First Nations Programs and Pathways
Our Commitment
To increase the number of First Nations Australian employees to be reflective of general society, and to provide opportunities for First Nations Australian people to move into leadership positions.
Increasing First Nations Australian employment rates in our Australian workforce remains one of our key priorities. We are proud to be one of Australia’s largest employers of First Nations people.
11%
First Nations Australian employment in Australian workforce
5%
First Nations Australian leadership roles
15%
First Nations Australian employment in Pilbara operations
1,518
First Nations Australian employees in Australia
Get in Touch
For further enquiries, please contact our First Nations Employment team.
Develop your skills at VTEC
Our Vocational Training and Education Centre (VTEC) has been helping First Nations people find sustainable career pathways since 2006. The best part is that once you've completed your training, you are guaranteed employment.
In FY24, 111 participants graduated and started working in roles across our Solomon, Eliwana, and Chichester hubs, as well as our Port Hedland operations. Over the years, more than 1,500 First Nations people have started successful careers through VTEC.
Interested in VTEC?
Please reach out to our VTEC teams
Become a Leader
Find the skills to succeed with our Leadership and Excellence in First Nations People (LEAP) program
Find the support and training to develop as a leader. Our LEAP program gives First Nations Australian employees a 12-month training program that helps you develop the skills and confidence to succeed in your leadership goals.
This includes offsite education, practical onsite development, internal mentoring, Board exposure, First Nations leadership education and business leadership training.
We strive to build a workplace that understands, supports and champions First Nations people through the following:
Supporting our First Nations Employees and Families
We are the only Pilbara-based mining company offering flights between all our mine sites and major communities like Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Kununurra, and Fitzroy Crossing. This helps First Nations people stay on Country with their families while accessing job opportunities.
Our First Nations training and employment programs also address barriers to securing and keeping work. We employ a full-time health coordinator and a First Nations Health Program to improve the health of our First Nations workforce. The health coordinator’s key responsibilities include:
- Support candidates to address health barriers
- Conduct health screening Implement VTEC’s fitness program
- Support trainees with health initiatives and fitness for work
- Develop and deliver health and fitness training
