Roderick Alexander and Carol Anne Tucker
getting into the spirit of it all

‘Ain’t no mountain high enough. Ain’t no river wide enough.’ These lyrics would make the perfect theme song to describe the WorkStart Programme.

Trialled at Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Paraburdoo mine site, the programme adopts a ‘no barriers’ approach to help Indigenous participants address obstacles, which have in the past been barriers to successful participation in full time employment.

WorkStart participants start the programme with their off-site trainer and mentor (and alarm clock) waking them at 5.30am to make the journey from Tom Price to Paraburdoo to begin training at 8.00am.

Among the trainees was a 24-year-old Indigenous man who, having been unsuccessful in holding long-term employment in the past, worked hard at the programme under the watchful eyes of his supervisor and on-site mentor.

The quiet achiever went on to impress everyone when he applied for a permanent position at Rio Tinto Iron Ore. Ahead of the 20 other applicants he secured the role and now owns his own home where he lives with his young family.

This is just one of the success stories from the first intake of WorkStart participants, eight of whom have gone on to either full time employment, apprenticeships, higher training or progressing with the Work Start Programme to gain further skills.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Inland Indigenous Employment Strategy Advisor Paul Butcher says while the success stories are great, the programme is also designed to ensure articipants who aren’t quite as successful don’t fall through the cracks.

The AWS pilot group


Anthony Cameron and Keith Chubby hard at work

“The three remaining participants who didn’t secure employment on-site are currently completing off-site training to address any issues that may be preventing them from getting a job,” explains Paul.

“Our no barriers approach means if someone falls off the wagon they don’t get left behind.”

The Work Start Programme also includes entry-level formal training with participants gaining Certificate I in Resources and Infrastructure through Pilbara TAFE.

The programme is a collaboration between RTIO, the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation, Pilbara TAFE, Shire of Ashburton, Skilled Engineering, SKILLED Jobs Futures and the Gascoyne Pilbara Drug and Alcohol Awareness Unit.

After its success in Paraburdoo, the WorkStart Programme is now being introduced in Tom Price and Roebourne and soon in Karratha.

The WorkStart Programme has received national recognition and interest from other Australian companies.