The Queensland Resources Council welcomes the expansion of Glencore's Indigenous Employment Pathways Program in central Queensland next year with the aim of providing skills and jobs for Indigenous Australians.
QRC Chief Executive Ian Macfarlane said the resources sector had a resolute commitment to playing its part in creating economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
"I'd like to congratulate Glencore for expanding this program and for partnering with the Indigenous-owned Diversified Building Services with a plan to provide employment opportunities for 20 Indigenous Australians. Economic opportunities for Indigenous Australians are essential to making meaningful strides towards the Closing the Gap targets and the resources sector had an important role to play," Mr Macfarlane said.
"Last year Indigenous employment grew by 11 percent in the resources sector. The resources sector is committed to doing even more to extend economic opportunities to First Nations people, and we hope to see other sectors join us with the same goal.
"The resources sector is one of only two sectors in Queensland with a genuine representation of Indigenous employees. Indigenous people comprise 4 percent of the State's workforce in resources and Queensland's Indigenous population is 4 percent.
"As a sector that largely operates in regional and remote communities with high Indigenous populations our sector has a unique opportunity to be a leader in Indigenous employment."
The program begins in February 2020 and Glencore will be holding an information session tomorrow in Rockhampton and next month in Mackay.
