TRAILBLAZER
working in the industry as a machine operator . I worked in a remote location and struggled to really find opportunities to grow and progress within my career [...] So , it was important to reach out and see if there was any support , specifically for Indigenous people - but there wasn ’ t any . It ’ s what led me to start the conversation on Facebook , to make social connections and identify if anyone else was feeling the same frustrations .”
However , as IWIMRA grew , the incident at Juukan Gorge and the Indigenous engagement that followed it , running the IWIMRA , was perceived as a conflict of interest for Drummond due to her position .
“ It was about this time I understood how IWIMRA could be utilised better for our online community and for people in our networks who wanted to learn more . I had to choose whether I wanted to continue my supervisor role or fully commit to IWIMRA , and I went with IWIMRA , which was scary as heck , but a really empowering decision to make ,” explains Drummond .
IWIMRA ’ s Mission “ IWIMRA is a network to raise the profile of Indigenous women . To encourage visibility , voice and quality participation of Indigenous women in the Australian mining and resources industry ,” explains Drummond .
While many companies are driving Indigenous employment and engagement campaigns , the purpose of the initiatives is often not clearly communicated at an operational level .
“ There are no formal safe spaces for Indigenous people to have a yarn and talk about issues , which is why I am looking forward to addressing racism on-site , as it is a key contributor and barrier for women ,” adds Drummond .
With the industry facing a call to action for better and more transparent communication on functions in the mining industry , IWIMRA addresses this issue by sharing profiles within its network , creating a safe space for Indigenous
16 September 2021