Glencore Coal and Indigenous-owned Diversified Building Services (DBS) have partnered to expand its Indigenous employment pathways program in central Queensland.
The program, starting in February 2020, aims to provide employment opportunities for 20 Indigenous Australians with connections to the land close to several Glencore coal operations.
The program is built on a successful pilot pathways program conducted this year, which resulted in eights Indigenous participants finding employment.
Approvals and cultural heritage manager for Glencore Coal said the program will be based in the Bowen Basin townships of Tieri and Glenden, close to the company’s Oaky Creek Coal, Newlands, and Hail Creek coal operations.
Successful applicants will participate in a 26-week training and work experience program, where participants will complete a certificate II in surface extraction, along with paid work experience and further training across various sites.
QRC chief executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector had a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australian to make meaningful strides towards the Closing the Gap targets.
“Last year Indigenous employment grew by 11 per cent in the resources sector. The resources sector is committed to doing even more to extend economic opportunities to First Nations people, and we hope to see other sectors join us with the same goal,” Macfarlane said.
“The resources sector is one of only two sectors in Queensland with a genuine representation of Indigenous employees. Indigenous people comprise 4 per cent of the state’s workforce in resources and Queensland’s Indigenous population is 4 per cent.
“As a sector that largely operates in regional and remote communities with high Indigenous populations, our sector has a unique opportunity to be a leader in Indigenous employment.”