The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has officially partnered with the Clontarf Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation which assists in the education and employment of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men.
MCA Chief Executive Officer, Tania Constable, said the commitment sends a clear message that Australian mining backs effective programs which support education, employment and a better future for young Aboriginal men.
“The MCA is proud and pleased to be joining many of our member companies and associate members in supporting the work of this great organisation,” she said.
Several Clontarf graduates will become a part of the world-class Australian minerals industry, forming a segment of the 82 per cent of Clontarf graduates who are employed or engaged in further training after they complete Year 12.
“Beyond its proven ability to partner with the mining industry in helping young Aboriginal boys find rewarding careers, the Clontarf Foundation has also been successful in improving their education, discipline, life skills and self-esteem,” Constable announced, “the families and communities of participants also benefit greatly from their involvement with the programme.”
The Australian mining industry already forms a large source of employment for Indigenous Australians, but through partnerships like this, the industry can only strengthen. In 2016, Indigenous Australians formed 3.8 per cent of the mining industry workforce, which more than doubles the national average of 1.7 per cent and holds the highest Indigenous employment share of all industries.
The MCA said that attracting more Indigenous employees will help ensure that the minerals industry has access to the broad range of skills and capabilities it needs in the future.
Clontarf Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer, Gerard Neesham OAM said Clontarf was ‘extremely proud and excited’ to have the MCA as an official partner as their organisation continues its large-scale expansion across Australia.
“Many of our new operations will be located in regional mining towns and securing the backing of the MCA is going to further help Clontarf engage with local industry to support our operations and provide critical employment opportunities for our Year 12 leavers,” Mr Neesham said.
“Since we started in 2000, support from the mining industry has allowed Clontarf to grow at a consistent rate and reach many more communities across Australia,” he explained, “it has also been the industry which has provided the most jobs for our young men once they have finished school, and we look forward to working closely with both the MCA and their members for many years to come.”