Community Update

Edition 2 Winter 2022

In this issue

Waja Guma Early childhood education program for Aboriginal children in the Pilbara

Local spotlight Third Rio Tinto LifeFlight jet lands in Western Australia

COVID-19 How we are supporting regional communities to slow the spread

Edition 2 Winter 2022

From left: RFDS Western Operations Board Chair Sam Walsh, Minister for Health Hon Amber-Jade Sanderson, RFDS Western Operations Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson and Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott

Touch down: Our third Rio Tinto LifeFlight jet lands in Perth

The Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24 jet, adds to the aero-medical fleet in Western Australia (WA) and is part of a long-term partnership between the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) and Rio Tinto. Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott said Rio Tinto is committed to improving the health and wellbeing of people living in communities throughout WA. “Our partnership with the RFDS began 18 years ago with employee fundraising and we’re proud to have been able to partner with the service as it delivers first-class medical care for people on the ground and in the air,” said Simon. “This 18-year partnership, where we have committed $37.5 million to the organisation, has helped those who live, work or travel across our vast beautiful State to have access to the world’s most advanced and innovative aero-medical fleet.” RFDS Western Operations Chief Executive Officer Rebecca Tomkinson said the third Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC-24 jet will boost patient response times and strengthen the organisation’s sustainability into the future. “The RFDS provides an innovative, world-leading aeromedical service and the arrival of this new jet through our partnership with Rio Tinto ensures that we are ready for today’s challenges and those of tomorrow,” said Rebecca. “The RFDS in WA is well-prepared to respond to COVID-19 in the WA community. We have safely transferred over 300 patients in regional WA with suspected or confirmed COVID-19, without incident.” In March, our third Rio Tinto LifeFlight jet touched down in Perth from the manufacturer’s base in Switzerland.

Creating value with our partners is a key Rio Tinto Iron Ore strategic focus. We’re committed to strengthening our partnerships with local communities and Traditional Owners to deliver positive outcomes and build long-standing connections. By supporting the RFDS, we want to contribute towards creating value for the regional communities where we live and work.

Kate Ditchburn with daughter Xaylia Skeen

Welcome to the Winter edition of Rio Tinto’s Western Australian community update

Last year alone the two LifeFlight jets clocked up:

… where we get to tell you about some of the amazing work we are doing across the State to help build thriving communities.

3,301 Hours flying 1,721 Patients retrieved

1,882 Landings

more than 50 years. We do this not only through providing local jobs but also through the enduring support we provide to local schools, grass-roots sporting organisations and regional youth workers just to name a few.

to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the communities where we operate, from holding vaccination clinics to sharing our personal protective equipment supplies. Rio Tinto has been contributing to the Western Australian community for

In this newsletter you will read about our third Rio Tinto LifeFlight jet that landed in Perth which is part of our 18-year partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service, bringing our contribution to this amazing organistion to $37.5 million. We also tell you about the work we are doing

443 Patients retrieved for injury and poisoning

2,156,000km Flown

Acknowledgement of Country Rio Tinto operates on Eastern Guruma; Ngarluma; Robe River Kuruma; Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura; Nyiyaparli and Ngarlawangga; Yinhawangka and Yindjibarndi; Wadjuk and Banjima Country. We acknowledge the Nations on whose traditional lands we live and work, and the unique connection Indigenous Australians have to water, land and country. We pay respect to Elders past and present.

Most landings Kimberley

ON COVER: Children from Corrigin waving at a truck transporting hay to fire affected farmers in WA’s south (photo by The Wandering Stone)

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Local Voices; we hear you

In Paraburdoo Brendan Tringrove, Business Improvement Specialist, provides COVID-19 supplies to Acting Sergeant Bhavesh Patel

Last year Rio Tinto restarted its Local Voices community survey program. Your feedback to us is making a difference. Surveys are managed by Voconiq, an independent social research company developed by CSIRO. Local Voices is a series of short online surveys designed to seek community feedback on Rio Tinto. Since August, more than 1,300 surveys have been completed with 1,000 comments received from community members across the Pilbara. All responses are confidential, and the feedback helps inform how Rio Tinto engages, partners and invests in the Pilbara, as well as address community feedback and concern. By taking part in the survey, respondents can request a donation to be made to their chosen not-for-profit community group. To date over $10,000 has been donated. If you haven’t registered for Local Voices, or would like more information on how your feedback is helping us to shape more vibrant and liveable Pilbara communities, click here to find out more.

