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Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island Enterprises (GEBIE) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)

Date: 16 August 2005
Sub Category:Memorandum of Understanding
Place:Groote Eylandt
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State/Country:Northern Territory, Australia
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Groote Eylandt is the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria. It is situated south-east of Blue Mud Bay in the Northern Territory. The island falls within the Anindiyakwa Ward of East Arnhem Shire, with the exception of the mining company town of Alyangula, which is classified as unincorporated territory.
Alternative Names:
  • MOU between GEMCO, the ALC and GEBIE
    • Subject Matter:Economic Development | Employment and Training
    Summary Information:
    This Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by the Groote Eyland Mining Company Pty Ltd (GEMCO), the Anindilyakwa Land Council and Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation (GEBIE) on 16 August 2005.

    The purpose of this MoU is to enhance employment and training opportunities for local indigenous people on and around Groote Eylandt, and 'bring long-term, sustainable economic benefits to the Anindilyakwan People' (GEMCO, Socio-Economic Case Studies).
    Detailed Information:
    This MoU seeks to increase the number of job opportunities for the Anindilyakwan People by providing for the following measures:

  • The identification by GEMCO of contracts for town and facilities management services in relation to which GEBIE (the business arm of the Anindilyakwa Land Council) can place tenders;

  • The provision of assistance to GEBIE by GEMCO in the tendering process;

  • The formation of partnerships and joint ventures between GEBIE and GEMCO's non-mining contractors, so as to enable GEBIE employees to learn new skills;

  • The provision of training by GEBIE to indigenous people under a nationally accredited 30-week training program;

  • The provision of assistance by GEMCO to GEBIE to enable the building of a training facility;

  • The provision of work experience in administrative roles to trainees by GEMCO; and

  • The preparation of plans and strategies to deal with employment-related issues such as 'ill-informed workforces, drug and alcohol misuse, lack of safety knowledge and the challenges of complying with GEMCO standards' (GEMCO, Socio-Economic Case Studies).


    • The training programs being provided by GEBIE have a focus on pre-vocational skills, including life and literacy skills. These skills also relate to civic duties such as business development, waste management, landscaping and office skills (Department of Primary Industry, Fisheries and Mines, Exploring Country).
    Outcomes:
    This MoU appears to have had some impact on employment and training opportunities for indigenous people on Groote Eylandt, with GEMCO's Socio-Economic Case Studies article attributing the following achievements to this agreement:

  • The formation of joint ventures between GEBIE and two of GEMCO's contractors, with the joint ventures successfully securing contracts;

  • The provision of full-time employment by GEMCO to two trainees in administrative roles;

  • More indirectly, the emergence of nine transfer or secondment opportunities for indigenous employees from July 2005 to April 2006; and

  • A rise in the number of indigenous employees in GEMCO's Rehabilitation & Mine Services section between January 2005 and April 2006.


    • The latter two outcomes have also been linked to GEMCO's Aboriginal Employment Strategy, which has been seeking to provide local indigenous people with skills to enable them to undertake careers in the mining sector since 1997 (see GEMCO, Socio-Economic Case Studies).

    Related Entries

  • Renewal Mining Agreement between Groote Eylandt Mining Company and Anindilyakwa Land Council
  • Groote Eylandt Regional Partnership Agreement (RPA) (Stage 2)
    • Organisation
  • Groote Eylandt Mining Company Pty Ltd - Signatory
  • Anindilyakwa Land Council - Signatory
  • Groote Eylandt and Bickerton Island Enterprises Aboriginal Corporation (GEBIE) - Signatory
  • BHP Billiton

    • Glossary

    Memorandum of Understanding
    Google
    Created:Thursday, 14 February 2008
    Modified:Saturday, 30 April 2011
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