Starting in February 2020 the program aims to provide employment opportunities for 20 Indigenous Australians with connections to the land close to several Glencore coal operations.
It builds on a successful pilot Pathways Program conducted this year, which resulted in eight Indigenous participants finding employment at the end of the 26 week program, according to Queensland Glencore Coal approvals and cultural heritage manager Brian French.
"The 2020 Pathways Program encourages individuals actively seeking employment with Traditional Owners associated with our Queensland operations," he said.
"The program will be based in the Bowen Basin townships of Tieri and Glenden, close to our Oaky Creek Coal, Newlands and Hail Creek coal operations."
The successful applicants will participate in a 26 week training and work experience program.
In Phase 1, they will complete a Certificate II in Surface Extraction, delivered by selected Registered Training Organisations. In Phase 2, they will undertake paid work experience and further training, facilitated across various sites.
Participants will be supported by trained mentors at each site to help further enhance their ability to secure employment with Glencore or other employers at the program's completion.
Glencore will hold two information sessions for interested applicants: 9.30am to 1.30pm on Tuesday September 24 at the Dreamtime Centre, North Rockhampton and 9.30am to 1.30pm on Monday October 28 2019 at the CQ University Mackay City Campus.
The Queensland Resources Council said it welcomes the expansion of Glencore's Indigenous Employment Pathways Program.
QRC CEO Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector had a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for indigenous Australians.
"I'd like to congratulate Glencore for expanding this program and for partnering with the Indigenous-owned Diversified Building Services with a plan to provide employment opportunities for 20 Indigenous Australians. Economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians are essential to making meaningful strides towards the Closing the Gap targets and the resources sector had an important role to play," Macfarlane said.
"Last year Indigenous employment grew by 11% 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.
"The resources sector is one of only two sectors in Queensland with a genuine representation of Indigenous employees. Indigenous people comprise 4% of the state's workforce in resources and Queensland's Indigenous population is 4%.
"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."
