Sponsorships and Donations.

Over the past few years, WMC Fertilizers' QFO have provided considerable sponsorships to the North West Queensland community. In 2004, sponsorships included the Spinifex State School, Barrier Reef Institute of TAFE, MIM Community Fund and the MT Isa Business Awards.

In 2004, we contributed $5,500 towards the Centre of Excellence at the Sunset State School. The Mount Isa-based math, science and technology Centre of Excellence also received sponsorship of $15,000 in 2002-03 to assist in purchasing specialist equipment and curriculum programs.

Employees from QFO have supported the ‘Make A Wish’ Foundation over many years. In 2000, a QFO team walked from Phosphate Hill to Townsville - a distance of 938 kms - and raised $35,000 for the foundation. In mid-2002, a representative team did it again and raised $42,000. Undaunted, the team raised $51,500 in 2004.

For the last three years, sponsorship of $1000 has been given to the Barminco ‘Biker Babes’ team for their 700km Gidgee to Gulf Bike Ride. The funds they raise are donated to School Of The Air and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Tools for Change

Tools for Change is a program designed to facilitate the smooth transition of Year 7 primary students to Year 8 secondary school. WMC has run the program in Kalgoorlie for several years, and last year a Tools For Change-Pilot program was run at Mt Isa in partnership with Queensland Education, Queensland Police Service and TAFE Queensland.

In 2004, the two-day Tools For Change program was held at the Mount Isa TAFE Campus. Over 40 community members delivered the various sessions, working closely with the students. Year 7 students from all six State Primary Schools in Mount Isa took part in this year's program, with approximately 250 students participating. Due to the level of interest being shown in this program, the WMC Tools For Change program may expand next year to include the involvement of additional local and regional schools.

Indigenous Relations

WMC Resources has worked with relevant indigenous communities to form the Queensland Fertilizer Operations Indigenous Liaison Committee, which consists of indigenous community members from Dajarra, Cloncurry and Boulia and indigenous stakeholder groups associated with our operations in Queensland.

The liaison committee was established in January 2001 with the main objective of providing advice, feedback and direction to WMC Resources on issues pertaining to indigenous cultural heritage and indigenous cultural awareness matters, employment, recruitment and training initiatives, environmental matters, business initiatives and other operations issues.

In 2004, the committee met three times, with meetings at Djarra, Boulia and Phosphate Hill. Agenda topics included advice on employment and training and updates on other WMC Queensland Fertilizer Operations activities. A major initiative of the liaison committee in 2004 has been to protect indigenous cultural heritage material by establishing an artifact storage area.

Indigenous Traineeships

During 2000, we began an indigenous traineeship program, which provides formal on-the-job TAFE training, leading to the prospect of full-time employment for successful trainees. The program has an intake of four people per year and has been operational since 2000. To date, we have had 12 candidates undertake traineeships, 10 successfully complete the traineeships, of which, six are employed full-time with WMC Resources at Queensland Fertilizer Operations. There are currently eight indigenous trainees undertaking traineeships at Queensland Fertilizer Operations.

Mt Isa Open Day

An annual open day is organised in Mt Isa and this year approximately 160 people from the Mount Isa community attended. Tours of the plant are conducted during the open day and the community is encouraged to ask questions and find out more about the operations.

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