| Working with indigenous communities |
| North West Queensland Indigenous Resources Industry Initiative |  |
The North West Queensland (NWQ) Indigenous Resources Industry Initiative is a partnership between the Queensland Resources Council (QRC), the Queensland Government and the Australian Government.
The purpose of the initiative is to streamline and optimise government and industry efforts directed towards improving indigenous participation in the resources sector and maintain the on-going resource industry’s ‘social licence to operate’.
Its vision is to improve and sustain indigenous wealth and prosperity in the NWQ resources sector by targeting and supporting increased participation and outcomes in education, employment and business development.
Background
The initiative stems from a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the QRC and the Queensland Government in July 2007 to increase indigenous employment in the state’s resources sector and related indigenous enterprise development.
The initiative also offered the opportunity to build on the MoU signed by the Minerals Council of Australia and the Australian Government in June 2005, which aims to work in partnership with indigenous people to build ‘sustainable, prosperous communities in which individuals can create and take up social, employment and business opportunities in mining regions’.
Delivery of initiative
The delivery of the initiative is organised around its twin goals of increasing Indigenous employment in the resources sector and increasing the opportunities for Indigenous businesses to gain work in the resources sector.
Working groups involving resource companies, training organisations, government agencies and other stakeholders have been established to focus on these two broad areas.
QRC members are able to access more information about the working groups on the 'member private web' section of this website.
The working groups are pursuing the following intended outcomes.
1. Education, Training, Work Readiness, Employment and Mobility working group
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 | On-going regional skills and work readiness training to enable uptake of diverse employment opportunities by local Indigenous people. | |
Improved educational attainment by Indigenous students in primary schools, improved transition to and retention at high school, and improved transition to apprenticeships and traineeships. | |
Increase in the number of Indigenous people employed in the resources sector. | |
Improved career progression through mentoring and access to career pathways. | |
Opportunities for Indigenous residents of remote areas to relocate or travel to where jobs and training are available. |
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2. Business development working group
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| Indigenous enterprises securing a significantly increased involvement in industry supply chains. | |
Improved coordination and communication within and between indigenous businesses. | |
Consistency of company approaches to the utilisation of indigenous businesses. |
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A diagram of the initiative’s organisational structure can be accessed by clicking the link below.
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| Memorandum of understanding between the Queensland Indigenous Working Group and QRC | |
On 17 May 2005, QRC and the Queensland Indigenous Working Group (QIWG) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set out the principles for on-going engagement between the parties, and encourage collaboration on matters of mutual interest.
QIWG represents Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative bodies through advocating, promoting and protecting Indigenous interests in relation to state native title, cultural heritage and land and natural resource legislation and policy development.
Under this agreement the parties meet every three months, discussing key and emerging issues such as monitoring the implementation and any review of relevant regulations and legislation, and discuss the negotiation of native title and cultural heritage agreements.
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| QRC/Queensland Government 2007 Indigenous Memorandum of Understanding | |
In July 2007, QRC and the Queensland Government signed a formal memorandum of understanding to encourage indigenous employment in the Queensland resources sector and indigenous enterprise development.
This MoU highlights the commitment between QRC and the Queensland Government to develop broad partnerships to create sustainable Indigenous economic development and employment opportunities, to benefit Indigenous communities in Queensland.
The MoU was developed in response to recommendations identified through a Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (CSRM) study, commissioned by QRC, which highlighted the need for a regional resource industry employment project capable of support by all stakeholders.
The North West Queensland Indigenous Resources Industry Initiative is a pilot project developed under this MoU. The focus of this project will be working in partnership with industry, indigenous and government stakeholders to develop and implement services and programs to address the key areas such as education and training, increased employment of local Indigenous people, and indigenous enterprise development.
QRC members are able to access more information on this pilot project on the 'member private web' section of QRC’s website.
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