Issue Three October 2009 - Ramen...Information on IBA Scholarship Fund rounds, eligibility criteria and guidelines can be found on the IBA website . For all other enquiries please

Issue Three October 2009 1

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Head Ben Kendall

Issue Three October 2009

IBA respects Indigenous cultures and has attempted to ensure that no material that is

offensive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has been included in this magazine.

Mining opportunities in the Pilbara Meet IBA’s

new Chair

Celebrating NAIDOC Week

2 Issue Three October 2009

Welcome to Issue Three of Inspire

On behalf of Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), welcome to Issue Three of Inspire, our economic development magazine.

At IBA, we have a vision for “A nation in which the First Australians are economically independent and an integral part of the economy.” We work hard to achieve this vision by assisting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples to purchase their own homes, create and build businesses, and own companies and investments; building assets and wealth, and fulfilling aspirations.

Inspire was launched in October 2008 and, as the title suggests, it aims to excite, influence, stimulate, motivate and arouse feelings through the promotion of Indigenous successes stories in the business and economic sectors.

Inspire aims to add to the discussion about how economic development can provide financial independence and positive outcomes for Indigenous Australians, their families, friends and communities.

In this issue we travel from the East Kimberley region of Western Australia to Cape York to showcase how Indigenous Australians across our vast country are experiencing amazing economic breakthroughs and how, together, we can all contribute to the future prosperity of this country.

I hope you enjoy this edition of Inspire and look forward to receiving your feedback, so that we can continue to provide you with information that is helpful, relevant and insightful. For any comments or suggestions, please email: [email protected]

In the meantime, we look forward to bringing you more exciting news and initiatives in the next edition of Inspire, early in 2010.


Ron Morony, General Manager IBA

Inspire aims to add to the discussion about how economic development can provide financial independence and positive outcomes for Indigenous Australians, their families, friends and communities.

Issue Three October 2009 3 Issue Three October 2009 3

Len Barratt had grown tired of not receiving a reply to his requests. Even “no” would at least have been an answer, but the building societies of Canberra wouldn’t even give him that much. Len was frustrated; he was a fireman with the Canberra Fire Brigade, earning a regular wage, and striving for a better future for his family. It took a chance meeting with his wife and two employees of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs to change his family’s life.

This meeting was when Len heard about the Aboriginal Loans Commission (ALC), an authority established in November 1974 to provide finance for Indigenous Australians wanting to buy their own homes. It was through the ALC that, on 27 May 1975, the Barratts became the very first recipients of an ALC loan ($32,500) with which they purchased a four-bedroom home in Kambah, ACT.

Over the next 34 years, and after going through several restructures, the ALC loan program became the Home Ownership Program which is now administered by IBA.

Niki Donnelly works for IBA, and as a member of the Barratt family, grew up in that Kambah house. She recalls the feeling of security that came from living in a home her parents owned. “I felt very safe that I always lived in the same home. By always living in our home we grew up with the same friends and family support

throughout our life.” She also appreciated the differences between her family’s living situation and that of some of her friends. She said it was great “not having to move every 6 months to a year. Other friends of mine had parents who rented and moved quite often.”

Niki’s mum, sister, her sister’s two children and two brothers still live in the Kambah family home. The stability that the home has provided for Niki and her siblings is something that Niki is keen to pass on to her children and their children.

The positive example set by her parents had a lasting effect on Niki. “In 1996 I bought my first home, in Canberra, through IBA. The support from my family definitely helped.” Niki and her family sold the house in Fisher and paid out their IBA loan when they relocated to the Central Coast. The money they received for the house assisted them in their business venture and with purchasing another home on the Coast through a mainstream lender.

Niki has returned to Canberra and commenced a role with IBA in February 2009. She is excited about now assisting other Indigenous Australians to own their own home and build assets and wealth as her parents were able to all those years ago.

