Indigenous Relations
In 2006, Minara aimed to increase its indigenous employee numbers by improving communication with local stakeholders and through the use of both private and government funded organisations focused on indigenous recruitment.
A pastoral training and employment program, developed in consultation with local indigenous stakeholders, was introduced in late 2006 to provide entry-level positions for indigenous people. Participants complete a Certificate II in Agriculture and are paid an above award wage.
Minara convenes Murrin Murrin Aboriginal Environmental Liaison Committee meetings every six months to provide local indigenous representatives with an update on the company's operations and to provide a forum for them to raise any issues or concerns in regards to operations at Murrin Murrin.
Minara continues to investigate opportunities for local indigenous persons at Murrin Murrin. Two indigenous-owned businesses continue to successfully provide services at the Murrin Murrin operation. Burrna Yurral Aboriginal Corporation (BYAC) is a waste management contractor and also provides short-term labour hire services. SMC Vending has a business licence for the shop at the Murrin Murrin village and the vending machines which can be found throughout the plant.
In 2009 the company provided scholarship funds to an indigenous student from the northern goldfields. This enabled her to attend St Hilda's Anglican School for Girls in Perth as a boarder. The school provides a partial scholarship. Additional funds are supplied by government and Minara covers the remaining tuition costs, books, uniform, and other incidental items. The student successfully completed Year 11 in 2009 and the program continues into 2010 with the student in Year 12. The student's goal is to attend university in 2011.
In December 2009 the program was expanded to an additional student who has since commenced Year 8 under similar funding arrangements at St Mary's Anglican School for Girls in Perth. Minara will continue to explore scholarship opportunities to provide pre-tertiary education for indigenous students from the northern goldfields.
The company acknowledges that the majority of indigenous children living in the region are schooled at the local facilities and Minara continues to support these institutions.