Helping young Indigenous people kick start their career

Every career starts with an opportunity and we’re proud of a special program that opens doors for young Indigenous people at our Cannington operation in Queensland. 

Our Indigenous Work Experience Program provides a unique experience to combine on and off the job training for a year while working in an innovative and challenging environment.

There are two full-time positions available each year through the program, where participants learn a range of new skills and get paid industry standard wages. At the end of the program, our aim is to offer full-time employment opportunities to participants who have successfully completed it. 

Nine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, including two who are currently participating in this year’s intake, have taken part in the program, with three securing permanent full-time roles with us and others taking employment within the industry. 

We’ve experienced an 88 per cent retention rate in the program and lifted our Indigenous workforce at Cannington, while setting up a sustainable recruitment stream for many years to come. 

Zeek Metcalfe, a young 23-year-old Indigenous male from Townsville, Queensland who took part in the program and now works with us as a Processing Operator, said: “To be honest I wouldn’t have a clue where I would be without this program, it has been such a positive impact on my life, and I love the journey it has taken me on.”

Zeek said he took part in the program for many different reasons.

“I wanted to challenge myself and learn new skills in a different environment, as well as also take on the responsibility of being a leader to young Indigenous kids in the local community and be able to hopefully show them that if you put your mind to anything you will succeed,” he said.

The program delivers positive social and economic outcomes to Indigenous peoples and is aligned to our Reconciliation Action Plan. Through the program, we aim to improve and increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation across our workforce at Cannington and create a more inclusive and diverse workplace.