MAXIMISING INDIGENOUS EMPLOYMENT IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Abstract

The skilled labour shortage facing the upstream oil and gas industry is encouraging companies who have already begun to examine ways of increasing the number of indigenous people in their workforce.

It is common practice for companies to use fly-in flyout solutions to build a stable workforce in remote areas. While this suits many workers and operations, a simpler solution arguably would be to have a skilled workforce who works in their home region. Many resource companies are now placing a renewed emphasis on training indigenous people to take on roles in the oil and gas industry. A highly skilled local workforce will have benefits for industry with a reduction in logistical costs and an increase in retention rates.

This paper describes the challenges facing companies which elect to develop those skills in a largely technically unskilled indigenous community. The paper uses a range of case studies drawn from company experience. It further showcases some success stories and describes where the industry might need to focus its efforts in order to achieve a more equitable training and employment outcome for Australia’s indigenous communities.