Driving change through leadership

After the end of another gruelling night shift, Joel Blanco was finally on his way home. He’d been working as an underground coal miner for 16 years, and the monotony was getting to him.

“I’m a sole owner and have come from a big family - my grandfather had 14 kids. So being able to have robust, respectful conversations and then sit down at the dinner table and push it all aside is something that we firmly believe in.”

Joel drove along the Goonyella Riverside Road, through the Bowen Basin in central Queensland – a route he’d taken a thousand times.

But on this morning – March 22, 2022 – Joel fell asleep at the wheel.

“I swerved, hit a bridge and rolled my car into oncoming traffic,” he says.

Incredibly, Joel managed to climb out of his car unaided and no one else was injured. While he counts himself lucky, Joel’s injuries were significant, and he required multiple surgeries.

A turning point

A month after the accident, Joel was still unable to work. While he was on the mend physically, and grateful for the support his employer had given him during this challenging period – mentally – the father of seven was shot.

“It almost killed me,” he admits.

But something changed one afternoon

“My oldest son came home one day and said, “Dad, get off the couch, pick your lip up, and brush yourself off. We’ve got no one else.””

It was a moment Joel describes as “one of the biggest turning points” in his life.

Slowly but surely, the 43-year-old got back on his feet, with the help of his family.

“I raised young gentleman with good work ethics,” he says.

Joel also took important steps to heal.

“My accident aged me, but it also made me go back to my roots. I went back home to country, went back home to my grandfather.”

And time out of the workforce sharpened his dreams for the future.

“I just got to work. I started networking and I had a vision,” says Joel, “I had lots of good networks from being in the mines for 16 years, so I thought I’d start my own business.”

Ternary Group and its people

Joel is now director and founder of Ternary Group – a one hundred per cent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned company leading innovative solutions in civil works, environmental remediation, respiratory protection, modular building, machinery and industrial supply.

They work on large-scale projects across the country and aim to maintain an 80 per cent Indigenous workforce.

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Ternary Group employees, Ruhkoa Ahmat Nona and Suwani Nona

Since its inception in 2022, Ternary Group has not only grown its client base, but its staff profile – and it’s the latter Joel is most proud of.

He recalls a peculiar phone call he received in Ternary’s early days.

“It was a detective from Bulimba (in Brisbane’s east) Police Station. He asked if I’d accept a call from a young bloke I used to work with years ago.”

Joel agreed to take the call. It was another sliding doors moment.

“I went and picked him up from the police station that day. He hasn’t left my side ever since,” says Joel.

After a rough start, the young man is now one of Joel’s finest employees.

“He’s running a $9 million job in Launceston (Tasmania) as a fully qualified project manager,” Joel explains.

Ternary Group is full of similar stories.

“We’ve got three good, young boys from the Torres Straits. English is their third language,” says Joel, “but they wanted an opportunity. They’re now driving machinery and are a big part of helping us achieve.”

Like every business, Ternary Group has had its challenges.

“Have we had some hiccups? Absolutely,” admits Joel.

“I’m a sole owner and have come from a big family - my grandfather had 14 kids. So being able to have robust, respectful conversations and then sit down at the dinner table and push it all aside is something that we firmly believe in,” he says.

Strength through collaboration

Indigenous Business Month celebrates and showcases Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses, highlighting their innovation, excellence, economic independence and self-determination.

Joel is proud to be featured.

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Ternary Group employee, Ruhkoa Ahmat Nona

“Yes, we have runs on the board. I’m not going to say our job is done, but we're guiding people in the right direction,” says Joel.

Over the past two years, Ternary Group’s relationship with ANZ has been crucial.

“Dave (Dunne) and the team, I can reach out to them at any point in time and their support has been unbelievable,” says Joel.

Almost four years since his accident, Joel has a new lease on life.

“If I didn't have a crash, I'd probably be still sitting in the mines… not having a purpose.” he says.

“It's given me a purpose. I've created change, made a difference and it makes me happy,” smiles Joel.

Alicia Muling is a Senior Writer at ANZ.