“I would recommend that anyone considering buying a home should look at IBA first. IBA staff are dedicated to home lending. They deal with the home loan process from start to finish. You can call IBA with any query and know that staff members will give you the right support and answers.”

There is no better advertisement for the benefits of home ownership than the

Barratts. In their Kambah home, they raised 12 children in a stable, secure environment with positive role models. It is fitting that their daughter, Niki, is now working for IBA, raising her own family, and continuing the positive cycle of asset and wealth creation for future generations. •

The Pioneers of Indigenous Home Ownership

Article that appeared in the Canberra Times, May 27, 1975

Niki Donnelly

There is no better advertisement for the benefits of home ownership than the Barratts.

For Indigenous Australians, Brisbane was the focus of NAIDOC Week as the host city for this year’s NAIDOC Week celebrations. For IBA, the annual NAIDOC Breakfast, held in Brisbane, was an opportunity for IBA to show their support for NAIDOC Week and Indigenous economic development.

The Breakfast was held on Friday 10 July and hosted by the ABC’s Message Stick presenter Miriam Corowa.

Speakers on the day were the Minister for Families, Housing, Communities and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) the Hon. Jenny Macklin, new IBA Chair, Dr Dawn Casey, and the Corporate Development Director of Henry Walker Eltin (HWE) Mining, Mr John Jones.

Guests included the Deputy Secretary of FaHCSIA, Dr Jeff Harmer; Indigenous Land Corporation Chair, Shirley McPherson; Chief Executive Officer, Paul O’Callaghan; IBA Board members; representatives from the private sector; Indigenous groups, and staff from other government departments and agencies.

General Manager of IBA, Mr Ron Morony, confirmed IBA’s support for NAIDOC Week as an important time to reflect on the achievements of Indigenous Australians and to look to the future for what can be achieved. “As an organisation with 20 locations throughout Australia this breakfast event is one of many activities that IBA staff will be participating in during the week long NAIDOC celebrations,” Mr Morony said.

Speakers applauded the work that IBA and partner organisations were doing in closing the economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Minister Macklin noted the ’fantastic passion and drive’ of those gathered at the event. ”I want to say to the Board and to the senior management of IBA just how critical your role is in supporting those Indigenous business people around the country who really do want to get ahead.”

The Minister spoke of the potential for partnerships available through IBA and encouraged attendees to become “aware of the opportunities that IBA have to help businesses get off the ground.”

“If we can do it in a way that takes advantage of the very large infrastructure spending that the Government’s putting in place…I’d just love to see that happen so that we see Indigenous people taking advantage of the Government’s broader economic objectives.”

Minister Macklin stressed the importance of economic development for Indigenous Australians. “Economic independence is important for so many reasons but one of the most important reasons is the control that it gives individuals over their own lives.”

A key feature of the Minister’s address was her announcement of the appointment of Dr Dawn Casey as the new Chair of IBA. She praised Dr Casey as a ‘person of great distinction’ with ‘outstanding creativity’ and wished her all the best in her new role.

In response, Dr Casey said her appointment as Chair was an honour and provided an opportunity to influence the commercial and economic aspects of Indigenous development. She said “the role of reconciliation and support of reconciliation by the Government is critically important” and she is excited to be Chair of an economic development organisation which “enables Indigenous people to own their own homes and businesses through investment, creates jobs for Indigenous people and is a key contributor to closing the gap.”


Paul O’Callaghan and Dr Jeff Harmer

Annual breakfast to celebrate NAIDOC Week

IBA Board member, Leah Armstrong and IBA Deputy General Manager, Kaely Woods

Issue Three October 2009 5 Issue Three October 2009 5ABC Message Stick’s Miriam Corowa

Speakers applauded the work that IBA and partner organisations were doing in closing the economic gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.



