AusIMM acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work, meet and live across the world and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, cultures and traditions of First Nations peoples who also work and live on this land.

Our Australian office is based on the Traditional lands of the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation in Carlton South, Victoria.

AusIMM's Reconciliation Journey

In continuing our reconciliation journey, AusIMM is striving to ensure people working and pursuing careers in resources are knowledgeable and supported in their ambition to reconcile the past and work towards a shared future with First Nations peoples. AusIMM’s journey also recognises the strong interface the resources industry already has with Indigenous communities when it comes to careers, communities and the land.

This vision reflects our fundamental role as a professional association in supporting and advocating for everyone in the resources sector, working to advance the industry for the benefit of the community.

The AusIMM Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) marks an opportunity for our organisation to convey appreciation of the strength of First Nation peoples, cultures and histories and their role in the resources industry.

We also have a deep respect for the connection Australia’s First Peoples have to Country, land, waters and seas.

AusIMM acknowledges that the relationship between the resources sector and Australia’s First Peoples is challenging.

In the creation of our RAP, AusIMM reflected on the role we can play to create open safe dialogue with staff and industry members about the historical truths between the resources sector and Australia’s First Peoples.

As we embark on our reconciliation journey, we will continue to explore how our organisation can facilitate honest and safe truth telling. We will also seek to align our approach to human rights best practice principles of self-determination and free, prior and informed consent underpinned within the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

AusIMM’s inaugural RAP is an important step in our reconciliation journey, though neither the first nor the last. The expertise, perspectives and knowledge of our diverse membership are what underpins this RAP, which we have developed with the guidance of Reconciliation Australia and our partners in the resources sector.

We will undertake to define our vision for reconciliation over the next 12 months as we lay the foundations within our organisation to advance reconciliation. As we define our vision, we intend to make positive impact across the five dimensions: Race Relations, Equality and Equity, Unity, Institutional Integrity and Historical Acceptance.

As a global community, AusIMM acknowledges that the land is fundamental to our work in the resources industry. In turn, people working and pursuing careers in resources are located on and near the Traditional lands of First Nations peoples all around the globe. 

"As resources professionals, we have a responsibility to recognise and respect the Traditional Owners of all the lands on which resources operations take place, as well as sites of significance, and acknowledge the critical and valued professional community of First Nations peoples in our industry."

Dave Clark FAusIMM(CP), AusIMM President

"As the trusted voice for people working and pursuing careers in resources, AusIMM leads the way for our sector. We are the voice of our profession, advocating for professionals and advancing our industry for the benefit of the community. Advancing reconciliation with First Nations peoples is a fundamental part of our role. It is key to our past, present and future as a sector."

Stephen Durkin FAusIMM, AusIMM CEO

RAP Working Group

With participants from across our association, a RAP Working Group was brought together to harness expertise from across our association, sector and community. The RAP Working Group includes:

• Ivy Chen FAusIMM, representing the AusIMM Board
• Bob Vassie FAusIMM, representing AusIMM’s Council for Diversity & Inclusion
• Tony Kalma FAusIMM, representing the AusIMM Social & Environment Committee
• Khatija Thomas, a Director of Aboriginal Engagement & Inclusion in the South Australian Government
• Melissa Holdsworth, General Manager of AusIMM’s Stakeholder Engagement & Partnerships team
• Harry Turner, AusIMM’s Government Relations Adviser

More information

You can read more about the RAP model at the Reconciliation Australia website.

We look forward to providing further information on the development of the RAP over coming months.