Among the $119,000 Mineral Resources has invested in MidWest communities in 2024 is support for a first-of-its-kind TAFE course for Yamatji Traditional Owners.
Course participants are currently working towards a Certificate II Yamatji Heritage Advisors – Workplace Readiness at Geraldton’s Central Regional TAFE (CRTAFE). They are on track to complete their training by the end of October 2024.
MinRes provides community grants to community groups within the communities it operates in to support health and well-being, education, Indigenous engagement and environmental initiatives.
An additional grant was provided to Fremantle Biennale to support a Yamatji-inspired light and sound display during this year’s NAIDOC Week events in July.
The MinRes Indigenous Employment and Energy teams also recently participated in the Clontarf Foundation’s Geraldton Employment Forum, discussing career opportunities with Year 11 and 12 Yamatji students from Geraldton Senior High School and Champion Bay Senior High School.
Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation (YSRC) CEO, Luka Gray, said the Certificate II Yamatji Heritage Advisors course is the first of its kind.
“The program, developed in collaboration with CRTAFE and funded by MinRes, was created to upskill Yamatji Heritage Advisors and create a robust, skilled workforce that can provide a strong, reliable service to business, but most importantly create a knowledgeable team that can represent the Yamatji Nation with support provided by the respective Cultural Committees,” Ms Gray said.
“YSRC is keen to watch how the program develops and works in partnership with CRTAFE to further develop and amend the course as required.
MinRes was also a platinum sponsor of the 2024 Mingenew MidWest Expo – the largest agricultural field day in the MidWest – where the MinRes Energy team could see the long-standing event’s positive impact on the local community.
Further support for the Shire of Mingenew was provided through grants that were used to invest in new facilities for the Mingenew Hockey Club, a new community shed for the Mingenew Historical Society and kids’ entertainment for the Mingenew Turf Club’s annual race day.
The members of the Mingenew Historical Society thanked MinRes for their contribution. They were delighted to be able to move ahead with plans to open the Restoration Shed, complete with some new machinery.
Regular donations from Containers for Change collections at the MinRes drill operations are also being made to the Mingenew Primary School P&C, which will be used to support a Year 6 school camp.
To further support a healthy and safe community, MinRes provided a grant to the Irwin Volunteer Fire Brigade to purchase new four-wheel-drive tyres for its fire truck. This will ensure that the dedicated team of volunteers can keep this service running and their community safe.
In the Shire of Irwin, MinRes supported the installation of a new children’s playground at the Dongara foreshore and new gymnastics equipment for the Irwin Recreation Centre. MinRes also provided a grant to the Dongara Osprey Girl Guides, allowing a group of guides to attend an adventure camp in Kalbarri.
A MinRes grant was also invested in a much-needed barbecue trailer for the Mingenew Irwin Group so locals can easily transport the trailer to support community events and field days across the Mingenew and Irwin regions.
Mingenew-Irwin Group CEO, Dee McKeown, said assistance from MinRes in attaining the trailer has enhanced their ability to deliver events in the community.
“As a not-for-profit, our resources are limited, and to be able to streamline tasks for our team while at the same time better delivering engaging content to the region is invaluable,” Mr McKeown said.
“It’s support like this that sustains Grower Groups and rural communities.”
Featured image: Piotr Swat/shutterstock.com