John Jones from HWE Mining (a wholly owned subsidiary of Leighton Contractors’ Pty Limited) spoke of the value of partnering with IBA. “NAIDOC Week brings into sharp focus the role that Leighton Contractors and IBA have in commercial ventures with Indigenous partners. We believe in creating a self-sustaining cycle of Indigenous people creating real jobs for Indigenous people. We have a partnership with IBA; it’s certainly yielded fruit with more to come.”

Nurturing youth and providing opportunities for employment and training is a key focus for Mr Jones. “The goal is to provide pathways to employment. We run extensive programs; pre-employment, mentoring, cultural awareness, but we really have to do more. We want young people to see Leighton Contractors as a real and positive long-term career path.”

The breakfast provided a great opportunity for those involved in Indigenous affairs to

celebrate the great work being done in Indigenous economic development and share their optimism for the future. •

Dr Dawn Casey, Hon. Jenny Macklin, John Jones.


The recent ‘Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage’ report pointed to a significant gap in the level of education of Indigenous Australians compared to non-Indigenous Australians. The low number of well-educated Indigenous people within Indigenous communities is a contributing factor to a lack of economic development and participation by those communities in the mainstream economy. Educating the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow is essential to securing the economic future of Indigenous communities.

With that in mind, the IBA Board established the IBA Scholarship Fund in 2008. IBA General Manager, Ron Morony, says the Board is confident that “through the scholarship fund, mature-age Indigenous Australians can build economic knowledge, leadership skills and business acumen for their communities. This knowledge transfer will contribute to economic development in Indigenous communities.”

The IBA Scholarship Fund acknowledges that mature-age students are more likely to return to their communities after study, where they often hold a position of influence and are able to apply their skills and knowledge for the benefit of the community.

The Fund supports study in courses with a commercial and economic management focus in the areas of business, leadership and finance. Suitable courses include; business, accounting, financial management, commerce, tourism management, and governance.

The Fund provides recipients with the flexibility to choose which institution they wish to study at. An educational qualification can be gained through an Undergraduate Degree, Vocational Education and Training, TAFE, or a Capability Training short course.

Scholarships are intended for those who face financial burdens that might otherwise restrict their options for further study. IBA acknowledges that mature-aged students are often required to make significant personal and financial sacrifices when undertaking further study to advance their personal and career goals.

Aside from financial assistance, IBA can also provide non-financial support through connecting recipients with existing Indigenous support services, such as Indigenous Higher Education Centres (IHEC) or Indigenous Support Workers. IHEC are located in Australian Universities and Indigenous Support workers are available at most TAFE institutes. Recipients are supported to access the Australian Government’s Indigenous Tutorial Assistance Scheme, which provides free tutorial assistance to eligible students.

IBA Scholarship assistance is tailored to the individual circumstance and could include:

Study assistance• Course costs • Study resources/ancillary course costs • Communication costs (telephone,

broadband) • IT equipment (lap top, printer)• Living expenses • Transport costs• Child Care

Living away from home assistance• Relocation costs • Travel costs for family visits • Accommodation costs IBA opened an Expressions of Interest register for the scholarship in March 2009 with the intention of awarding a small number of places to eligible applicants to undertake study. In total, an astounding 162 enquiries were received and six successful applicants were selected. The successful applicants came from Western Australia and Queensland, and are pursuing qualifications in business, management, commerce, hospitality and financial counselling.

Information on IBA Scholarship Fund rounds, eligibility criteria and guidelines can be found on the IBA website www.iba.gov.au. For all other enquiries please contact the Scholarships Manager at [email protected] or call 1800 107 107. •

Educating the Indigenous leaders of tomorrow

Tough. Determined. Principled.

To some she is known as a ‘person of great distinction’, a ‘respected figure’, and to others, a ‘cultural warrior’.

There is no doubt, however, that Dr Dawn Casey is a visionary in the preservation and promotion of Indigenous culture. She has been recognised nationally and internationally for her groundbreaking work as the Director of the National Museum of Australia, bringing Indigenous culture into the spotlight and to the masses.

