Ngarda* Civil & Mining

Ngarda* is the Yindjibarndi word for Aboriginal people.

Ngarda Civil & Mining is the acknowledged industry leader in Indigenous employment in the Australian mining industry. It has a workforce of 168, 85 per cent of whom are Indigenous people. The company currently has 6 apprentices, 47 trainees and 2 Academy based trainees. There are 27 Indigenous personnel completing Certificate III in Metalliferous Mining Operations.

Ngarda's portfolio of activities includes tailings dam, ore handling and hauling, civils, stevedoring and shiploading, contract mining, earthworks, road and rail construction, mine site support services, haul rail maintenance, crushing and screening operations, environmental rehabilitation and services.

Ngarda has a strong reputation for high quality outcomes. Contractual obligations are always met with high safety standards throughout all operations. Training is a major investment and the company has learned by doing. Currently Ngarda is the preferred supplier of Indigenous employees for the mining industry because it is the pre-eminent company for conducting and assessing mining training of Indigenous people.

Currently some 140 Indigenous personnel are employed at three significant projects, Finucane Island Plant, Nelson Point both for BHP Billiton Iron Ore at Port Hedland, and the Robe River Mine for Rio Tintos Pilbara Iron at Pannawonica and West Angelas.

History

In 2001 Henry Walker Eltin, Ngarda Ngarli Yarndu Foundation Inc. and Indigenous Business Australia developed a business model they believed would give Indigenous people the training and skills necessary to meet the industries needs, thus creating a sustainable, long-term and profitable venture. This was to provide an avenue to increase Indigenous employment and involve the local Indigenous people in the benefits that flow from the resource projects of Western Australia.

Awards

Within two years of operations Ngarda and its founding partners won the 2003 Prime Ministers Awards for Large Business Excellence. The award recognised the mutual interest and determination of Ngardas joint venture partners, the dedication of its employees and the vision of its clients. All of these elements were seen to make Ngarda a commercially successful, cross-cultural organisation.

Our Governing Partners

Ngarda Ngarli Yarndu Foundation Inc is an independent body that represents the four wards of the then ATSIC Ngarda Ngarli Yarndu Region, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Foundation was established to alleviate poverty among the Indigenous people in the NNY Region. To do this the Foundation aims to raise funds and make investments that will generate long-term returns.

Indigenous Business Australia (IBA) is a statutory authority which facilitates Indigenous involvement in the private sector by providing financial support to its Indigenous partners and liaison skills in bringing together interested local and industry-related organisations. IBA provides financial guarantees to Ngarda as well as advice and expertise on Indigenous issues in the wider business and Indigenous communities.

In March 2006 Leighton Contractors Pty Ltd acquired the shares previously owned by the Henry Walker Eltin Group, one of our founding partners. Leighton Contractors is one of Australias leading construction, mining, services and telecommunications groups with $3.8 billion work-in-hand and more than 5000 employees, and is a major force in the Pilbara Iron Ore sector in Western Australia.

Leightons brings to the partnership tested and proven management systems, strong client relationships, comprehensive training programs and knowledge of all aspects of the industry including safety, environmental and legislative requirements.

The three Ngarda partners share a common interest in the economic development of the Pilbara Region of Western Australia and a vision for the inclusion of Indigenous people in those commercial opportunities.

The reason for our success

Ngarda's success is due to the culture of Indigenous leadership and experienced mining industry managers that head the company. The Indigenous leaders who head Ngarda are not afraid to lead their communities into new areas and challenges and the experience base at the head of the company involves hundreds of years of experience in mining. Accordingly the company takes a people-centred, no-nonsense, old school, anti-bureaucratic approach to recruiting, educating and inducting employees into the mining industry.

Ngarda takes successful Indigenous applicants on a sixteen week training course and then into direct employment, earning a base salary of $80,000 per annum. For applicants with trade skills the training course may be for a shorter time. Ngarda welcomes applications from Indigenous people who want to work in the mining industry, if you would like to work for Ngarda please contact our main office at the number below.