Aboriginal-owned businesses were among the major winners at the 2026 WA Social Enterprise Awards, with Kardan Construction taking the sector's top honour and two Indigenous enterprises jointly recognised for their impact in regional WA.

Kardan Construction was named WA Social Enterprise of the Year at the WA Social Enterprise Council awards in Boorloo / Perth.

The Aboriginal-owned construction company creates apprenticeship and trade pathways for First Nations people and other under-represented workers. Co-founder Frank Mitchell was previously named WA's Local Hero in the 2025 Australian of the Year Awards.

The First Nations Social Enterprise award was jointly presented to East Kimberley businesses Blak Tapas Impact Group and Wyndham Arts Collective Hub.

Aboriginal-owned Wyndham Arts Collective Hub supports local artists through workshops, exhibitions and skills development, including culturally diverse and wearable art projects using upcycled materials.

Kununurra-based Blak Tapas is an Indigenous-owned café serving bush foods, locally roasted coffee, grazing tables and picnic boxes, while creating local hospitality employment and traineeships.

Founder Temali Howard said the awards provided an opportunity to recognise work that often happened without fanfare.

"We're all just in the throes of what's going on day to day, and you know, really trying our best out there ... and we don't step back and reflect on what it is that we actually are doing," she said.

"Tonight has really given me some time to reflect on how far we've come at Black Tapas, from a very small idea."

More than 200 people attended the awards at The Westin Hotel, with Gosnells-based Sam's Spares named Emerging Social Enterprise of the Year for refurbishing donated electronics while creating paid employment for neurodivergent people.

WA Social Enterprise Council CEO Olivia Chapman said social enterprises were tackling some of the state's most significant challenges.

"We live in a wealthy state, but some of our biggest challenges are happening right here at the same time - housing issues, the cost-of-living crisis, workforce shortages, and domestic violence issues," she said.

"It's hard to believe we face these issues in a state like ours. I'm constantly amazed by our members and the wider social enterprise community, who pour every hour and every penny into building a better future for WA."