Community Update

Edition 2 Winter 2022

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 Community Update