Rio Tinto and ISS Partner in Indigenous Employment Initiative

In a partnership between Rio Tinto and ISS Facility Services, 12 Aboriginal people from Onslow, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, are starting work to support Rio Tinto’s Mesa J iron ore mine.

After completing a 10 week pre-employment program, the new employees will initially start on a four-day-on, four-day-off roster in town services, such as catering, cleaning, administration and grounds maintenance.

Ray McColl, ISS National Manager Indigenous Development and Employment, said, “ISS is privileged to be partnering in this initiative, with the entire ISS team in Pannawonica committed to ensuring the success of all participants”.

“This program directly aligns with our commitment to providing sustainable employment and career development opportunities for Aboriginal people in our Pilbara-based operations,” Ray continued.

The Work Start program was created by Rio Tinto in conjunction with the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation as a pathway for the long term unemployed to enter the mining workforce.

As part of the pre-employment program, all participants developed skills in such areas as literacy, numeracy, occupational health and safety, time management, personal finance management, and small machinery operation.

Carnis Smith, Rio Tinto Iron Ore Aboriginal Employment Strategy Manager, said it was a progressive introduction into the workforce, with the final goal being permanent employment in the mining industry.

"We are able to create many jobs for Aboriginal people in mining and its support services, but the real test is retaining these people in our workforce," Mr Smith said.

In addition to ISS’ work with Indigenous communities in Western Australia, the company will soon become a signatory to the Australian Employment Covenant, the initiative founded by Andrew Forrest which seeks to develop 50,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians.