Rio Tinto Iron Ore contributed to 166 community programmes in WA in 2017

Rio Tinto Iron Ore increased the number of community programmes it contributed to last year, reaching thousands of people across Western Australia as part of the company’s commitment to making a long-lasting contribution to the State.

The 2017 Communities Review, an annual snapshot of Rio Tinto’s broad community contribution, showed the company supported 166 community programmes last year ranging from health and education initiatives to the construction of important community infrastructure in the Pilbara. This compared with 130 programmes in 2016.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury, said "As an organisation with a large footprint in WA, we have a duty to give back to the whole community, not just those members of the community we employ.

"Each year, we have the privilege of engaging with many partners in activities and programmes to deliver benefits to communities across the state.

"This includes our new collaboration with the WA Government and South Metropolitan TAFE where we committed up to $2 million to develop new certificate qualifications which will prepare those in mining, and looking to join mining, for the jobs of the future."

Rio Tinto’s financial contribution to community programmes in 2017 totalled $20.6 million with $3.9 million of in-kind support also provided.

The company remains committed to working with its partners to identify community needs and designing localised programmes.
 
Community Infrastructure and Services Partnerships (CISP) with the Shire of Ashburton and City of Karratha celebrated five years of partnership in 2017 with the commencement of new community hubs in both Wickham and Paraburdoo. The agreements were extended a further five years with an additional investment of $13.4 million.

Two of our partnerships celebrated their 20-year anniversary in 2017, The Graham (Polly) Farmer Foundation and Black Swan State Theatre Company, and last year the popular Rio Tinto Naturescape Kings Park was reopened following a $3 million upgrade. Also in 2017, the company extended its partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service through to 2021 with a $10 million contribution.

A summary of the company’s contribution to the community can be found in the latest Annual Report and the full 2017 Communities Review can be found on Rio Tinto’s website here.