QCoal’s Byerwen Coal mine in Central Queensland has reached a 12 per cent Indigenous participation rate, which is three times the industry average.
Indigenous people now comprise 4 per cent of Queensland’s resources workforce with the state’s Indigenous population also at 4 per cent.
The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said QCoal has a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians at its Byerwen Coal mine.
In consultation with the Traditional Owners of the area, the Jangga People, two key programs have been developed and implemented. A pre-vocational work readiness program: Thida Bullaroo, or ‘step-by-step’ in local language, and a trainee operator program, Yila Yina Mundu, or ‘Turn Around from Here’.
“QCoal has implemented a comprehensive Indigenous participation strategy across the business,” Mr Macfarlane said.
“Across all of its operations the QCoal Group’s Indigenous representation is 7 per cent which is incredibly high compared to the industry average and other sectors.
Mr Macfarlane said the resources sector is one of only two sectors with a “true representation of Indigenous people in our workforce”.
He also noted Indigenous women in the resources sector represent 24 per cent of the Indigenous workforce, which is close to twice the non-Indigenous rate.