From left: Ellie Kennington and Elaine Olsen from the Shire of Ashburton assisting at the COVID-19 Screening Facility, with Rio Tinto Administration Assistant Nannette Muir and Rio Tinto Supervisor Emergency Services David Winter

We’re collaborating to slow the spread of COVID-19 Over the last two years we have implemented a number of measures across our business to slow the spread of COVID-19 in the communities in which we operate.

COVID-19 Screening Nurse Sarah Keough and Administration Assistant Nanette Muir setting up the entry point for testing at the COVID-19 clinic in Tom Price

We have collaborated with the State Government, community organisations and individuals to overcome the challenges presented by the pandemic. Now that Western Australia’s borders are open and there are active COVID-19 cases in the community, we continue to adjust our approach. We’ve maintained a strong focus on protecting communities and vulnerable people and doing everything we can to slow the spread of COVID-19 across Western Australia. Vaccination clinics Since August 2021 we’ve worked with the Department of Health to make vaccines available to people in the Pilbara. We provided more than 6,000 vaccinations at our Pilbara clinics and 8,000 at Perth Airport since the clinics opened in September 2021. COVID-19 testing in the Pilbara With active COVID-19 cases across Western Australia, early detection has been important to slowing the spread. Some of our COVID-19 testing initiatives include:

• Requiring our entire WA workforce to complete Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) before they fly to the Pilbara, then at a 72 hour minimum • Establishing temporary testing clinics in the Pilbara in response to outbreaks • Providing free RAT kits to families of our workers and Traditional Owners We are sharing supplies We are supporting community organisations by donating personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, sanitiser, wipes and Rapid Antigen Test kits to critical services such as St John Ambulance, State Emergency Service branches, volunteer bush fire brigades and daycare centres in Pannawonica, Tom Price, Wickham, Roebourne, Dampier and Karratha. Our pre-flight screening processes Particularly in the early stages of the pandemic, we maintained a strict pre-flight screening process to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 positive person boarding a plane to the Pilbara.

Eilish McNulty, Captain of the Pannawonica Volunteer Fire and Rescue Servce, receives COVID-19 supplies from Max Pollard, Pilbara Communities Advisor

Tom Price Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade Captain Wayne Hatton receiving COVID-19 PPE supplies

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Quality and well-staffed early childhood services are critical for regional communities to help parents get back into the workforce. A national shortage of early childhood educators means there is a lack of childcare across the Pilbara. This means less people can get back to work when they want to. Increased childcare availability has been identified as a critical factor in improving liveability in the City of Karratha and the Shire of Ashburton. As a major employer in the region, Rio Tinto acknowledges the childcare crisis and is supporting the creation of career pathways for early childhood educators by funding TAFE scholarships with the State government for free early childhood studies. In partnership with YMCA, Rio Tinto is supporting start-up business packages for family day care in the Pilbara. We are also participating in the subsidised service worker accommodation program with Woodside and the City of Karratha to help eligible early childhood educators find affordable places to live. Rio Tinto is committed to working collaboratively with the State Government, City of Karratha, Shire of Ashburton, industry and other local businesses to support long-term, sustainable solutions to increase child care availability in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto’s early childhood strategy 2022-2027

A community giving application leads to an eco-friendly kitchenmakeover in Tom Price

Tom Price Primary School’s Samara Bellingham and Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara Communities Specialist Jemma Milton

Rio Tinto Operator Agriculture Spenser Higgs and Supervisor Agriculture Projects Dave Dixon

When the Tom Price Primary School P&C applied for funding through our Community Giving Program to buy and install new kitchen benches, Rio Tinto Iron Ore Pilbara Communities Specialist Jemma Milton saw a way we could help in a sustainable way .

Bushfires are one of nature’s most ferocious and unforgiving natural disasters, which unfortunately in Australia, we’re all too familiar with. Supporting fellow West Aussies affected by recent fires

“Our canteen looks great,” said Samara. “Next, the kitchen will get a fresh lick of paint during the school holidays, using paint and painting tools which were also donated by Rio Tinto. Term two will get off to a great start!”

Samara Bellingham, from the Tom Price Primary School P&C, is thrilled that we supported the changeover with a $5,000 grant to cover the cost of removing the old cupboards and installing the benches.

