BMA’s indigenous recruitment strategy has a target of at least 5% indigenous people across its operations, and indigenous people now make up 44 percent of the company’s trainee intake.
Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Curtis Pitt presented the award last night, also announcing $100,000 funding for the continuation of a government/industry indigenous employment program.
The funding for 12 months is being matched by the QRC for the program, which began in 2007 when it signed a memorandum of understanding with the government.
QRC CEO Michael Roche said the group’s second annual survey of members confirmed a total of 995 full-time indigenous employees in the resources sector the end of 2014, compared with 802 the previous year.
“Almost 90% of those surveyed reported the MoU had increased the likelihood that their company would invest more effort and resources into indigenous participation strategies, while just over 70% of companies told us they had employed more indigenous people and businesses because of the MoU,” Roche said.
“The awards presented tonight pay further tribute to the progress in indigenous employment, which came in the wake of the MoU.
“These awards play an important part in increasing the diversity of our resources sector workforce, and recognising and encouraging participation by indigenous people.
“They promote and celebrate leading practice indigenous employment and training achievements in the resources sector and are presented during Reconciliation Week to showcase ingenious people as role models and ambassadors for the sector.”
BMA head of human resources Sonia Lewis said the indigenous employment at the company’s Daunia Mine had already reached 4.75% and she was confident that other operations would also soon come close to their target.
“A key aspect of the strategy was direct engagement by the BMA recruitment team with indigenous people, including traditional owner groups across south east Queensland and the Cairns region, Lewis said.
“BMA is committed to hands-on implementation of its indigenous recruitment strategy, to fully integrate it into mainstream recruitment practices and for it to be recognised as creating real value and not merely as an add-on.
“There has been a quantum shift in how indigenous recruitment is viewed. Supervisors and managers who have come into contact, and worked with indigenous recruits are keen to recruit more.
“The impact has been immediate and bodes well for the continued development and expansion of BMA’s indigenous workforce.”
About 200 people attended the awards ceremony, opened with a welcome to country by indigenous Songwoman Maroochy Barambah.
Further awards
Two Brisbane men were also recognised for their advocacy for the employment of indigenous people in Queensland’s resources sector in the annual Queensland Resources Council Indigenous Awards.
The Treasurer also jointly presented BHP Coal community manager Paul Travers and Origin’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy and Engagement Advisor Matthew Ralph with the award for Indigenous Advocacy Champion.
Ralph’s previous roles with the Queensland government and his current role have given him the opportunity to engage directly with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations across Queensland.
He highlighted the opportunities for indigenous people to work in the resources sector and aim to break down attitudinal barriers that have prevented many indigenous people from considering the resources sector as a career.
Travers, who has more than 20 years in the indigenous advocacy arena in government and private enterprise, has provided extensive support for the recognition of indigenous peoples in Queensland through legislative and workplace change.
“My key driver has been to recognise and smash the stereotypes non-indigenous people have about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, ensuring conversations are had on the basis of mutual respect and understanding and ensuring indigenous people are given the opportunity to succeed in their chosen field,” Travers said.
