Reconciliation Week 2022

The minerals industry today joins individuals, communities and organisations across Australia to mark the start of Reconciliation Week 2022.

Acknowledging Country is an action we must take each and every day in the mining industry and carry through in how we work with the First Nations communities with which we partner.

As this year’s Reconciliation Week theme urges (Be Brave. Make Change), bold actions are needed to complete the unfinished business of reconciliation.

Mining is doing its part by building on successes, opportunities and lessons from decades of engagement with diverse First Nations people, landholders, communities and organisations.

The commitment and recognition that strong partnerships are based on respect for and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge, rights, histories and aspiration is reflected in the MCA’s Minerals Industry Statement on First Nations Partnerships.

Released in 2021, the statement is supported by a multi-year MCA program to build stronger relationships between industry and First Nations communities, including driving cultural changes across the sector where needed.

Australian mining recognises the fundamental contribution of First Nations people, communities and organisations to the industry from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander landholders and communities to Indigenous Australians working in mining.

The includes the Aboriginal community-controlled and Indigenous-led organisations with which we partner and the thousands of dynamic Indigenous businesses supplying the industry. And it now includes a new generation of First Nations’ mining operators, such as Gulkula Mining Company and Carey Group Holdings.

Central to this program are initiatives to increase Indigenous representation in mining and engineering roles, support modernisation of cultural heritage protection safeguards, build industry capability and improve off site-level systems and processes.

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