Rio Tinto donated commercial grade stainless steel benches from the redundant Kurra Kulli camp and the school’s canteen had an instant makeover.

to deliver much needed assistance to farmers and pastoralists affected by the fires. “In talking to those who lost livestock and feed in the Corrigin area, they were overwhelmed by the support and were truly grateful,” said Sam. The hay from Rio Tinto’s Marandoo project was provided to Farmers Across Borders, who managed the bale distribution to bushfire-affected farmers in the South West, Great Southern and Gascogne regions of Western Australia. We hope this donation can help support the recovery and rebuilding efforts of the local communities. A special shout out to Danny Matic, Managing Director of Matic Transport, and his team for getting our product from the Pilbara to these regions.

They take such a huge toll, not only on people, but on livelihoods, especially in cattle and sheep farming areas. The summer bushfires had a devastating impact on some of our regional communities and when Farmers Across Borders put out a call for hay bale donations, Rio Tinto teams looked at ways they could help. Rio Tinto Iron Ore General Manager Utilities Momcilo Andric said his team manages water pivots at Marandoo and Nammuldi hay farms, producing 30,000 tonnes of hay per year. “We worked with Matic Transport and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, to donate more than 2,000 bales of hay,” said Momcilo. Farmers Across Borders Chairman, Sam Starcevich, said it was a privilege to work alongside Rio Tinto

Making a difference at the grass roots

Rio Tinto’s 2022 Community Giving program offers up to $5,000 for community projects or groups.

The Community Giving program supports grass roots initiatives that make a positive difference to the local community. Last year, more than 180 community organisations from the Karratha Community Garden to the Wickham Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services, the Pannawonica Playgroup and Albany Women’s Shelter, took part in Rio Tinto’s Community Giving Program. Eligible applicants can receive up to $5,000 for community grass roots initiatives. Local organisations are the backbone of our communities and make towns wonderful places in which to work and live.

Last year, Rio supported 183 grassroots projects in 17 WA locations.

Community Giving was set up in response to local feedback on the need for more timely and active partnerships on programs that inspire healing and address important local challenges. Could your organisation benefit from a Community Giving Program grant? Click here to find out more.

Children at the splash pad in Wickham

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A place of refuge: Supporting regional women’s shelters

The Summer Youth Pilot Program placed youth workers on the streets of Albany four nights a week during January and February. Rio Tinto supporting Albany’s youth The initiative, supported by the City of Albany, Rio Tinto, WA Police and local businesses helped Albany youth workers engage with more than 280 young people and link them in with the Albany Youth Support Association (AYSA) Youth Centre and other relevant Chrystie Flint, said the program provided positive outcomes for local youths. “We are extremely grateful to Rio Tinto and the City of Albany for working together to provide youth support agencies. AYSA Outreach Manager

Violence against women is never okay. But it is happening – in our homes, workplaces and communities. A women’s refuge is a place women can turn to in times of need or crisis. It provides safe accommodation and services for women, including their children who are escaping family violence or are at risk of becoming homeless as a result of crisis. As part of our Community Giving Program, we’re proud to support three women’s refuges across regional Western Australia, including – Anglicare WA’s Albany Women’s Centre, Chrysalis House in Geraldton and Marnja Jarndu Women’s Refuge in Broome. Our support will go towards much needed new beds and wardrobes, family comfort packs, which include basic bedding, bathroom and kitchen items (because women and children often present at these facilities with only the clothes on their backs), as well as window tinting to protect the clients’ anonymity, and the installation of a children’s playground. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,” said Chrysalis House Women’s Refuge Coordinator, Meegan Taylor. “We honestly are overwhelmed with your kindness.” Rio Tinto Iron Ore Communities and Social Performance General Manager “We are striving to break the cycle of violence against women.”

Kate Ditchburn with daughter Chiloh Skeen taking part in Waja Guma in Karratha

Ainslie Bourne said, women’s refuges played an important role in regional communities. “These refuges provide women and children a place of safety when they are at their most vulnerable and it’s our privilege to be able to support these organisations. We hope it will make a difference to these women in starting out their new life.” What is Rio Tinto doing? Domestic violence is never acceptable, but we believe it is preventable if we have a united approach and we are striving to help break the cycle of violence against women. We have updated our Family and Domestic Violence policy to improve assistance for those who experience violence and are providing support for family members impacted by violence and extending support to contractors. We believe that keeping each other safe extends beyond the workplace and into the home and community. Since 2018 we have invested over $1.3 million in the communities in which we operate towards support and partnerships to help end family and domestic violence.

