Mining integral to Indigenous jobs, skills and business

The new National Roadmap on Indigenous Jobs, Skills and Wealth Creation establishes a collaborative pathway to further unlock First Nations excellence and aspiration in the national economy.

Importantly, the roadmap reinforces mining’s important and ongoing role in supporting First Nations people, communities and businesses to achieve their economic priorities, especially in regional and remote Australia.

Released by the Minister for Indigenous Australians today, the Roadmap’s strong ambition and focus on practical, place-based approaches will help strengthen industry and First Nations partnerships – driving more opportunities and enhanced economic outcomes.

This includes more opportunities for highly skilled, highly paid jobs in Australia’s minerals workforce and for Indigenous businesses, including Indigenous owned and operated mines such as Gumatj Corporation’s Gulkula mine in the Northern Territory.

The minerals industry already employs a higher proportion of Indigenous Australians than other sectors as well as about 18 per cent of Indigenous men in remote areas.

Tailored approaches to achieve Traditional Owner aspirations for jobs, skills and business opportunities for young people, to work on country and in remote communities are key.

About 10 per cent of all mining apprenticeships are Indigenous Australians.

Building on this, mining is committed to increasing the number of Indigenous Australians in leadership, professional and engineering roles, strengthening procurement practices and enhancing partnerships that support Traditional Owner social and economic priorities.

As one of the largest customers of Indigenous businesses nationally, mining has seen firsthand the importance of business ownership and development to First Nations people and communities.

The roadmap reinforces the need for governments to provide stable, targeted and locally-appropriate assistance as native title holders establish foundations and develop their own economic programs.

Under the right settings, there is also opportunity to deploy significant funds held by Traditional Owners from mining for Indigenous-led economic development.

Australian mining will support roadmap implementation by partnering with governments, communities and the private sector on practical actions that deliver opportunity and outcomes.

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