Miner helps trainer break down Indigenous employment barriers

The Coal & Allied Aboriginal Development Consultative Committee (ADCC) has approved $61,000 in funding for a Singleton training company to break down barriers to Indigenous employment.

Capability Resources Training Manager Greg Murray said the money would help recruit and train a full time Indigenous employee, benefiting both the community and the mining industry.

"Our new employee will be trained to design and deliver training programmes, in particular the Mining Industry New Employee Skills (MINES) programme, which trains employees entering the resources industry and up-skills existing employees," Mr Murray said.

"The presence of an Indigenous trainer and mentor will boost cultural awareness and provide a positive role model for prospective employees, helping us achieve our goal of 50 per cent Indigenous participation in each MINES programme.

"The ADCC's funding has been critical to this project. We are very grateful to Coal & Allied for giving Capability Resources the opportunity to take our Indigenous employment strategy a step further."

Coal & Allied Aboriginal Relations Specialist and ADCC Executive Officer Cate Sims said she was delighted to see non-Indigenous businesses taking a proactive approach to Indigenous employment.

"Capability Resources is the first non-Indigenous business that has been approved for funding from the ADCC since the committee's inception in 2006," Ms Sims said.

"Support of such initiatives allows Coal & Allied to help Indigenous people access the employment and training opportunities available to them, particularly in the lucrative mining industry."

Coal & Allied's ADCC has funded 19 projects to date, contributing more than $450,000 towards achieving improved access and sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal people in education, training, employment and economic participation.

Other 2008 projects approved by the ADCC are:
• $80,000 to the Kawal Education and Cultural Resource Centre at Singleton High school where a combination of strategies and resources will help instill educational and cultural values and a shared identity in Indigenous students and their families;
• $69,000 to not-for-profit organisation, Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation, to employ a full time coordinator to help provide outreach services, community support and employment;
• $113,000 to Mandurah Hunter Indigenous Business Chamber to conduct an employment skills and resource audit of not-for-profit groups, businesses and corporations in the local community;
• $2,500 to help an Aboriginal teacher at Muswellbrook South Primary School undertake a Masters degree in Indigenous language.

For more information about the Coal & Allied ADCC, or to apply for funding, please contact Cate Sims on 02 6570 0360.

Miner helps trainer break down Indigenous employment barriers [PDF: 28 KB]