A group of ten students from MADALAH, an organization that provides education scholarships to First Nations students in Western Australia, recently toured Fortescue’s port and rail operations in Port Hedland. The group included Year 11 and 12 students, some of whom are members of MADALAH’s Student Council.
During their visit, the students explored various parts of Fortescue’s operations, including the concentrate handling facility and a ship loader in action as it loaded iron ore onto a bulk carrier vessel. They also observed a train unloader and learned about the rolling stock maintenance yard. Presentations were given by members of Fortescue’s First Nations team who spoke about their career paths within the mining industry.
The purpose of the tour was to inform students about potential careers in the resources sector and expose them to opportunities available within mining. Many of these students come from communities where Fortescue operates.
MADALAH student Alyssa Latham expressed her enthusiasm for the experience: “We got a glimpse into what life could be like working for Fortescue and got to see different things across Fortescue’s port and rail operations.”
“While I knew mining, I never truly comprehended just how diverse the mining community is, in both people and jobs, without seeing it firsthand,” Alyssa said.
Fortescue says its involvement with initiatives like this is part of its ongoing commitment to building strong relationships with First Nation communities and investing in future generations.
Warren Fish, Fortescue’s Director of Approvals, Communities and Environment, commented on the importance of such programs: “By opening our doors and sharing our people’s stories, we hope to spark ambition and show that a career in mining can be both rewarding and achievable. Partnerships like this are about listening, learning and working together to create opportunities that reflect the aspirations of First Nations communities.”
Casey Jo Drummond, General Manager at MADALAH, thanked Fortescue for their continued support: “We are grateful to our corporate partners that enable these site visits and provide an opportunity for our scholars to experience what it would be like to work in the various sectors.
“This trip was an incredible demonstration of the diversity of roles within the mining sector and definitely opened the eyes of many of the scholars who were able to attend.”
