs nearly 100 staff and only uses local subcontractors, is continuing its growth in the building construction division of its business. 

The company has successfully completed a remote housing sub-division at Galiwin’ku in Arnhem Land as a part of reducing overcrowding and health issues, an initiative being rolled out by the Northern Territory Government. 

And it has successfully been awarded to be on a panel contract for the Territory Government to install modular housing in remote Indigenous communities. 

“We recognise that housing is a big problem in remote communities and we want to help solve that crisis,” Jessie says. “We know that there is a need to get the job done quickly and to the highest standards. We want to deliver homes that are designed culturally appropriate for our people. 

“There needs to be a sense of urgency. We feel proud and a sense of relief knowing that there are families already moving into housing built on the subdivision we constructed at Galiwin’ku, alleviating some of the overcrowding issues.” 

AKJ has also been successful in the growing Defence industry – it has carried out more than $100 million worth of work for the Department of Defence – and is eager to move into the oil and gas industry. 

Jessie admits that surviving and thriving in business is often tough and always tiring – but hugely rewarding.