FMG starts 20 Aboriginal graduates at rail project

The first 20 graduates from Fortescue Metals Group Ltd's Vocational Training and Employment Centre have commenced full time employment at its Pilbara rail construction project, the company has announced.

The full text of a company announcement is pasted below

Perth: 25 July 2007: The first 20 Aboriginal graduates from Fortescue Metals Group Ltd's (ASX: FMG; "Fortescue") Vocational Training and Employment Centre ("VTEC") today commenced full time employment working on the Company's massive rail construction project.

Celebrating their achievement at an inaugural graduation ceremony in Port Hedland today, Fortescue's CEO Andrew Forrest said each graduate deserved enormous praise for their commitment and desire to achieve full time work.

VTEC has been an initiative of Fortescue, with the support of a number of key project construction groups including Laing O'Rourke, which has employed the graduates. Fortescue has also worked very closely with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, which has funded the training.

As a training facility, VTEC provides Aboriginal people a supportive and flexible learning environment to develop long term careers in mining construction and operations.

Recognising that some of the graduates were formerly long term unemployed, Mr Forrest said VTEC's major success was developing a program which recognised cultural values and appealed to the aspirations and capabilities of local Aboriginal people.

"These talented people just need a chance to develop skills and seize opportunities in the mining industry," Mr Forrest said.

"When construction is over, these graduates will have the chance to work anywhere in the mining industry. The promise of VTEC is that it will provide full time work for all graduates."

The first 20 graduates came from a pool of 80 applicants in February this year. The next course will commence immediately.