Dawn is also an accomplished administrator, having succeeded in a number of high profile roles in Commonwealth Government and Museums. She will bring all this experience and skill to her new role as Chair of Indigenous Business Australia, formally announced by the Minister for Families, Housing, Communities and Indigenous Affairs, the Hon. Jenny Macklin during NAIDOC Week 2009.

Like many of her contemporaries, Dawn is a battler, and rose to the top from humble beginnings. Born in 1950 her father was a stockman and her mother a cook from Croydon, North Queensland. When she was young the family lived in a cramped

shack on the outskirts of Cairns. Here, her mother cleaned houses and her father worked as a garbage collector.

Despite their hardship, Dawn recalls that growing up in Cairns was “a joy” with her and her brothers involved in sports. Her parents insisted that she attend school and did not tolerate absenteeism. Dawn recalls never feeling different to the other children until high school where she was told she couldn’t do the subjects that she really wanted to, like French, on the basis of being Aboriginal. Instead, Aboriginal girls were encouraged to study sewing and cooking to prepare them for domestic employment, with teachers maintaining that ‘you Aboriginal children will leave school before you reach Grade 10’. Dawn’s parents insisted she return to the school and fight her battles. These experiences ignited the determination in Dawn, a determination that would assist her throughout her career.

After leaving school at 14, Dawn was married and pregnant by 16. Working as a cleaner she put herself through business college, and secured her first role in the public service at the Commonwealth Department of Education, Cairns. She rose rapidly to senior posts in the Commonwealth Public Service, including AusAid, executing some impressive projects and honing her skills.

Throughout her childhood and early adult life museums held little interest for Dawn. But this changed when she was director of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs in South Australia, working closely with the director of the Museums. At that time, in South Australia, Indigenous Australians were experiencing a breakdown of culture. Petrol sniffing was rife and a wide range of anti-social issues were arising in the communities. Dawn funded a program for the repatriation of human remains and secret sacred material back to Indigenous communities. Her hope was that this would reconnect Indigenous people to their culture, and she found she

experienced a strong reconnection of her own in the process. This helped forge her commitment to museums and the preservation of Indigenous culture.

It was Dawn’s work on the National Museum of Australia (NMA) in Canberra that cemented her reputation. Recruited in 1999, she managed the transition of the museum from an organisation with 40 staff and an annual budget of $4 million, to a fully operational museum with 210 paid staff, 200 volunteers, and an annual budget of $43 million. The museum had approximately 2 million visitors within the first two and half years of opening. Building was completed on time and on budget - a rare and remarkable achievement for a major public sector building project - and the NMA opened as a Centenary of Federation project in 2001. The significance of this achievement was commemorated by the builders of the museum who presented Dawn with a framed piece of the Berlin Wall, on which was engraved, ‘For making the impossible possible’.

Dawn revelled in her role with the NMA. She enjoyed working for an institution where she got to “share with millions of visitors including school children, the rich, complex, ancient, sophisticated and enduring Indigenous culture, together with the long struggle for recognition and the impact of the removal of children, with people who come through museums; because museums are trusted organisation and, if you do it well, you change attitudes.”

Although the NMA was a success, in 2003 the Howard Government decided not to renew Dawn’s contract as Director, a controversial decision that was met with accusations of racism among the general public and the museum fraternity. Ironically, not one month after her dismissal Dawn was awarded a Public Service Medal for

Meet Dr Dawn Casey, IBA’s new Chair

Dr Dawn Casey is a visionary in the preservation and promotion of Indigenous culture.


her remarkable achievement in outstanding public service.

After a brief stint as a cultural consultant to the Victorian and West Australian Governments, in 2005 Dawn became the CEO of the Western Australia

Museum before moving to the position of Director of the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney in 2008. Dawn’s appointment to the Powerhouse was seen by some of her colleagues as risky and bold, but Dawn was excited by the chance to live in Sydney and take on the significant

challenges at the Powerhouse with her characteristic passion and dedication.

