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Fortescue is committed to building and maintaining strong and respectful relationships with the communities upon whose traditional lands our activities take place. We work closely with First Nations communities to create economic opportunities through local procurement, employment, business development and mentoring.

Growing business opportunities

Our Billion Opportunities program reflects our commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity for the Traditional Custodians of the regions in which we operate through procurement, mentoring and joint venture opportunities. Since its inception in 2011, the program has awarded contracts and subcontracts totaling more than $5.3 billion to nearly 200 First Nations businesses.

Our Buriya program was established in 2017 unlocking major barriers for First Nations businesses accessing capital. We partnered with major banks to offer a funding program that allows eligible First Nations businesses to access finance at a competitive rate. Fortescue acts as guarantor, which removes the need for the First Nations business to provide security. The First Nations business owns the assets during the term of the contract and can use these assets as security in the future.

Development and mentoring

Our Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC) has been providing sustainable career pathways for First Nations people for 16 years. Our VTEC program is built on the concept that following the completion of training, participants are guaranteed employment. Fortescue leaders are critical to enabling a workplace culture that supports and allows First Nations people to thrive.

Through Fortescue’s People and Pathways strategy, we provide a range of employment and professional development opportunities for First Nations employees with leadership aspirations to realise their career goals.

Supporting our First Nations employees and their families

We strive to build a workplace that understands, supports and champions First Nations peoples. Supporting First Nations peoples to live and work on Country is a cornerstone to our approach. We are the only Pilbara-based mining company with flights between all mine sites and the major communities of Karratha, Port Hedland, Broome, Kununurra and Fitzroy Crossing.

In FY24, all Pilbara-based employees were eligible to receive housing support and entitlements. Currently, 373 First Nations employees are accessing Fortescue owned and leased properties. To support our Pilbara-based First Nations employees, we invested approximately $19 million for housing support this year alone.