A commitment to provide employment and training opportunities for the people of Roebourne and the wider community has resulted in Yurru winning the Economic Development category of the 2021 Western Australian Community Achievement Awards.
The annual award, sponsored by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), recognises the efforts of businesses and not-for-profit providers/groups to drive economic growth and jobs, across regional Western Australia.
The Pilbara-based contracting company, Yurra, was founded in 2013 and is a successful collaboration between the Yindjibarndi People and ALM Landscaping.
In 2019, Yurra was awarded a five-year $20 million contract to provide maintenance services to Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Pilbara Rail Network in WA, which has provided pathway opportunities to existing Aboriginal employees.
Yurra directly employs about 130 employees, of which 50 per cent identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. The training opportunities extend beyond their internal programs, with 15 employees currently engaged in apprenticeships or traineeships.
Yurra has grown from a $500,000 turnover in 2014 to $30 million in 2021.
DPIRD Sustainability and Biosecurity Deputy Director General Heather Brayford presented the award to Yurra at a celebratory event on Friday night (15 Oct).
Ms Brayford congratulated Yurra on its achievements and vision to develop and deliver projects that provide local employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.
“Yurru is helping to improve the communities in which they operate by offering opportunities, training and career pathways for its people,” Ms Brayford said.
“They are contributing to the broader community and are working towards a unified and sustainable future.
“It gives me great pleasure to highlight the ground-breaking inroads Yurru is making in indigenous jobs and training in our north.”
DPIRD supports the economic growth and development of regional enterprises throughout WA, through a number of initiatives to build business capacity and capability to overcome constraints and capture opportunities.
“The department administers the Regional Economic Development Grants program, in association with Regional Development Commissions, with more than 222 regional projects supported through the grants program to date,” Ms Brayford said.
“Our Agrifood and Beverage Voucher Program is also providing up to $10,000 to assist manufacturing operators access professional business support services to help grow their operations to be benefit of local communities and economies.”
Caption: DPIRD Sustainability and Biosecurity Deputy Director General Heather Brayford presents the Economic Development category award to Yurra representatives. (Photography credit: Fahm Foto)
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Megan Broad/Donna Coleman, media liaison, +61 (0)8 9368 3937
