Gas Industry Sets Sights on Indigenous Students with New Partnership

Oil and gas employers should look to connect with potential Aboriginal employees while they are still in school and provide a range of entry-level roles and graduate programs, according to Mark Skehan, General Manager, Graduate Employment at the Clontarf Foundation.

A not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the education, life skills and employment prospects of young Aboriginal men, the Clontarf Foundation has partnered with the Australian Gas Technology Conference & Exhibition(AGT) to encourage more indigenous students to consider a career in the gas industry.

Mr Skehan said the industry should seek to develop relationships with future Aboriginal employees and get involved in their activities before they leave school.

“This is such an important ingredient for any new employee: to know their workplace colleagues and feel welcome. For some, the first years at work are very daunting and fly-in, fly out jobs and jobs in remote locations can be especially difficult,” he said.

The Clontarf Foundation will bring a group of more than 40 Aboriginal students to AGT in Perth from 25-27 July, where they will hear free presentations, learn career pathways and have face-to-face time with major gas employers and training bodies.

“We see a great benefit in enabling some of our senior students to visit the event, hear more about careers in the industry and understand what opportunities exist in this sector,” said Mr Skehan.

“Being the community partner for AGT also provides an opportunity to raise the profile of the work we do to engage and support young indigenous men in school and help them in their transition to work. We hope that some gas companies will consider partnering with our foundation as a result of learning more about what we do and the impact we are having.”

AGT’s Careers and Training seminar program will also feature a session for employers on 27 July, focusing on the employment of indigenous workers, with speakers from the Clontarf Foundation and leading Aboriginal employment organisation, One People HR.

“Indigenous workers represent a talented and valuable resource that is sadly overlooked by many companies. Employers need to review their candidate management systems and also focus on taking telephone job applications, rather than just online applications, to allow indigenous candidates to establish a more personal relationship with their potential employer,” said Kevin Chandler, Co-Founder of One People HR.

Supported by the Central Institute of Technology, The Resource Channel, John Holland Group, GE Oil & Gas, GHD Australia, CCI Apprenticeship Solutions, the University of Western Australia and Curtin University, AGT’s Careers and Training program will play host to tertiary and TAFE students and mature age workers to encourage the next generation to pursue a career in the gas industry.

The AGT exhibition will also have a strong recruitment focus with the Careers & Training Zone, featuring The Resource Channel’s Careers & Advice Lounge, giving visitors an opportunity to source information on graduate and training programs and career opportunities in the gas industry.

Mr Skehan said a greater range of entry-level roles, graduate programs and university cadetships would encourage more indigenous students to pursue a career in the gas industry.

“Young Aboriginal men are amazing, capable, loyal and willing employees who, like anyone else, given the right support and work environment, will be long-term, valuable employees,” he said.

AGT is a unique event for Australia’s gas industry that isexpected to bring more than 120 exhibitors and 3500 visitors to Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre from 25-27 July 2012. For more information visit: www.agtexpo.com.au