Job readiness training - Western Australia

WMC has conducted six job-readiness training programs in Western Australia since November 2000.

The training is conducted at our purpose-built training facility located on our Leinster Downs pastoral lease, developed at a cost of $284,000. The training spans 4 weeks and includes 1 week on-site work experience at our Leinster operation.

Of the 61 trainees who began the programs, 53 have graduated, with 39 securing full time employment - a transition to employment rate of 73 per cent.

In 2005 we plan to conduct two further two Job-readiness programs at the Leinster facility.

Job readiness training - South Australia

Our first Job Readiness program in South Australia was run at our Olympic Dam operation in 2004. The program conducted had a mix of Indigenous and non-Indigenous trainees.

Of the 11 people who began the program, 10 graduated, with 4 securing full time employment.

The Olympic Dam program runs over 8 weeks and includes time in the operations.

We plan to conduct a two further Job Readiness programs at Olympic Dam in 2005.

Traineeship Program - Queensland

In 2000 we implemented a two-year Indigenous Traineeship program at our Queensland Fertilizer Operation at Phosphate Hill in Queensland. The program provides formal on-the-job TAFE training in industry-specific skills, leading to full-time employment for successful trainees.

The first program started with four trainees, with four additional trainees being engaged in each of the years 2001 through 2004.

Traineeships undertaken at QFO to date are:

• Chemist Level III
• Office Skills Level II &III
• Metalliferous Mining Level II & III
• Chemical, Hydrocarbon, Oil Refinery Level II & III
• Horticultural Level II.

Of the 20 trainees who began Traineeships, ten have graduated; with all ten securing full time employment.

Support for Indigenous Communities

We provide support to Indigenous communities through a range of grants and development programs. Many of our Indigenous community support programs are linked to land access and heritage management arrangements.

Since 1997, our Indigenous support programs have delivered benefits worth more than $41 million, including:

• 38.5 million in contracts won by indigenous businesses
• more than $1.5 million in infrastructure, operating and development costs to support indigenous training
• over $1 million to support cultural, educational, sporting activities and health awareness.

At 31 December 2004, there were 85 members of Australia's Indigenous community undertaking training or employed across WMC either directly or with contractors at our operations.

This represents a 23 per cent increase from 31 December 2003 and a 143 per cent increase on December 2002.

Support for Indigenous training and employment

WMC's Job Readiness Training Programs aim to create long-term sustainable employment for Indigenous people. Our programs are run in partnership with training providers, job networks, contract mining and mining supply companies, government agencies and Indigenous communities.

Our Job Readiness programs assist Indigenous people to gain the knowledge skills, experience and qualifications necessary to win employment based on merit.

We do not operate a quota system nor create ‘extra’ jobs, rather, we focus on real jobs that are sustainable over time.