Indigenous construction company TVN On-Country has enhanced its reputation in Australia's defence industry.

The Wodonga-based commercial business was named Estate and Infrastructure Business of the Year at the recent Australian Defence Industry Awards 2023.

TVN On-Country managing director and proud Wiradjuri man Jebb Hutchison said staff at the company were thrilled to win the prestigious award against stiff competition, including Serco Australia, Ventia and Downer Defence.

"We were up against some huge corporate organisations who have hundreds of employees and are established names in the Australian fefence industry," he said on Thursday.

"We are a regionally-based business, just five years old; we have a team of 50 people, so this is a mighty achievement for us."

The nationwide awards recognise outstanding individuals and businesses that positively shape the development of Australia's defence sector.

TVN On-Country's win continues its burgeoning reputation in the competitive defence industry since launch. It was also a finalist for SME of the Year and in 2021 and 2022 was named regional business of the year by the Kinaway Indigenous Chamber of Commerce.

Equality and opportunity are key values at the company, which creates pipelines for Indigenous talent to prosper through traineeships and cadetships for youth, and up-skilling other Indigenous business partners involved in the defense sector.

TVN On-Country is currently knee deep delivering the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence, on Yorta Yorta Country in Shepparton, the biggest project in Victoria ever awarded to a First Nations company that will further benefit Indigenous workers.

The Victorian Government and University of Melbourne have invested $36 million into the state-of-the-art, Aboriginal-led educational, sporting, cultural and community centre, with project work under way and construction due to end in 2024.

Mr Hutchison said TVN On-Country would spend 10 per cent of the project cost with other First Nations companies as part of the company's focus to go above and beyond engaging Indigenous businesses and employees.

The Australian Defence Industry Awards comprised more than 200 defence industry stakeholders, from executives and scientists to technicians and academics, with Ukraine Ambassador to Australia H.E. Vasyl Myroshnychenko delivering the ceremony's welcome address at the National Convention Centre in Canberra.

Mr Hutchison paid tribute to TVN On-Country's workforce, which includes ADF veterans and Indigenous trainees, for their hard work and dedication to the company and its goals.

Other notable winners at the defence awards included Luke Taylor from Intract Australia, named Indigenous Defence Leader of the Year, while Biodiversity Australia was named Indigenous Business of the Year.

Click here for the full list of individual and group finalists and winners.