Waja Guma: little children learning together

Rio Tinto’s new partnership with Baynton West Primary School in Karratha will deliver a co-designed, culturally safe and quality early childhood education program for Aboriginal children.

this great outcome for the young people of Albany,” said Chrystie.

Over the next three years we’re providing support to the local primary school to deliver an Aboriginal early childhood education pilot program named “Waja Guma”. The “Waja Guma” program, which means “little children learning together” in Ngarluma language, aims to give Aboriginal children the best possible start in life. The pilot program, which has been co-designed with Aboriginal educators, will follow the Abecedarian Approach Australia (3a*) in a culturally-safe way to ensure it appropriately supports Aboriginal children and their famililes. Our funding will go towards staffing costs, training opportunities for educators and resources critical to the delivery of the program including food, play equipment and furniture.

“It’s starting where it is most impactful, that is, in the zero-to-four age group.”

AYSA Outreach Manager, Chrystie Flint connecting with Youth in Albany

We’re creating value with our partners and in our communities where we operate by partnering with local organisations to make long-lasting positive contributions.

Baynton West Principal Lisa Ledger believes the partnership is a good example of a local solution for large-scale opportunities in closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people. “It embraces parents and caregivers as the child’s first and most influential teacher. I also love that it’s a partnership with a huge multi-national and highly-successful corporation, such as Rio Tinto, and a humble little local primary school to offer support to a vulnerable group of people.”

Enquiries can be directed to Baynton West Primary School – in person or by phone 08 9187 6200 . Search Facebook for Waja Guma Early Learning Centre.

Pictured above: Staff from Chrysalis House Women’s Refuge in Geraldton are using the Community Giving funds to buy new equipment for the centre including sporting equipment, toys and furniture

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Rio Tinto recently entered a three-year funding partnership with Ngaarda Media to support five exciting projects for the Roebourne- based organisation. Broadcasting for a bright future Ngaarda Media is a trusted and respected Indigenous news and local content broadcaster that has a license to operate 24/7, broadcasting from their television and radio studios. Its purpose is to connect, preserve and promote Aboriginal languages and culture, with a focus on the Pilbara, but broadcasts as far north as Broome in the Kimberley and across the Ngaanyatjarra Lands in the south. One of those projects is the purchase of equipment to create a radio training and broadcast-quality studio at Roebourne Regional Prison. Ngaarda Media’s Chief Executive Tangiora Hinaki said the team is already working in partnership with Roebourne Regional Prison and the Department of Corrective Services to deliver a weekly radio show helping inmates communicate with family through messages and song requests. “Everyone involved is keen to take the partnership to a new level by establishing a radio studio within the prison,” said Tangiora. “This will allow prison inmates to gain practical broadcasting and production experience under the guidance of Ngaarda Media. “And qualified educators from North Regional TAFE will also be able to provide training in Certificate IV Radio Production.” Most of the broadcasters at Ngaarda Media are volunteers from local communities.

Yinhawangka Traditional Owners, archaeologists and Rio Tinto’s Heritage officers at the 2021 excavation at Yirra Rockshelter

Yirra rock shelter excavation unearths remarkable discovery Remarkable new evidence uncovered at a Traditional Owner-led archaeological excavation at Yirra rock shelter on Yinhawangka Country, indicates the presence of Yinhawangka people in the Pilbara beyond 50,000 years ago.

Busselton Performing Arts Centre sod turning A special turning of the sod ceremony was held to commemorate construction of the new Busselton Performing Arts and Convention Centre in the town’s cultural precinct. When it is finished, this exciting new regional drawcard will provide the South West community with a 600-seat auditorium and function space catering to year-round concerts, shows and expos, as well as business, education and community events. Rio Tinto is helping to fund a technology-focused education space within the new centre. “Rio Tinto’s contribution will assist in creating a modern performing arts and convention centre for the South West, with state-of-the-art technology,” said City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley. This year, Rio Tinto celebrates 15 years of flying workers from the South West to its Pilbara mine sites. More than 1,200 employees from the South West are part of Rio’s FIFO workforce, which support the vibrancy and economic stability of South West communities.

