As part of AUSMASA's ongoing engagement with First Nations communities, First Nations Engagement Manager Joe Fatnowna visited Weipa, Cairns, Middlemount and Mackay to meet with Traditional Owner Groups, community members, employers and industry stakeholders about workforce challenges and local initiatives supporting First Nations participation.

"The Weipa visit reinforced the importance of relationship-centred engagement with First Nations communities," Joe said.

"There is a lot to be learned from remote communities: the foundation behind that is the connection to culture, which is much stronger in regional and remote communities than in metro areas. This drives a lot more retention in employment."

Learn more about AUSMASA's First Nations culturally safe training and assessment project.

In Weipa, Rio Tinto's Western Cape Communities Co-Existence Agreement brings together 11 Traditional Owner groups to guide education, training and employment outcomes. This provides an important forum for discussion of local workforce needs and training priorities.

Local Aboriginal participation now represents 17% of the Weipa workforce, supported by school-based pre-apprenticeship programs and family engagement visits. MAS Apprenticeship Services Regional Manager, Jason Dent, told Joe about a program that has onboarded 35 apprentices in Weipa and the surrounding areas across auto-electrical, high-voltage electrical, operations and automotive roles. Indigenous high school students are also working towards Certificate II and III qualifications in Surface Extraction.

Joe also spoke with Rio Tinto Mine Closure specialist, Scott Tass, about the closure and rehabilitation of a key bauxite mining site in the region, with a focus on restoring land to agreed post-mining outcomes. Learn more about AUSMASA’s Mine Closure Skills Mapping Research Project.

In Cairns, Senior Elder Uncle Neville Reyes spoke about kinship, culture, and mentorship, as well as the pressures facing Indigenous students and remote teachers within the education system.

“Uncle Neville is held in high respect in the communities. He reinforced that message about getting kids back to culture and identity to drive workforce participation,” Joe said.

Further south in the Bowen Basin, Indigenous Project Manager Darren Smart described workforce mobility as a key barrier for apprentices in remote mining locations such as Middlemount and credited early support and culturally safe practices with strong retention among his supervisors.

In Mackay, Barada Bana Director Graham Budby detailed significant Tier 1 mining partnerships and procurement commitments that are supporting Indigenous-led businesses and, in turn, communities. Joe also heard apprentice success stories, including those of heavy-duty diesel fitter Nathan Giblett and Ochre Australia Director Kerrod Toby, who spoke about how tailored training programs helped drive better career outcomes and financial stability at the individual level.

Across all locations, the message was consistent: culturally safe workplaces, mentoring, and flexible training pathways are essential to fostering and growing a sustainable Indigenous workforce in the mining and automotive industries. A skilled First Nations workforce in both mining and automotive drives stronger local employment outcomes and helps build stronger communities.

Joe says there is a lot to be learned from remote Indigenous communities like the one in Weipa, particularly about how they are driving workforce participation and retention.

"When there are studies and reports, remote communities often don't get a chance to participate. The basis of Indigenous employment and recruitment is around culture. Face-to-face conversations like these remain critical for establishing credibility and understanding local priorities," Joe said.

Find out more about First Nations participation in mining and automotive workforces in AUSMASA’s First Nations Dashboard.