In this section:

Archived Media Releases

Mentor to be employed for Indigenous mine workers

21 June 2011

A $60,000 State Government grant has been awarded to the Port Augusta City Council towards the employment of a mentor for Indigenous workers employed in the South Australian mining industry.

The funding, provided through the Enterprise Zone Fund Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback, aims to ensure that Indigenous people in the Upper Spencer Gulf can take advantage of the economic development occurring in the region.

Minister for Regional Development Gail Gago says the employment of an Indigenous mentor is part of a strategy to position Port Augusta as a skills and labour hub to cater for the Upper Spencer Gulf and Far North, particularly in the growing mining sector.

“The role of the mentor will be to provide off-site assistance to Indigenous mining employees, and to encourage other Indigenous employees to return to the workforce,” the Minister said.

“The mentor will also assist Indigenous employees to manage personal finances and organise transportation and accommodation.

“The mentor will be based at the Careers Development Centre on Commercial Road at Port Augusta and will service residents in Port Augusta, Quorn and Hawker, with the potential to extend those services further north.”

Ms Gago said the mentor position was an important initiative in servicing the growing mining sector with BHP Billiton’s proposed Olympic Dam expansion alone expected to create 6,000 new jobs in the construction phase, and a further 4,000 full-time positions once operational.

Port Augusta City Council City Manager Greg Perkin says that the need for the mentoring position was identified through Indigenous Engagement in the Mining Industry, an initiative of Regional Development Australia Far North.

“This mentor will provide a role model for other Indigenous people looking for work and will assist mining companies through supporting their employees whilst off the work site,” Mr Perkin said.

“By ensuring that Indigenous people are supported in maintaining their ongoing employment, it is believed that they and their communities will maximise the benefits from the economic activity occurring in our region.

“Council expects to run a recruitment process in coming months with the intention of employing the mentor by the end of July.”

Minister Gago said that the Fund was established as a $4 million rolling fund, over four years, aimed at capturing the benefits of growing industries to further strengthen Upper Spencer Gulf and Outback communities.