Hands on Mining

Growing up in the coastal town of Carnarvon, 900km north of Perth amongst the banana plantations, Indigenous mother of three, Nicole Clinch, remembers her father’s truck parked on their front lawn. As a little girl she harbored a secret wish to one day drive a truck just like her Dad, but never truly believed it would become a reality.

As a single mother, it was the desire to give her children a better life that persuaded Ms Clinch to apply for a job in mining when Downer EDI Mining (Downer Mining) were recruiting in her home town earlier this year. She got the break she needed and started working with the company in May. She has completed her Certificate ll in Surface Extraction and is now fulfilling her childhood wish - operating Haul Pack trucks in the pit.

“It’s been awesome, scary at first, but I have made new friends and settled in well. My children have accepted this lifestyle change and are pretty proud of their Mum. It’s great to see more Aboriginal women in mining. Thanks to the team at Downer Mining for believing in me and giving me this opportunity for a positive change in my life,” Ms Clinch enthused.

Downer Mining has now signed up 114 Indigenous employees since committing to the Australian Employment Covenant in July 2010.
The company is on track to reach their pledge of 200 Indigenous employees by the end of next year. With of workforce that includes 180 Indigenous employees Downer Mining is the largest mainstream employer of Indigenous peoples in the mining services sector.

According to Downer Mining’s General Manager of Indigenous Affairs, Daniel Archer, the company’s success in attracting and retaining Indigenous employees is their proactive approach to employment and their culturally appropriate selection process.

“We have thrown out the traditional employment processes and developed a more consultative, engaging and interactive approach to recruitment. We run information sessions and interactive workshops where people receive a hands on mining experience,” Mr Archer explained.

In July 2011, Downer went to Rockhampton to recruit local Indigenous people for its mining operations. Over 120 Indigenous peoples attended the information session with 16 candidates selected for the assessment workshop.

“The workshops engage people and enables them to explore whether mining is where they want to be. It also gives us a first hand look at people and how they interact. We are not looking for experience; it’s more about a willingness to learn and the desire to join our business,” Mr Archer said.

The Rockhampton recruitment process was extremely successful with 15 applicants offered employment as operators at the Norwich Park Coal Mine.

Just recently Downer Mining embarked on a 10 day road trip of the Pilbara, in WA, with a haul truck cab simulator. Over 300 people had the chance to sit in the simulator; surrounded by four screens and a moving seat and experience what it is like to drive a truck.

“The road trip is a great way for us to build and maintain community relationships. In the Pilbara, Downer Mining averages 18 per cent Indigenous participation across its projects,” Mr Archer explained.

The Fitzroy Crossing Project is another example of Downer Mining’s innovative recruitment processes. In May 2011, Downer worked in collaboration with several organizations to support 24 Indigenous members of the Fitzroy Crossing community to become Mobile Plant Operators with Downer Mining at Fortescue’s Christmas Creek Mine. With a chartered plane used specifically to transport the employees to and from site, Downer Mining is now the largest private employer at Fitzroy Crossing.

The success of Downer’s Indigenous recruitment is only matched by their incredible retention rate. Nighty two per cent of their Indigenous employees remain in the workforce. “We look for people to have long term career opportunities with us. For example, one of our Indigenous project managers started his career at Downer Mining as an apprentice fitter” Mr Archer said.

An important feature of Downer Mining’s Indigenous development methodology is a strong focus on providing "real" jobs to all of their Indigenous employees, and supplementing this with career development and training. Underpinned by structured training and supported by line management, Downer Mining’s Indigenous recruits are part of the line structure from commencement.

Downer will hold five interactive recruitment workshops throughout Australia next year; reaching out to more Australians and engaging more Indigenous people like Nicole Clinch. The company will not only reach their Australian Employment Covenant pledge, but will also demonstrate that culturally appropriate selection processors are the future - reaching more people and creating a more diverse and stronger workforce.