QFO staff turnover continues to be lower than the industry average, however, the attraction and retention of employees continues to be the key employment issue for the management team.

In 2004, QFO had a turnover rate of approximately 13.1% compared to a rate of 11.4% in 2003. In an endeavour to decrease turnover, and provide broader career development opportunities for our staff, QFO focuses on leadership and skills development. The career interests and the potential of staff are actively monitored, enabling the site to fill 49% of this year's open positions with internal appointments.

There have also been significant opportunities for QFO staff to transfer to roles at other sites within WMC. In 2004, there were also 15 transfers from QFO to other WMC sites from disciplines across the business. Due to the success of these transfers, QFO has earned a reputation for training talented people and assisting them to progress their careers.

Based in Townsville, the Family Support Officer, provides practical assistance in helping families assimilate into the Townsville and Mt Isa communities and establish social networks. Approximately 20 employees were assisted with relocation information and assistance in 2004.

QFO runs a number of activities as part of the Family Support Program including children's playgroups in Townsville and Mt Isa, school holiday activities, Christmas functions, staff and families and site visit days. Two family visits per year are organised to the Phosphate Hill Operation; one over the Christmas period and another in the middle of the year. These visits are extremely popular, with full plane-loads of families and friends for each visit. There is an active social club, with popular events such as skirmish and skydiving. This is complemented by a monthly newsletter, sent out to all staff and families.

Training

Training is provided to the QFO workforce to ensure they have the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve the objectives of our business plan in a safe and efficient manner. In 2004, 25,393 hours of training were provided to 4183 people. The majority of this was taken up in Environment, Health and Safety related courses.

The 2004 Training Plan has focussed on recognising technician operational skills and accrediting technicians in the certificate III qualification for their area. There are 54 technicians enrolled in the Chemical plant operator course, 12 Technicians in the Metalliferous processing course and 4 Technicians in the Warehousing and distribution course. In 2005, the program will expand into the laboratory area with 18 Technicians planned to enrol in the certificate IV Laboratory plant operator course.

Technical courses have included vendor operation systems, SAP, HAZOP studies, Maintenance management, Project management and Green belt six sigma programs.

‘Success Through People’, a WMC-wide leadership program, has now been completed by 22 Managers and Superintendents from QFO. In 2005, it is expected that Success Through People will be rolled out to a further 240 staff.

Our Frontline Management programme continued as a core program and ran throughout 2004, with group 3 completing the delivery part in March and group 4 in November. The programme focuses on supervisor skills in both managing their people and the projects they are responsible for.

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