DIVERSITY
“Working collectively with our strategic business partners will assist with achieving our diversity objectives. We have set out our goals in Boom’s diversity policy, and while there are still aspects that we are working towards, we have achieved a number of these. “We have implemented a number of initiatives in the areas of learning and development, remuneration and benefits, and workplace flexibilities to support the attraction and retention of talent across the country.” In the Indigenous engagement space, Boom Logistics’ Indigenous Employment Framework has seen a number of success stories emerge in recent years. These include rigger trainees completing their qualifications and joining the team full-time; an Indigenous crane operator who now coordinates dealings with a major customer; and two Boom supervisors completing BHP’s Blue Leadership program. Deegan has seen firsthand how resource employers’ effective engagement can provide employment and economic benefits within rural Indigenous communities. She believes the opportunities are plentiful, but a higher level of cultural understanding could break down further barriers and assist people to take them. “A lot of companies go into Aboriginal communities and involve them in native title matters, secure them royalties and provide jobs and other opportunities,” says Deegan.
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“I’ve seen it myself; there is a lot of opportunity for the Indigenous if they want to take it and in a town like Port Hedland there are many Indigenous people who can access the programs that are available. “But in the more remote communities there is a cultural issue where only a handful of people are taking those opportunities and are successful. You can go in and say these are the opportunities if you want to take them, but you can’t force it on them. “This is where there needs to be a bit more outreach with those further remote communities. Rather than only certain bodies or resource employers getting involved, we need a consolidated community approach to assisting those areas. “There are a lot of views that have come from anthropologists studying communities but not necessarily getting everybody’s side of the story. I think there is a lot more that needs to go into the genealogies and cultural studies in these remote communities in order to get everybody on board.” Finishing her interview with Resource People to get some rest after a long night shift, Deegan’s story of perseverance will surely motivate all resource workers to get the most from their careers – men, women, Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike. Her influence has already inspired her 18-year-old daughter Charlie to follow in her footsteps and, if her mother’s drive is any indication, Charlie may even make history through some achievements of her own.
| Summer 2013 | www.amma.org.au