In NAIDOC Week 2009, Dawn officially commenced another new role in Indigenous affairs as the Chair of IBA. At the annual IBA NAIDOC Breakfast on



10 July 2009, she said “I am attracted by the opportunity to influence the commercial and economic aspects of Indigenous development. My career has always focussed on highlighting areas where improvements are possible and I believe the building blocks that underpin economic development stem from creating opportunities and a better future for our people.”

Dawn recollected a conversation with her mother after her contract at the NMA was not renewed, in which her mother asked “Dawn, weren’t you working hard enough? After 25 years in the Commonwealth Government you’re leaving?” Dawn said, “I believe she’s looking down from up there somewhere and sighing with relief that I’ve been accepted back into the Commonwealth fold.”

She has been welcomed with open arms by IBA, with IBA General Manager, Ron Morony, saying “The executive team and I are pleased with this appointment and it gives us a basis to move forward with confidence.”

Dawn Casey has had an influential, distinguished and at times controversial career. But despite the numerous awards, medals and accolades she remains a modest, humble, and carefree role model. She is a treasure to Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and IBA feels privileged to have her as its new leader. •

“My career has always focussed on highlighting areas where improvements are possible and I believe the building blocks that underpin economic development stem from creating opportunities and a better future for our people.” – Dr Dawn Casey.

IBA Chair, Dr Dawn Casey with IBA Deputy Chair, Bob Blair

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The Aboriginal community of Lockhart River is located 800km from Cairns in North Queensland. It’s a long way from anywhere. In 1848 the explorer Edmund Kennedy set up a base camp near the mouth of the Pascoe River, 33 km west of Lockhart River. Kennedy left nine men at Pascoe River who learned the hard way how isolated it is. By the time they were found by a supply ship, only two of the men remained alive, the other seven having died from disease and starvation.

Although isolated, Lockhart River has a vibrant community of around 450 people. Paul Piva is the Deputy Mayor of Lockhart River Aboriginal Council and a budding entrepreneur.

As he sits in his ‘office’, under a fig tree at the Lockhart River airstrip, Paul gazes in the direction of three hire vehicles neatly parked in a row. All three are allocated to passengers soon arriving on a Skytrans flight from Cairns, and all three are owned by Paul and his partner Lorraine (Laney) Warradoo trading as Lockhart River Car Hire. They have a further four vehicles in their fleet, which are currently out on hire.

The growth of Lockhart River Car Hire has been impressive as the company only commenced operations in early 2008, with a solitary vehicle. The area is popular with public servants, contractors and holidaymakers who flock to

Portland Roads and Chilli Beach, 40km or so to the north of Lockhart River. Business is so good that Paul and Laney are about to base three more vehicles at the airport in Coen, a small town and commercial centre on the Cape, 210 km to the west of Lockhart River.

Paul is proud of what Lockhart River Car Hire has achieved and is quick to thank the various Government bodies and private businesses that have assisted the steady growth of the company.

“When I first had the idea, I got in contact with Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) and it all started from there. I dealt with the Cairns office of

Remote controlled cars

Paul Piva


text



IBA, especially Trevor Brook. He was my Case Manager. They looked at it and said we were good candidates and sent the forms to Canberra and then IBA asked us to choose a business advisor to do a business plan.”

The ongoing business mentoring provided through IBA was of great benefit to Paul and Laney. “We chose Future Solutions in Townsville and had Dean Rowley from that firm develop a business plan for us. This was then approved by IBA and the loan was arranged for us to move forward with our new business.”

Paul and Laney quickly learned about the challenges of running a small business and they appreciated the assistance when they needed it most.

“All the while, Trevor, as our Case Manager, assisted us every time I needed something. You’ve got to remember that Lockhart River is more than 800 km north of Cairns, yet Trevor would respond immediately.

