Making a positive difference

Fairbridge Bindjareb Training Program

Larry Smith

Manager Prisoner Employment Programs Western Australia

Retention of Aboriginal workers is currently the single biggest challenge

faced by the mining industry in Western

Australia.

Fairbridge Bindjareb Project

• Multi-faceted program addressing known risk factors

• Collaboration between Industry, Community and the Government

• Provides Indigenous people with real jobs and real careers in the mining industry,

• Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations over six month and

• Guaranteed employment upon release

Focus

To address barriers through:

• Life skills training• Literacy and Numeracy • Case Management and• Appropriately skilled and qualified

mentors.

The Partners

The project is an initiative that involves a partnership between

• Industry (BIS Industries), • Community (Fairbridge) and • Government (WA DCS)

Training

• Training is conducted over a 20 week period

• Participants are given time on two simulators to gain experience prior to the “real deal”

Training Room

• There is some classroom based learning

• To replicate real employment each day commences with a “Tool Box” meeting

• At the end of the week it concludes with a Debrief

How is this training different

Can you spot the officer?

How is this training different?

• A simulated mine site forms the base for a large part of the training.

• a unique experiential learning environment and an introduction to mine site operations, heavy equipment (provided by WesTrac) and industry culture.

How is this training different?

Holistic training package that encompasses an intensive lifestyle development program

• literacy & numeracy• effective relationships with others• driver training• cultural awareness & industry culture training• understand the discipline required to be fit for work

and • how to balance work and family responsibilities

Lifestyle Development Program

• learn how to manage their physical, nutritional and financial wellbeing

• team building

Mentors

Aboriginal Mentors provide support by:

• Mentoring the trainees throughout the term of their training at Fairbridge and their transition into employment.

• One full time male aboriginal mentor

• One part time female aboriginal mentor to work with families – family days, newsletters

Ongoing Training

• The Front End Loader is being directed by a trainee who has returned to the training to undertake Cert IV Workplace Trainer & Assessor.

Family Days• Two family days during the

training.

• One at the commencement of the training

• Families come into Fairbridge to see what training the men in their lives are doing.

• Presentation from BIS outlining employment opportunities

Family Days

• Second Family Day is in the last two weeks of training.

• Support and newsletters are given to Families by the Mentors

Ongoing Development

• Completion of program is only the first step in the journey

• Participants will continue their training and development with BIS

• Future training will include:– Certificate III in Surface Extraction

Operations

Making a difference in WA• Breaking the cycle of intergenerational

involvement in the justice system• Supplying skilled workforce for mining industry• Community safety enhanced by increasing

offender chances of successful reintegration• Economic benefits in decreasing recidivism and

increasing Aboriginal workplace participation• Relationship between unemployment and crime

Gary’s Story

• Koodah Cornwall, Bindjareb elder and Gary, current training participant

20

Evaluation

• Pre-course expectations survey• Weekly case management meetings • Weekly team de-briefs• Course completion surveys• Post-course evaluation workshops• Developing in-depth longitudinal evaluation

with UWA to measure outcomes

Achievements

• External recognition• Funding secured for next

seven intakes – 84 prisoners guaranteed jobs

• Solid graduate outcomes– of the 30 participants to

date (March 2013) only one has re-offended

Side Tipper Grader

Graduation

Band of Bindjareb Cooda’sA band of Cooda’s,grown from amoment of strife, nowwith a new directionin life Our unity is strong,our sense of belonging is to our ancestral songs

A new learning ofrespect, through ashared knowledge, isnow, our togethernessin strength Our commitment isto the core of oursouls, our pride hascome from our forefathers of old.  

Through honesty andsupport comes agreat abundance ofself worth Through each newday, have trust andunderstanding forall those people thatcome our way Proud Aboriginal weare, have faith andtrust in this troddenpath, this is the greatest opportunity by far A conglomerate ofone, this Bindjareb project will definitelysucceed, culminatingin us all, in the BIS family