OREANDA-NEWS. July 08, 2016. Rio Tinto employees across Australia are embracing National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Indigenous Australians.

A highlight of the week will be St.George Queensland Reds Indigenous Round, part of a wider partnership with Rio Tinto to deliver outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

Since 2013, the Future Indigenous Leaders Program has seen a 100 per cent primary to high school transition rate for participating students and 92 per cent school attendance.

Through his involvement in the Queensland Reds Indigenous Program, 17 year old Phillip Yeatman is now working towards a career in mining as an engineer and the talented artist’s work will feature on the St.George Queensland Reds’ jersey for the Indigenous round.

“Not only is this amazing exposure for me and my art but I will also receive a percentage of all merchandise sold which will go towards my costs of attending university,” Phillip said.

Activities around the country include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flag raising ceremonies at Rio Tinto sites and a wide range of events from breakfasts to community parades and concerts featuring traditional Indigenous food, cultural demonstrations such as dancing and boomerang throwing, children’s arts and craft, Indigenous guest speakers and awards.

Rio Tinto managing director Australia Joanne Farrell said “We are celebrating the important role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our business and their connection with the land on which we operate.

“Rio Tinto is continuing to build deeper engagement with Indigenous communities through the launch of its second Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) this year, which raises the bar with stretch targets across areas such as Indigenous employment, education and training, and business development.

“We are the first resources company to obtain an Elevate RAP, joining an elite group of organisations that have taken reconciliation beyond ‘business as usual’ and embedded it in the delivery of core business practices and decision-making at the highest level.”

Rio Tinto is one of the largest private sector employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with more than 1,600 Indigenous employees and hundreds of Indigenous contractors.