For many years, in numerous settings, the need for a language-fair and culture-fair assessment test has been identified as a significant issue for employment and selection for training of remote indigenous community members._x000D_
Pivotal to the successful implementation and application of such a test is for it to gain the acceptance and trust of the local indigenous communities as a fair assessment and for it to provide organisations with an accurate predictive tool. However, when western tests have been used with indigenous groups, inherent language and cultural bias have had a significant negative impact in terms of community acceptance. These have also affected the accuracy of performance predictability._x000D_
The Queensland Test was developed to overcome these problems. Originally developed for use in Papua New Guinea, it reduced training failures by 20 per cent. Later refinements were made and it was used with Aboriginal Australians._x000D_
Since 2002, assessment tests have been used by the Freeport mine in West Papua to support their recruitment, selection and training processes for the local indigenous community, the Seven Suku Tribes. The initial process included the application of standard western' assessment tests, which did not provide valid selection predictions, with community members and elders describing these tests as unfair and the organisation being concerned that the results were not accurate._x000D_
A trial of the Queensland Test was conducted and a high correlation was established between the performance of Freeport's current Seven Suku employees as assessed by their managers and their Queensland Test results. Based on the results of this pilot the Queensland Test was successfully implemented as the primary selection tool for potential employees from these local indigenous groups._x000D_
The testing materials and method gained community trust and support, with tribal elders describing the Queensland Test as a fair and suitable selection tool for their community members._x000D_
Such results have sparked an interest within the Australian Mining industry, with similar results being reported from a recent trial. The Queensland Test has been implemented at a major site in Queensland and is being investigated for use elsewhere.