Evolution launches its first Shared Value Project

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1 Evolution launches its first Shared Value Project Evolution has entered into a two year partnership with Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation to help them establish a native plant nursery and market garden. Gudjuda are based in Home Hill, near our Mt Carlton site. This project will create new Indigenous jobs, provide industry-related transferable skills for Indigenous people in the region and will generate much needed revenue for Gudjuda to grow their training arm, resulting in further training and employment opportunities. The above outcome will contribute to addressing the significant gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians. Without Evolution partnering us for two years on this, the project would be at a standstill. It would all just be a dream, said Eddie Smallwood, Chairman of Gudjuda. When we have this project up and running it will give so many people job opportunities. Being self-sufficient is a key part of our long term business plan. Who is Gudjuda Reference Group Aboriginal Corporation? Gudjuda is an Indigenous owned and operated organisation providing industryrelated training for Indigenous people in the Burdekin and Whitsunday regional Council areas which are key communities for our Mt Carlton site. In 2014 Gudjuda established a new vocational education & training centre in Home Hill for mining, civil construction, earth moving & HV licenses, natural resource management, hospitality & retail, small business management, aged care, disability and home and community care (all at Certificate III level). Gudjuda have a solid track record of securing employment for most of their training graduates, with over 73 Indigenous people placed in full-time employment since Whilst Gudjuda is not the Traditional Owner group for our Mt Carlton site (Mt Carlton is located on the traditional land of the Birriah People), Eddie Smallwood assures us that with [Gudjuda s] Reconciliation Plan in place, we want to take everyone with us, so it s not just benefiting Gudjuda but also other Indigenous groups such as Birriah. Myself being a Birriah person, I want to ensure this is going to benefit Birriah people too. Evolution felt confident that our partnership with Gudjuda on this Shared Value Project would be a success. The Gudjuda management team have been dedicated to making this project a success from the first meeting we had with them, said Mark Brown, HSEC Manager at Mt Carlton.

2 What does this Shared Value project entail? Evolution will be helping Gudjuda to establish: a) a nursery that will grow native plants and shrubs from seedlings to sell to various businesses in the local area for their revegetation projects. b) intensive small crop production of goods such as tomatoes, capsicum and chillies to be sold locally through Farmers Markets and other outlets. These Social Enterprises will generate an income which will be used to support and grow Gudjuda s training arm and reduce Gudjuda s dependence on government funding which can be uncertain and erratic. As an Indigenous person, it s pleasing to know Gudjuda have been awarded funding under Evolution s Shared Value Project initiative, said Mt Carlton Community Liaison Officer, Gerry de la Cruz, who is helping to coordinate the implementation of this project on behalf of Evolution. Gudjuda have been providing training for Indigenous and non-indigenous people over the years and what a difference it has made to not only the participants but also their families who rely on the income they can earn as a result of this training. This project helps Gudjuda to expand their impact by assisting them to be selfsustaining so they can provide more training and employment opportunities. What value does this project create for the community? Gudjuda s training arm provides employment for up to 13 direct employees (casual, part-time and full-time) as well as indirect employment opportunities. Gudjuda estimate that this project, once established, will provide additional direct employment opportunities for up to 7 full-time employees and up to 6 casual employees which could grow as demand grows. The activities undertaken during the project will also create new training opportunities for approximately 30 trainees to attain Certificate III in Conservation & Land management, Horticulture and other smaller programs such as propagation and seedlings, weed eradication and management, chain-saw practices, ticket for use of poisons and other skills related to land and conservation industries. The partnership between Gudjuda and Evolution is a great opportunity, not just for Indigenous people, but for the whole community who will benefit through employment and training and also from the economic value generated from the market garden and the native plant nursery. said Eddie Smallwood. Gudjuda can also use this project to enhance the various education programs they deliver in local schools on topics including health, environment and culture. This project addresses a key need identified in Closing the Gap, a commitment by all Australian governments to improve the lives of Indigenous Australians. A key target in Closing the Gap is to halve the gap in employment outcomes between Indigenous and non-indigenous Australians within a decade. 2

3 What value does this project create for Evolution? This is a project that all Evolution people can feel proud of. It is a great example of we say, we do, we deliver - actively demonstrating our commitment to working with our communities to achieve their future aspirations. We want our communities to be better off for Evolution having been there, said Anika McManus, Evolution Group Manager External & Indigenous Relations. Our Shared Value Projects are aimed at supporting the community to be resilient, to thrive and to be sustainable for the long term. These are legacy projects that will continue to benefit the community long beyond the life of the mine. We hope these projects will help build the community s trust in, and engagement with Evolution, not just at our existing sites but in any future communities we may operate in. Evolution may get an economic benefit from this project by purchasing locally which may be more cost effective. This project provides us with the opportunity to purchase local native plants and trees from a local supplier to use for site rehabilitation programs, said Mark Brown. Seeing community relationships develop and grow into successful business ventures is rewarding for myself and the team on site. The project also provides an opportunity for Evolution people to use their skills and knowledge in a new context, knowing that their contribution is helping to deliver much needed community outcomes. What I personally get out of participating in this project is the satisfaction in knowing that Evolution is demonstrating one of our Community Relations Principles to achieve outcomes of mutual benefit, and that I am assisting in the project s success. said Gerry de la Cruz. The initial stages of the project will see the Mt Carlton maintenance team assisting with the fabrication of the support infrastructure for the water tank and irrigation system. Mt Carlton Senior Environmental Advisor, David Eason, will be helping Gudjuda develop conceptual designs and layout plans for the project, which will incorporate water supply considerations. David will also collect soil samples from the proposed market garden footprint. I am proud and excited to be participating in the development of Gudjuda s native plant nursery and market garden, said David The program will enable the restoration of impacted native habitats in the Lower Burdekin region, and will facilitate the successful rehabilitation and closure of completed resource projects in the area. I am encouraged to be involved in a project where the vision for positive company and employee development is clearly defined and sustainable. I hope to remain a part of this initiative and see it become a fruitful endeavour for all parties involved. If you are interested in finding out more about Evolution s Shared Value Project initiative or our project with Gudjuda, please contact Anika McManus. anika.mcmanus@evolutionmining.com.au 3

4 Photos Main building of Gudjuda s training centre, Home Hill Eddie Smallwood, Chairman of Gudjuda, with Evolution employees 4

5 Old racecourse where native plant nursery and market garden will be built Exploring the potential layout for the nursery and market garden 5

6 Working out where the water tank for the irrigation system will go 6