Rio Tinto are "Digging for Diversity"

A project has been launched in Australia to encourage more women, including those from overseas to seek jobs with us at Rio Tinto.  Our "Digging for Diversity" recruitment programme aimed at diversifying our workforce and educating women about employment opportunities in the mining industry.

The first group of 150 women have visited its Yandicoogina mine site in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. ‘I thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip and have taken away several things from listening to the Rio Tinto women speak,’ said business and law student Gaynor Lewis. ‘Everything was organised so perfectly and the Rio Tinto staff were all so friendly and very accommodating. Since my return I have been spreading the word to anyone who will listen about what a great place Yandi is and what a great set up Rio Tinto have there,’ she added.

Yandicoogina general manager Alex Bates said there were no quick fixes when it came to building a diverse workforce. ‘By building awareness of what’s on offer, and in particular by targeting students and educators, we hope to encourage young women to consider a career in mining and help make a positive difference to our industry,’ he explained.

As an operator with Rio Tinto, you get to sit behind the controls of some awe-inspiring equipment. Just ask Mirandah Pickering. She's loaded thousands of tonnes of iron ore on to massive vessels with the beautiful Indian Ocean just outside her window. But the opportunities don't stop there. Mirandah is now pursuing an adult apprenticeship to become an electrical engineer.