DEMIRS Strategic Plan - Towards 2029

Who we are

The Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) plays a unique role in providing for a safe, fair and prosperous future for Western Australia (WA).

Our diverse department employs more than 1,900 people. The team includes talent from a wide range of professions such as geologists, environmental scientists, engineers, inspectors, lawyers, project managers, policy makers and customer service officers - highlighting the breadth of services DEMIRS is responsible for.

While our functions are broad, we are committed to empowering our people and creating an inclusive culture. With 18 per cent of our workforce identifying as culturally and linguistically diverse, it is important to us that our people represent the WA community we serve.

Our corporate values of ethical, fair, transparent, responsive, respectful and forward thinking underpin everything that we do. As experts in their field, our people are passionate about the work they do.

We are committed to working collaboratively across DEMIRS and the broader public sector – building strong partnerships with our stakeholders – leading to shared decision making and genuine engagement.

Whether it is enabling the next big discovery in the mining sector, protecting workers’ health and safety, transforming energy supply and emissions, or rolling out new technology to provide better customer service, DEMIRS is committed to delivering for the benefit of WA and future generations.

What we know

Over the next decade, WA will focus on climate change action and transforming the State’s energy sector, underpinned by our delivery of energy policy. While the demand for our natural resources is predicted to remain strong, sustainable development is a key priority, as new industries and technologies emerge as a result of the energy transition. As the agency responsible for regulating the majority of Western Australian businesses, we oversee and enforce the legislation that keeps people safe and enables industry to adapt to change and thrive.

Leading through and embracing change is our approach to identifying and responding to the current and future challenges facing WA. We have a major role to play in providing the public and industry with the confidence so they can prosper. By prioritising tech-enabled solutions we can work to deliver seamless digital services to meet the rapidly evolving needs of our people and stakeholders. We build trust and work collaboratively by actively listening, being transparent about decision making and working together not only across DEMIRS but also across the public sector. We educate and provide consumers and the public with information to protect themselves against the challenges of the modern world. By advancing modern regulation we can help WA take full advantage of the opportunities of the decades ahead.

Our values

We lead with integrity, deliver on commitments, strive for excellence and look for better ways of doing things by being:

• Ethical
• Fair
• Foward thinking
• Respectful
• Responsive
• Transparent

We had the privilege of working with Aboriginal artist Mel Spillman (Woods) of Maarakool Art to develop an original artwork for Towards 2029.

Cleaner, Greener Future is an intricate artwork featuring a multitude of symbols. Some represent meeting places and coming together, others represent regrowth and sites of spiritual significance.

DEMIRS’ corporate values of being forward thinking, ethical, fair, respectful, responsive and transparent are symbolised, as is the connections to Noongar culture, the past, the present, the people, the land and the waterways.

The colours are also significant. The blue represents the waterways and its importance to a heathy greener future (such as the Derbal Yerrigan). The browns represent Boodja (land/country) respecting the lands, caring for it and protecting it, continuing to demonstrate our strong connection to country. And the green represents the significance of being a custodian and commitment to a cleaner, greener future.

Artist bio: Mel was born in Nambour, Gubbi Gubbi Country in Queensland and moved to Western Australia at the age of 10. Mel’s Indigenous family heritage (Woods) is from Gnowangerup, Goreng Country in South West WA.

Through a variety of mediums, Mel uses paint as a tool to tell stories and share knowledge. Mel connects to her culture through painting, with a self-taught practice that extends from acrylics on canvas to digital designs and large murals.

Mel has experience working with a number of clients, creating work for private and corporate commissions, artwork licensing, indoor and outdoor murals and public art projects.