South32 has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) to support Indigenous students access schooling and complete Year 12 while developing skills to make a successful transition to employment.
“Quality education is one of the cornerstones of changing lives and through our partnership with the AIEF we are supporting the development of emerging and future community leaders,” South32 Chief Executive Officer, Graham Kerr said.
“We want South32 to be an employer of choice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and this partnership will help many young people on their future career path.”
AIEF Scholarship Students will include Indigenous children from communities where South32 operates in Australia. AIEF Founder and Executive Director, Andrew Penfold AM said he was excited that the partnership with South32 would enable AIEF to support more young Indigenous students.
“AIEF is proud to partner with a company like South32, which recognises the transformative power education can have in communities around Australia,” Mr Penfold said.
“Together, we are committed to increasing Year 12 attainment and expanding employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians.
“Through the partnership, AIEF will continue to deliver real and tangible results in Indigenous education, supporting well-educated, job-ready young Indigenous students in their transition from school to employment.”
South32 is committed to reconciliation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. We have this month launched our Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), building on previous commitments and introducing new goals to further embed reconciliation activities in the business. The Innovate RAP includes commitments to grow South32’s Indigenous employment and procurement, increase our community investment programs and expand cultural awareness training for employees.
AIEF was established in response to community demand from Indigenous families who choose to enrol their children in boarding schools. Backed by some of Australia’s most influential business and community leaders, AIEF has grown from one scholarship student in 2008 to support over 1,000 young Indigenous people from over 400 communities in every state and territory in Australia.
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