The new group has joined the site’s existing indigenous workforce, which has grown from four to 20 since January 2012 as the company seeks to source skilled labour from around the local community ahead of its extension project.

As well as a diesel fitting apprentice, the trainees will be working in a number of areas of the mine including the warehouse, the wash plant, co-disposal and surveying.

“We work hard to increase our diversity but this will require ongoing effort to meet our challenge of seeing indigenous people make up five per cent of our workforce,” Coughlan said.

“This is particularly important as we gain opportunities through our mine extension plan, which will extend the life of Kestrel mine by 20 years and increase capacity to up to 5.7 million tonnes per annum with first coal expected in 2013."

Kestrel Mine has more than 430 permanent full time employees and more than 240 contractors.

Strategies Kestrel currently uses and will continue to implement include working with the local indigenous community and also promoting indigenous opportunities at careers, fairs and community events.

“In addition to this, we offer a range of training and employment opportunities for Indigenous people through our vacation work program and graduate program,” Coughlan said.

“Creating cultural awareness and indigenous mentoring amongst our existing workforce is also part of our approach to increasing diversity, and this includes providing tool box presentations and workshops about our traditional owner agreements.

“Our commitment also extends to helping build the capacity of the indigenous community at a regional level, by working with suppliers and contractors to promote the employment of indigenous people, and supporting the development of indigenous-owned enterprises.”

Twenty-six year old warehouse trainee Garrett Malone, a Western Kangoulu traditional owner, said he grew up in Blackwater and moved to Emerald to begin his two year traineeship this year.

“I’d been looking for an opportunity to get into the mining industry so when I heard about the traineeships I decided to go for it,” Malone said.

“My role involves taking orders for new stock – anything from new machinery parts to personal protective equipment – and delivering them to the right departments on site.

“I’m developing a whole new range of skills that includes learning computer programs and software, operating machinery such as fork lifts, and working in a team environment.

“I’ve got a few cousins and an uncle who work here too and it’s great to have their encouragement and mentoring, and see that we’re helping each other and our families.

“This traineeship will provide me with a great start in the mining industry and I look forward to what the future holds at the end when I have this qualification under my belt.”