Fortescue Metals Group Ltd contribution to and endorsement of the Generation One Skills and Training for a Career: Discussion Paper

Transcription

1 Fortescue Metals Group Ltd contribution to and endorsement of the Generation One Skills and Training for a Career: Discussion Paper Changing Lives Through Employment Fortescue Metals Group Ltd (Fortescue) is committed to supporting Aboriginal employment in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and in the broader Western Australian community today, tomorrow and in the long term. Fortescue aims, through Aboriginal engagement, employment and development to have a positive impact on the socio-economic development, in regional Western Australia. Fortescue actively supports the national efforts of GenerationOne and the Australian Employment Covenant to remove Indigenous employment disparity and has developed its own Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC) to take Indigenous people of all educational levels and train them into sustainable and rewarding positions in the resources industry. Now Australia s third-largest exporter of iron-ore, Fortescue identified the need for a paradigm shift in the way resource companies dealt with Aboriginal people and communities. Fortescues underlying premise is that mining welfare should not replace or complement Government welfare based on the view that welfare perpetuates a vicious cycle of poverty based on the racism of low expectations. As articulated in the Skills and Training for a career discussion paper, we believe the VTEC model is transferrable and could be adopted nationally. The VTEC model provides tailored solutions to meet the needs of individuals. These services are focussed on building either or both, the personal (life circumstances) or professional (skills deficiencies) barriers to employment for each individual. A generic, formal training program, adapted and customised to suit a regional vocational skill shortage, is delivered with guaranteed jobs upon completion. Fortescue s projects must provide real opportunities for local communities and Aboriginal people. This means real training for guaranteed jobs and access to employee housing assistance and business development. The longer term vision of is one of Aboriginal social and economic community sustainability and wellbeing. Fortescue Metals Group Limited ABN ACN ADDRESS Level 2, 87 Adelaide Terrace, East Perth, Western Australia 6004 TEL FAX fmgl@fmgl.com.au

2 The Vocational Training and Employment Program was established in 2006 in Port Hedland (Pilbara, Western Australia) after extensive consultation with the local Aboriginal community. The VTEC program model is comprised of the following components: 1. Community Engagement developing a community engagement strategy based on the individual characteristics of the community such as regional current and future workforce requirements, local Aboriginal groups, existing training facilities, available community services, and job network providers. It is essential to understand the community and then to engage appropriately. 2. Identify and Secure Jobs - an employment commitment is essential. A candidate is guaranteed a job when they successfully complete training and meet all requirements (including meeting the position s fitness and medical requirements, and reference checks). 3. Recruitment and Job Matching developing a recruitment plan to meet individual and community needs, available jobs and internal Fortescue requirements. Once candidates are identified, they undergo a skills analysis and are assigned a level of competency, based on work experience, other relevant skills, drivers licence, and literary skills. 4. Training developing job applicable training to bridge the skills gap and ensure job readiness. In addition to job specific training, trainees have access to driver training, wellness programs, work readiness training, and literacy and numeracy programs (provided through TAFE or other Registered Training Organisations (RTOs)). 5. Support is a key aspect of the VTEC model. Comprehensive support begins as soon as people engage with VTEC. Support Workers assist trainees through training and in the transition to full time work. Support workers also provide assistance to supervisors to resolve workplace issues. 6. Employment A guaranteed job if the candidate is successful in completing training and all recruitment requirements (including medicals). Once in employment, continuing on the job training and support is provided to trainees. VTEC identifies job opportunities within Fortescue and its contractors and then develops courses in partnership with TAFE and other training organisations to provide people with the skills they need to do the job.

3 Under the VTEC program, participants who successfully complete relevant training and/or work preparation activities are guaranteed employment with Fortescue, its contractors or service providers. VTEC s employment-focused strategies are complemented by the specific and targeted delivery of support for a variety of personal and professional problems. The VTEC support team devote equal energy to supporting Aboriginal workers and skilling them for work. VTEC staff are available to both Fortescue employees and contractors to provide support, identify training needs, assist with family concerns and promote understanding of cultural factors which affect Aboriginal people in the workplace. Referrals for local support services are provided to trainees when issues are identified as requiring specific, professional assistance. The VTEC Support Workers are local Aboriginal people and role models, and through its network of mentors the VTEC initiative reaches deep into the community, accessing those people who are often overlooked for employment due to their lack of knowledge and skills. VTEC s Driver Training program delivers driving instruction to eligible candidates, as well as support to address any existing barriers preventing them from obtaining a licence (e.g. outstanding fines or suspensions). VTEC s Driver Training Coordinators are both local Aboriginal people who are able to assist trainees to navigate the red tape associated with resolving licence issues. Since the program s June 2008 inception, 109 people have successfully obtained a licence due to this support. A key innovation to the original VTEC program is VTEC Services. VTEC Services is a stepping stone employment initiative that was formed in response to issues and trends that emerged from the VTEC program, and seeks to provide a range of valuable services to Fortescue operations, whilst simultaneously delivering key outcomes for Aboriginal development and employment. VTEC Services is a landscaping, general maintenance, and pest management business that provides trainees the opportunity to receive a casual wage whilst obtaining the support and informal training needed to address - and hopefully overcome - any issues impacting the opportunity to participate in a VTEC formal training program, and then full-time employment. The most common example of this scenario is that large numbers of potential trainees who enter the Fortescue Driver Training Program are able to work with VTEC Services until their licence issues are resolved. They then become eligible to participate in a VTEC training program, and enter into full-time employment with Fortescue or our contractors.

4 VTEC Services team members are hired through Indigenous Mining Services (IMS casual labour provider) on a casual basis, which removes some of the pressure associated with full-time work for those who have been out of the routine of achieving attendance for a six day working week. The length of time a team member can work for VTEC Services varies according to the issues being resolved, with the intention that all team members move on to a VTEC training program and subsequent full time employment with Fortescue or its contractors within the minimum reasonable time frame which is generally between 3 9 months. Since its inception in 2006 VTEC has provided training and employment opportunities and support to over 1000 people. The VTEC staff engage in a program of continuous improvement which entails seeking constant feedback from community members, trainees, employees, Fortescue operational areas and other relevant program stakeholders. The flexible delivery of the training and support allows for constant refining of the processes, practices and support mechanisms used. This continual fine tuning results in VTEC casting a wider and more effective net across the Pilbara by seeking new solutions to address the current and emerging issues that arise. The VTEC model has been highly successful in attracting and retaining Aboriginal people with Fortescue. Fortescue recently achieved its commitment to the Australian Employment Covenant of employing 300 people within two years. This would not have been possible without the VTEC program and the support of senior management. Fortescue s Herb Elliott Port Port Operation, through dedicated and targeted identification and delivery of Summit 300 suitable roles, has achieved Aboriginal employment of over 36% of the total Port workforce (49 of 134 positions), contributing to an overall total of 9.41% of the current total Fortescue workforce. Fortescue currently employs 291 Aboriginal people and pays over $31 million per annum in wages to Aboriginal employees. Almost 200 Aboriginal people reside in Port Hedland and over half of them fly from Port Hedland to the mine sites to work. The success of Fortescue s VTEC is based on this principle: training must be aligned to the specific needs of Fortescue as the employer. The VTEC model helps to systematically break down each barrier that an Indigenous candidate might face, but always with a line of sight to employment.

5 We are extremely supportive of the GenerationOne skills and training for a career policy as it reflects the Fortescue VTEC model which has been working effectively for more than five years.