The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has launched a new initiative aimed at creating job opportunities for groups under-represented in the mining and energy sectors.
The council’s workforce inclusion and diversity engagement (WIDE) project comprises a new digital hub designed to support resources companies to implement diversity and inclusive initiatives.
The Queensland government’s workforce connect fund contributed $963,000 towards the project.
QRC CEO Janette Hewson says the goal of the initiative is to make the resources sector in Queensland a better, more inclusive place for people from underrepresented groups to work.
“That includes women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, veterans, refugees, and neurodiverse people,” she says
“The QRC worked with a number of key delivery partners to deliver the project including CQUniversity who developed a suite of research backed tools and guides and Social Traders who advised on social enterprise procurement to build diversity.”
Women make up about 21% of the mining workforce, while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders represent just 9.7% of all mining apprentices and trainees.
Though the Minerals Council of Australia says there is a higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders choosing to work in mining than other sectors.
Hewson adds that the state’s resources sector provides career opportunities for tens of thousands of Queenslanders and it is crucial that those opportunities are available to people from all backgrounds.
“Companies understand that a strong focus on workforce inclusion leads to greater diversity and that’s good for workers and good for business,” she says.
The Queensland Resources Council is Queensland’s peak body for coal, metal, and gas explorers, producers and suppliers across the resources sector. The sector contributes one in every four dollars to the state economy and supports one in six jobs.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: The Queensland Resources Council
