Recognition for increasing Indigenous participation in CQ mines

  • Posted 30 November, 2020
  • Media Releases

30 November 2020

A woman who has increased the participation of Indigenous people at QCoal’s Central Queensland mines has been recognised in prestigious awards presented today.

Margarita Escartin, Social Performance consultant for QCoal was presented the Queensland Resources Council’s (QRC) Indigenous Advocacy Award by QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane.

“This award recognises Indigenous or non-Indigenous individuals who have demonstrated an outstanding effort to encourage, promote, and advocate for increasing Indigenous participation within the resources sector,” said Mr Macfarlane.

“And, Margarita has certainly done that in spades,” he said.

“Over the past nine years, Margarita has developed industry-leading Indigenous attraction and retention initiatives in partnership with traditional owner groups.

“A significant outcome of these partnerships has been a 12 percent Indigenous participation rate at QCoal’s Byerwen Mine site and 14 percent at the Northern Hub.

“A key part of the success of our approach has been that Indigenous employees have been presented with the opportunity to participate and make a choice to change their lives, with our support,” said Margarita.

“This is not a paternalistic program/ We are working with people not for them and we are delivering real jobs and real opportunity. In addition, we are changing the culture on site and creating relationships with both the business and contracting partners.”

The seventh annual awards were presented online and featured Keynote speaker Fiona Jose, Chief Executive Officer at Cape York Partnerships, with music by Troy Cassar-Daley and featured and address by Dr Jackie Huggins a Bidjara/Birri Gubba Juru woman and staunch Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ advocate.

“We also recognised the service of the late Robert Kerry Toby to his people,” said Mr Macfarlane.

“Mr Toby spent his life empowering Indigenous people and fostering good relations between Indigenous groups and the resources sector.

“Sadly, Mr Toby, a proud Gangulu man, respected Elder, and the Cultural Heritage Coordinator for Toby Gangulu Inc, passed away suddenly last year.

“Indigenous people make up 4 percent of the combined QRC member company workforce, which is on par with their representation in Queensland’s population,” said Mr Macfarlane.

“With the achievements of Mr Toby, and Margarita, I am certain that we will do even better than this in the years to come.

QRC thanks major sponsors Rio Tinto and Evolutinon Mining, as well as Thiess, Glencore, Anglo American, Hastings Deering, Shell-QGC, Australian Pacific LNG, Bravus, Ventia, Mine Super and QCoal.

Media enquiries: Caroline Morrissey 0417 770 893