“These findings are a major archaeological breakthrough of

“All Pilbara groups should have this kind of science work done on cultural sites. “Important sites like Yirra need to be protected, especially when they turn out to be amongst the oldest known places of human habitation in Australia.” YAC Chief Executive Kupa Teao said the organisation appreciated the support. “YAC are extremely grateful to Rio Tinto for providing the resources to undergo this and future projects,” Mr Teao said. “The support given is overwhelming.” Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive Simon Trott welcomed this incredible discovery for the Yinhawangka people. “We acknowledge the significance of Yirra and are committed to working in partnership with the Yinhawangka people to ensure it’s preserved for future generations,” Simon said.

The ten-day excavation at the highly significant Pilbara site in October last year found stone artefacts, charcoal and other materials that may point to the presence of the Yinhawangka people throughout the height of the last Ice Age. This is a phenomenal result for the Yinhawangka people and could be the oldest evidence of human existence in the Pilbara. The recent excavation at Yirra rockshelter was requested by the Yinhawangka Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto was proud to support this work. Yinhawangka Aboriginal Corporation (YAC) Chairperson Halloway Smirke said all Pilbara Traditional Owner groups should receive the same work on their cultural sites. “Yirra has great significance not only to the Yinhawangka people, but also to our Wangarada (desert family) and Ngarngarada (coastal family),” Mr Halloway said. “We hope that Yirra will help us tell our ancestral story to Australia and our future generations. “We would still be visiting this site if it wasn’t for the mining leases.

international significance, expanding knowledge of Aboriginal occupation in the Pilbara. “As part of our ongoing commitment to celebrating and caring for cultural heritage and Country with Traditional Owners, Rio Tinto is planning to fund further Traditional Owner-led cultural research and archaeological excavations.” Yinhawangka Traditional Owners, YAC, archaeologists from consultancy company Archae-aus, specialists from the University of Western Australia and Rio Tinto’s cultural heritage team, were all present at the excavation. Yirra rock shelter is a heritage site located in the Hamersley Ranges near Paraburdoo. The rock shelter was first recorded by Yinhawangka Traditional Owners and archaeologists during a heritage survey for Hamersley Iron in 2000.

“We acknowledge the significance of Yirra and are committed to working in partnership with the Yinhawangka people to ensure it’s preserved for future generations.”

Pictured above: Broad Construction General Manager Benson King, Rio Tinto’s Meredith Dixon, City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley, City of Busselton CEO Mike Archer and Broad Construction’s Cyril Cahill

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Did you know we’re in the cattle business?

In the Pilbara region of Western Australia, Rio Tinto operates six pastoral stations.

We’re also using our pastoral stations to explore ways to farm carbon, where cattle are grazed in a controlled way to allow vegetation to regenerate thereby storing carbon. Through this work Rio Tinto is building a national reputation for driving innovation that is part of the solution to deliver sustainable cattle production to support global food security. We are also trialling virtual fencing collars, which allow us to control cattle movement without the need for physical fences; this reduces the impact that cattle herds can have on the land.

Traditional Owners have a profound spiritual connection to land and the health of the land, water, plants and animals are central to this. Rio Tinto’s pastoral stations provides a unique opportunity for the company to work with Traditional Owners and bring to life a vision where cattle production is done in a way which respects and preserves heritage values and heals Country. We recognise that building relationships takes time and are exploring ways to create value from the land that will benefit future generations.

On top of 17 iron ore mines, four ports and nearly 2,000 kilometres of rail, Rio Tinto owns the leases of 1.1 million hectares (11,000km 2 ) of cattle country, which is home to six pastoral stations. On this land, our team rear cattle and grow hay to feed them as well as selling fodder to neighbouring pastoralists. Rio Tinto Iron Ore’s Pastoral Stations Manager Sim Mathwin is leading a passionate team who value collaboration with local Traditional Owners in their work on the land. “Our station lands stretch across the beautiful and vast Country of at least six Traditional Owner groups,” said Sim.

Rio Tinto’s pastoral stations team that manages 1.1 million hectares of cattle country which is home to six pastoral stations

Stay in touch and up to date with Rio Tinto in your community If you have any feedback about our operations or would like to get in touch with us, email communityfeedback@riotinto.com or call our free call information line at 1800 992 777 .

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