Australian Training Works leads Indigenous training success at Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project
At the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project in North Queensland, Genex has surpassed its Indigenous Engagement targets thanks to a strategic partnership with Australian Training Works (ATW).
At the Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project in North Queensland, Genex has surpassed its Indigenous Engagement targets thanks to a strategic partnership with Australian Training Works (ATW).
The Ewamian people are the Traditional Owners of the land on which the Genex project is located, and ATW have established close relationships with the local communities, delivering training programs and career pathways for First Nations people.
As NAIF’s largest Investment Decision to date, with a loan of up to $610 million, this project, like any NAIF funded project, is underpinned by an Indigenous Engagement Strategy (IES). The IES requires proponents to commit to and deliver outcomes for Indigenous communities through participation, procurement, and employment.
Led by Indigenous co-founders Tony and Ashley Martens, ATW has implemented a workforce development model that combines targeted recruitment, cultural competency, and long-term career support. The company's unique "one-stop shop" approach encompasses apprenticeships, traineeships, labour hire services, and specialised workforce design solutions.
Key elements of ATW's successful approach include:
- Intensive job readiness and preparation programs
- Partnerships with traditional owner groups for cultural competency training
- Financial literacy and social-emotional wellbeing support
- Ongoing mentoring and post-placement support
"Being an Aboriginal man with lived experience of employment barriers, it's particularly satisfying to see our young people transition from school into sustainable careers in the clean energy sector – opportunities that can take them anywhere in the world," says Tony Martens, Managing Director of ATW.
The program has achieved several significant outcomes:
- Successful transition of multiple employees from ATW placement to full-time positions with McConnel Dowell John Holland Joint Venture (MDJHJV), the construction contractors building the project
- Increased participation of First Nations women in the workforce
- Development of skilled workers from entry-level positions to sought-after roles as riggers and operators
- Creation of sustainable career pathways in the emerging clean energy sector
"The tools we've gained as a business from this project have been astronomical," Martens explains. "This model of workforce development, with a First Nations business leading significant Indigenous workforce numbers and backed by comprehensive skills development, is unique in the country."
Looking ahead, ATW is preparing to expand their model to upcoming wind energy projects. The company emphasises that effective Indigenous Engagement Strategies (IES) are crucial for major projects, particularly when combined with proper monitoring of Indigenous procurement policies.
For organisations implementing their own Indigenous Engagement Strategies, Martins recommends:
- Conducting thorough community and industry engagement
- Creating connections between stakeholders early in the project lifecycle
- Considering diverse sectors of the First Nations community, including schools
- Focusing on increasing workforce diversity, particularly women's participation
The collaboration at the Kidston project has produced a leading example of how strategic Indigenous engagement can deliver substantial benefits for both project proponents and First Nations communities, while also contributing to Australia's renewable energy future.
The Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project is the first of its kind to be developed in Australia in over 40 years and once completed, will provide dispatchable, reliable and affordable renewable electricity to North Queensland.
Find out more about the Genex Power Kidston Pumped Storage Hydro Project