“He was also my mentor and when I thought that the going was getting too tough and there were problems that I and my wife, Laney, couldn’t solve completely by ourselves in this fairly isolated spot in

north Queensland, Trevor would fly up for a few days and help us sort it out until we could see blue sky again!”

Lockhart River is undergoing a renaissance and is home to a vibrant artistic community. Take a drive with Paul wearing his hat as Deputy Mayor and he proudly shows the advanced construction of the new shopping complex that will replace the old State Government community store. Additional facilities at the shopping complex will include a coffee shop/café and a bakery.

Over at the cultural centre, talented artist and Indigenous dance teacher, Josiah Omeenyo, one of the noted ‘Lockhart River Art Gang’, is putting the finishing touches to one of his ‘big picture’ acrylic-on-canvas paintings. Some are used as a medium to interpret the effects on the land and sea caused by global warming. The paintings are sent to Josiah’s agent in Sydney and from there are sold to eager buyers around the world.

Paul’s latest addition to his company’s fleet is a 2006 Toyota Troop Carrier that was purchased recently at the Queensland Government Motor Auctions in Cairns. It had been repainted and received a new fit-out inside so Paul didn’t initially recognise it as Lockhart’s

former ambulance! It’s now being put to a much different use in the community and represents the sense of renewal, adventure and hope in Lockhart River.

Eighteen months after setting up the business Paul Piva and Laney Warradoo know the foundations have definitely been laid to progress the business. Paul says, with his ever-friendly smile, “Indigenous Business Australia set my family on a path to prosperity. But I know and realise it will also involve a lot of hard work along the way.”

That hard work is paying off with Lockhart River Car Hire receiving a Highly Commended Award at the Queensland Reconciliation Awards for Business held during NAIDOC Week 2009 in Brisbane. Judges commented that they were impressed with Paul and Laney’s commitment to sharing local stories with their customers, and giving advice and help to other Indigenous communities interested in setting up a car hire business.

Paul and Laney look forward to continuing to build the business and sustain it for their family and future. With the community of Lockhart River behind them they are well on their way •

The growth of Lockhart River Car Hire has been impressive as the company only commenced operations in early 2008, with a solitary vehicle.


The launch of the Purarrka Indigenous Mining Academy (PIMA) on 19 May 2009 was a significant step in addressing the training and employment needs of Indigenous Australians in Western Australia.

The academy, an initiative of Ngarda Civil and Mining Pty Limited (Ngarda) and BHP Billiton, is located at BHP Billiton’s Yarrie Mine, approximately 200km north east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara Region of Western Australia. It is a state-of-the-art, well resourced learning and training environment, delivering programs that provide skills and knowledge appropriate to the local mining industry.

The launch of the academy included a graduation ceremony for 19 out of 20 Indigenous trainees. One of the female trainees could not attend the course because she could not access sufficient care arrangements for her young child. The 19 graduates received a Certificate I in

Resources and Infrastructure Operations, a mining industry recognised qualification.

The graduation ceremony was a very emotional occasion with Elders of the Nyamal people, the Traditional Owners of the mine site, addressing the graduates. Their message was clear: the times are changing, and the younger generations have opportunities that the Elders never had. The Elders said they were extremely proud to see the younger generation graduating from the course and that they should “hold their heads high, seize this opportunity and move forward”. The Elders were delighted to see two young male Indigenous trainees instructing non-Indigenous workers on the OH&S guidelines for the mine site.

This graduating class was the second to go through the training academy; the first class were a pilot group that graduated in 2008. The total number of graduates through the college to date is 29 from 34

participants. Twenty five graduates have since progressed to full-time traineeships/ employment with various organisations.

The initial interviews for the traineeships, managed and conducted by Ngarda, highlighted the popularity of the training program amongst local WA Indigenous

Mining opportunities in the Pilbara

The Academy’s curriculum focuses on matching trainees’ skills and interests to vocational opportunities that exist within the mining industry.

