Community
Regional Partnership Agreement
Background to Regional Partnership Agreements and the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
A partnership between the Australian Government and the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) commenced in 2005 and is set out in an MOU dated 27 May 2009. The partnership aims to improve the socioeconomic wellbeing of Indigenous Australians by expanding access to employment and business development opportunities available in mining regions by laying the foundation for lasting, intergenerational benefit. It involves government, Indigenous people, businesses and communities.The agreement aims to benefit both Indigenous people and mining companies through improved opportunities for the industry to source local labour, products and services, skills development and achieve higher staff retention. The partnership is also aimed at present and future development of mineral resources, and the establishment of vibrant, diversified and sustainable regional economies.
The implementation of the MoU is overseen by a joint industry and government National Steering Committee and is supported by the Federal Government's Job Services Australia providers, the reformed Community Development Employment Projects and the Indigenous Employment Program, as well as the wide range of current employment, training and business development initiatives led by minerals companies.
In July 2006 the WA State Government became a signatory to the MCA MOU under the Bi-Lateral Agreement on Indigenous Affairs arrangements. In May 2009 the Australian Government and the mining industry updated and re-signed the MCA MOU. The latest version of the MCA MOU can be downloaded from the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website.
Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement (WRPA)
The purpose of the WRPA is to increase the economic participation of Indigenous people through targeted employment and business development opportunities at the local level, with a particular focus on Indigenous participation in minerals industry and government supply chains.Underpinning the operation of the WRPA are the following principles:
• Sustainable development for the Martu community in Wiluna to ensure their social and economic well-being both in the present and the future
• Partnership between the Aboriginal community, mining industry and all levels of government
• Collaboration and coordination
• Joint commitment to social and economic development of the Aboriginal communities with which the parties engage.
The WRPA is a forum and a partnership, rather than a document. In December 2008 the current WRPA was launched with an experienced full-time Coordinator appointed for a two-year period.
During 2009 the WRPA, chaired by the Shire of Wiluna (currently chaired by Ivernia Magellan Metals), became well established, well attended and recognised as an entity in Wiluna. It brings the Aboriginal community together with all levels of government, industry (particularly mining) and the wider community. The WRPA has added to its project-based approach a more holistic community development approach, recognising the pressing social, economic and cultural development needs. The overall objective is to achieve sustainable outcomes by building effective and significant Aboriginal community engagement.
WRPA challenges
A number of current challenges exist, including:
• Securing longer term funding for the program through industry and Government
• Ensuring effective and equal involvement of the Martu community in determining the future work of the WRPA
• Encouraging Government to ensure service delivery is appropriate and coordinated
• Encouraging high priority programs and projects to be undertaken, without overpromising on the role of the WRPA
Magellan, through active participation in the WRPA (as Chair of the Steering Committee, and Co-Chair of the WRPA Industry Partners group), is committed to meeting the objectives and the challenges of the agreement.
Wiluna Regional Partnership Agreement, October 2010
(PDF, 8403KB)
