In an OZ* Minerals’ Century mine first, from 10-17 July 2008, all the leading hands on the Mine Operations supervisory team running the bulk waste for Panel B (crews 4, 5 and 6) were indigenous employees from the surrounding Gulf Communities. OZ Minerals Century operates under the Gulf Communities Agreement (GCA), a landmark agreement between Century Mine, the Queensland Government and the local Native Title groups whose traditional lands are affected by Century’s operations. An important part of the GCA is the commitment by OZ Minerals to train and employ local Indigenous people.

The Century mine in Queensland’s remote Gulf of Carpentaria has actively recruited, trained and retained local indigenous people since the GCA was signed in 1997. The mine has devised a successful training and employment system for local indigenous people who want to work at the mine. The mine employs a greater proportion of Indigenous Australians than any other mine in Australia – up to 20% of employees being local Indigenous people.

Mining operations Superintendent David Cook said, “This is a big achievement for Clayton Snow, Brenton Murray and Troy Logan. Safety and performance on their shifts were outstanding. The people who signed the original Gulf Communities Agreement had big hopes that local people would have career paths at Century. Our GCA people are really moving up into the supervisory positions now.”

Gulf Communities Agreement Manager, Lloyd Jones, said, “It’s terrific to see the GCA people in Mine Ops carving out futures for themselves in this industry. Century’s achievements under the GCA are unique in the mining industry, and I’m really proud of the team.”

Also, OZ Minerals Century has congratulated Northern Project Contracting (NPC) on the opening of its Mobile Mining Training School on August 14, 2008 in Brisbane. The Mobile Mining Training School will provide important training and employment opportunities for young indigenous people to participate in Queensland’s booming mining industry. NPC one of six indigenous-owned and operated businesses that was formed at, and has operated from, OZ Minerals Century mine at Lawn Hill, northwest Queensland for the past three and a half years.

NPC’s mining school is modelled on the training and employment system used with local indigenous people at the Century mine.

General Manager of OZ Minerals Century, John Lamb, said, “Employing Indigenous Australians in the mining industry is not an altruistic act. Our Indigenous employees give OZ Minerals Century clear competitive advantages. Local people have a deep knowledge of the land they are mining and a vested interest in caring for it. They are keen to work on country, which improves retention rates. As a remote operation, it makes sense for us to employ people who live near Century.

“We wish NPC’s Mobile Mining School every success, and are keen to explore opportunities to work with them to increase our Indigenous employment and retention rates.”

*OZ Minerals is a new company created by the merger of Zinifex and Oxiana http://www.ozminerals.com/