The launch of the Purarrka Indigenous Mining Academy


communities. Some interviewees travelled from as far away as Roeburne and the Western Desert - up to 500km - for the opportunity to interview for the program.

The program, which is conducted in conjunction with the Pilbara Tafe, Pundulmurra Campus, located in South Hedland, has the following objectives. To:

• improve the lives of Indigenous Australians through access to world class, fully accredited training and education that will result in real employment outcomes within the mining and related industries

• develop strong links with local communities and industry to ensure training is, and will remain, appropriate, to key stakeholder needs and

• address barriers to success in participant’s work and personal lives through the provision of appropriately skilled and qualified mentors.

The Academy’s curriculum focuses on matching trainees’ skills and interests to vocational opportunities that exist within the mining industry.

The program provides pathways of recognition to enable participants to obtain qualifications under relevant National Training Packages. Predominantly classroom based, the program

is delivered over an intensive 12 week period. Classroom training is interspersed with worksite visits, work experience and other practical activities to ensure trainees remain interested and engaged.

It is this practical transition from the classroom to the worksite that is a key component of the program. Trainees undergo a comprehensive lifestyle development and mentoring program that enables them to enter their chosen vocation fully equipped with the tools and support needed to pursue and develop long-term, meaningful employment within various industries.

The identification of a career pathway is integral to the long-term success of the program and its trainees. Trainees undertake an elective learning unit for their identified vocation and undertake two weeks work experience in that vocation at the Yarrie Mine Site. In their second week of work experience trainees can opt to experience an alternative vocation if desired, or consolidate their learning from the first week.

Some trainees have had minimal exposure to mainstream employment outside their local CDEP work and face significant barriers in terms of their understanding of English and work culture. Much of the subliminal learning in this program occurs outside of normal working/training hours. The trainees learn how to conduct themselves, mix with others, understand the workplace culture and

Graduates of the PIMA program


the discipline required to be fit for work (early nights and mornings etc), and how to balance work and family responsibilities. These issues are often taken for granted by people who have participated in a work culture for a significant period of time, but they are learned qualities and can pose a real challenge for trainees.

Thanks to Ngarda and BHP Billiton, there are now 29 graduates of the PIMA program with new skills, knowledge, a structured career path and increased self esteem. These graduates are equipped with the skills to create a worthwhile career for themselves and train the next generation from their communities. They are potential role models and a credit to themselves. With more training facilities like PIMA the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment will continue to be bridged. •

About Ngarda Ngarda Civil and Mining Pty Limited was formed in 2000 for the specific purpose of providing Indigenous Australians of the Western Australian Pilbara Region employment and training opportunities within the civil and mining industries. Headquartered in Perth, with operations in Port Hedland, and other parts of the Pilbara region, the company is 50% owned by Leighton Contractors Pty Limited, 25% by the Ngarda Ngarli Yarndu Foundation and 25% by Indigenous Business Australia. Since its initial inception, the company has experienced rapid organisational growth and now has a $200m a year annual turnover that puts it in the unique position of providing many Indigenous Australians life changing employment opportunities. The company’s major clients include Woodside, BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto, and strives to maintain a minimum Indigenous employment ratio of 50% at all times. Throughout the 2008/2009 financial year, Ngarda Civil and Mining Pty Limited continually exceeded this goal, and maintained an Indigenous employment figure of approximately150 Indigenous Australians in fulltime work.

Ngarda is currently recruiting for the next course intake and, to date, has received 85 applications from various remote Indigenous communities across Western Australia.

