Indigenous participation in Australia’s mining sector continues to evolve and reach new highs as the country learns to look beyond engagement, but towards a collaborative approach – where shared leadership, respect, and long-term partnership are paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
First recognised by the Council of Aboriginal Reconciliation, National Reconciliation Week (27 May to 3 June) has returned for 2025. This year, the theme is Bridging Now to Next, where Australians are asked to reflect on our past, present, and future to stand together amongst adversity.
This week, companies across the country are taking the opportunity to reflect on the importance of genuine, long-term collaboration with Traditional Owners, and to implement this notion all year round.
From Pitjantjatjara lands to the Pilbara, collaboration between Indigenous communities, government entities, and mining companies is key in creating a safe and sustainable balance to better Australia.
In protecting sacred sites and increasing employment numbers by reshaping structures of leadership, training, procurement, and cultural practice, collaboration is crucial now more than ever.
Protecting our land and economy
Fuelled with widely desired and sought-after minerals, Australia’s soil is a leading producer of commodities such as bauxite, iron ore, lithium, gold, uranium, and zinc to name a few. At the same time, those very grounds are often rooted with deep cultural history that often mark a creation in Aboriginal mythology.
By protecting sacred sites, we are preserving Indigenous culture and their connection to land. From burial and ceremonial grounds to the hidden rock art sites, sacred sites are central to traditional ownership under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1976.
The mining and resources sector acts as Australia’s leading export industry, so in order to better establish a trusting connection with the rightful land owners and not jeopardise the economy and employment, there is consensus that it’s time to go beyond engagement with our Traditional Owners and to collaborate collectively.
Australian resource and energy commodity exports totalled $415 billion in 2023-24. Overall, the value of resource commodity exports is set to fall back, albeit less than energy commodity export values. The value of exports of gold and base metals (especially copper) are set to hold close to current levels. Lithium and nickel exports are expected to stabilise as prices stop falling. Iron ore is forecasted to remain the mainstay of Australian commodity exports.
Minerals Council of Australia’s Principal Advisor of Indigenous Partnerships and Communities Matt Denyer works closely with programs to connect First Nation peoples with the resources sector, from supporting co-design principles, developing the next generation of leaders with skills and business opportunities for future operations, and respecting heritage and culture across the mining sector.
Engaging with Indigenous partners such as the First Nations Heritage Protection Alliance, Denyer says the word “engagement” has been thrown around within the industry, allowing companies to go out and “tick a box”.
“It’s not taking a one-size-fits-all approach to a community in Pilbara versus a community in Central West New South Wales is going. They are two totally different communities, so it’s having to understand what the local community requires,” Denyer tells Mining.com.au.
Denyer is an Indigenous Australian from Gomeroi Country, using his lived experience in conjunction with his role. The Mineral Council of Australia says it is committed to collaborating with Traditional Owners and host communities to reshape the mining sector.
Time to close the gap
The federal government implemented a $707 million investment to its Close the Gap scheme in early 2024 with an economic development program to create 3,000 new jobs in remote communities.
Closing the Gap is a national strategy implemented by Australian governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations, to improve the livelihoods of Indigenous Australians.
Employment and education targets include increasing the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth between ages 15 and 24 years to 67% by 2031, and increasing the amount of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people between ages 25 and 64 who are employed by 62% by 2031, as reported by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
The Indigenous Skills and Employment Program (ISEP) connects First Nations people to jobs, career advancement opportunities, training, and job-ready activities, in the hope of contributing towards these targets. The Youth Express Association is a New South Wales based project that provides skills development and employment placements for First Nations youth, with an activity value of $8.71 million.
This apparent drive for First Nations youth to enter the mining sector is evident as Bravus Mining and Resources reports that 9.7% of all mining apprentices and trainees identified as Indigenous in 2023 – almost doubling that of other industries.
As for the job force, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia (CME) noted in last year’s diversity and inclusion report that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participation in the mining sector sits at 5.6% in Western Australia, an increase of 0.4% since 2021. This figure translates to nearly 950 new Indigenous jobs created within Western Australia’s mining sector alone.
This steady growth reflects more than just recruitment, but points to an increase in trust, cultural safety, and mutually beneficial partnerships between mining operators and Traditional Owners.
Health, Safety, and People Manager Michelle Gadellaa says the CME is committed to promoting long-standing commitment of First Nations peoples’ leadership within the resources sector.
“CME supports and participates in programs like Beediyar – the Noongar word for ‘leader’ – through the Australian Institute of Management WA, as a practical way to help develop leadership opportunities for Indigenous professionals,” Gadellaa tells this news service.
“By fostering an environment that supports Indigenous people in executive roles, a new generation of First Nations CEOs, directors and senior executives can enjoy placements at organisations of all sizes and in any sector.”
The growth in workforce participation goes beyond a simple statistic, but a signal that by refocusing the narrative from mandated engagement to a collaborative approach, the gap is being lowered and doors are being opened.
Building collaboration from within
Many companies within the resources sector are taking recognitive measures a step further by implementing workplace training and development programs.
These initiatives not only enhance job readiness but also ensure that Indigenous employees are equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the industry.
Glencore (LSE:GLEN) is one of many companies recognised for this measure, offering a First Nations Pathways Program to Indigenous employees, offering skills, experience, and exposure to new challenges within the mining industry.
Central Land Council CEO Les Turner says amongst overall employment challenges, the Northern Territory is specifically struggling with a lack of remote training and limited infrastructure to support remote employment in the resources sector.
“When negotiating employment terms in mining agreements we ensure that employment opportunities align with community aspirations and cultural values by consulting with the affected parties, as set out in the Aboriginal land rights and native title legislation,” Turner tells Mining.com.au..
To recognise and persevere past Australia’s dark history with racism and land invasion, the country must come together with collaborative solutions to truly reconcile.
The future will require continued effort, but if current trends continue and progress, the story of Indigenous participation in the mining sector will become one of respect, shared leadership, and partnership.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Mining.com.au, Reconciliation Australia & Unsplash