Australian Capital TerritoryWoden Bonner House East 5 Neptune St Woden ACT # Ph: 02 6121 2700 Fax: 02 6121 2730 PO Box 38 Woden ACT 2606

New South WalesCoffs Harbour 17 Duke St Coffs Harbour NSW* Ph: 02 6648 5800 Fax: 02 6648 5888 PO Box 1335 Coffs Harbour NSW 2450

Grafton Shop 9, 22-26 King Street Grafton NSW Ph: 02 6643 5944 Fax: 02 6643 5077 PO Box 266 Grafton NSW 2460

Sydney Level 9/300 Elizabeth St Surry Hills NSW Ph: 02 9207 6350 Fax: 02 9212 4398 PO Box K363 Haymarket NSW 1240

Tamworth Unit 2/180 Peel St Tamworth NSW* Ph: 02 6701 9000 Fax: 02 6701 9014 PO Box 684 Tamworth NSW 2340

Wagga Wagga 70 Baylis St Wagga Wagga NSW Ph: 02 6932 3330 Fax: 02 6932 3339 PO Box 786 Wagga Wagga NSW 2650

Northern TerritoryAlice Springs Jock Nelson Building Level 2/16 Hartley St Alice Springs NT Ph: 08 8959 4283 Fax: 08 6246 6313 PO Box 111 Alice Springs NT 0871

Darwin Suite E Level 1/49 Woods St Darwin NT Ph: 08 8936 1080 Fax: 08 8941 2085 GPO Box 394 Darwin NT 0801

QueenslandBrisbane Level 13/144 Edward St Brisbane QLD Ph: 07 3008 8300 Fax: 07 3211 0399 PO Box 10906 Adelaide Street Brisbane QLD 4000

Cairns 59 McLeod St Cairns QLD Ph: 07 4048 8480 Fax: 07 4031 0766 PO Box 2499 Cairns QLD 4870

Mt Isa 42-44 Simpson St Mt Isa QLD* Ph: 07 4747 3055 Fax: 07 4747 3077 PO Box 2416 Mt Isa QLD 4825

Rockhampton Level 1, Central Queensland University Building Corner Fitzroy and East Streets Rockhampton QLD* Ph: 07 4924 0066 Fax: 07 4921 3659 PO Box 550 Rockhampton QLD 4700

Townsville Level 4/235 Stanley St Townsville QLD* Ph: 07 4760 1060 Fax: 07 4724 1394 PO Box 2018 Townsville QLD 4810

South AustraliaAdelaide Level 18 11 Waymouth Street Adelaide SA* Ph: 08 8400 2000 Fax: 08 8400 2010 PO Box 9820 Adelaide SA 5001

TasmaniaHobart Level 3/21 Kirksway Pl Battery Point TAS* Ph: 03 6211 9316 Fax: 03 6211 9353 GPO Box 9820 Hobart TAS 7001

VictoriaMelbourne Level 3, Casselden Place 2 Lonsdale Street Melbourne VIC Ph: 03 8620 3275 Fax: 03 8620 3274 GPO Box 9820 Melbourne VIC 3001

Western AustraliaBroome 1 Short St Broome WA* Ph: 08 9192 7855 Fax: 08 9193 5958 PO Box 613 Broome WA 6725

Kununurra Lot 2250 Coolibah Dr Kununurra WA* Ph: 08 9168 2817 Fax: 08 9168 3317 PO Box 260 Kununurra WA 6743

Perth Level 10/55 St Georges Tce Perth WA* Ph: 08 9237 7711 Fax: 08 9237 7784 GPO Box B67 Perth WA 6838

* This office is co-located with the Indigenous

Coordination Centre. # This is IBA’s head office

To subscribe to future editions of the Inspire magazine, visit www.iba.gov.au/subscribe

www.iba.gov.au

You can also contact your local IBA office by calling FreeCALL 1800 107 107* and follow the prompts. *Calls to 1800 numbers from your home phone are free. Calls from public and mobile phone may be timed and charged at a higher rate.

Editor: Ben Kendall

Contributors: Lisa Dart Kerrynne Liddle Priscilla McCotter Daniel McKinney-Smith Tony Walsh

Documents

Issue Three October 2009 - Ramen...Information on IBA Scholarship Fund rounds, eligibility criteria and guidelines can be found on the IBA website . For all other enquiries please