Sharing the Stories

Rio Tinto

Community Infrastructure and Services Partnership with local government

               
(2011 – current)

In 2011 Rio Tinto approached Jumping Puddles to assist with a ‘vision’ to work more closely with the communities that Rio Tinto has a significant presence across the Pilbara. This vision resulted in the Community Infrastructure and Services Partnership (CISP). This Partnership approach saw Rio Tinto signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the municipalities of the City of Karratha and the Shire of Ashburton respectively, to work closely to revitalise existing and develop new civic, sporting and community facilities and programs in the Pilbara coastal towns of Dampier, Wickham and Karratha and the inland towns of Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Pannawonica. This ground-breaking approach provides a fresh, new and collaborative model of service and infrastructure delivery that utilises the expertise of local government to support and maximise Rio Tinto’s community investment contributing toward liveable communities in which to work, place and live.

Jumping Puddles has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the Partnership, including:

• the development of the initial partnership framework and the supporting governance structure
• working closely with local government to identify community needs, priorities, scope of works
• Identification, development and preparation of internal reports and financial budgets for Rio Tinto
• Presentations, communication and engagement plans
• Work closely with Rio Tinto internal departments such as Legal Counsel, Tenure, Planning, Utilities and Heritage in the preparation and execution of various formal documents such as Funding Deeds, Memorandum of Understanding, Letters, Access Agreements etc
• Attend and represent Rio Tinto on the Partnership and in line with the partnership governance structure

For the Shire of Roebourne, Jumping Puddles has directly assisted with:

• Scope, design and construction of the Dampier Community Hub
• Scope, design and soon to be constructed Wickham Community Hub
• Contribution toward the construction of the Karratha Leisureplex
• Significant increase in events and festivals including Red Earth Arts Festival, Twilight Tunes, Moonrise Cinema, Cossack Art Awards etc.
• Continued support of community development services and programmes including the trainee ranger program, Medical Services Equalisation Scheme, community bus, club development officer and Safer Communities Partnership (previously Cleansweep Taskforce)

The Partnership Agreement between the City of Karratha and Rio Tinto has been instrumental in enhancing community life through the delivery of new and improved services, the support of festivals and events and through seminal investments in key civic infrastructure projects. Each year the City of Karratha has put together a video to sum up what the partnership has meant over the last 12 months.

City of Karratha and Rio Tinto

For the Shire of Ashburton, Jumping Puddles has directly assisted with:

• Scope and design and soon to be constructed Paraburdoo Community Hub
• Scope design and construction of the Paraburdoo Childcare Centre
• Expression Of Interest to engage a suitably qualified Service Provider to operate the Paraburdoo Childcare Centre

Shire of Ashburton and Rio Tinto

Acknowledgments

The Rio Tinto City of Karratha Partnership has been recognised by the broader community and industry.

2015 Winner – AIM WA WestBusiness Pinnacle Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence.
The award provides recognition for an organisation that has achieved outstanding results through key initiatives that demonstrate leadership and commitment to excellence in corporate social responsibility.

Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence Award

2015 Winner – The Australian Business Award for Community Contribution (CCA)
Recognises organisations that implement policies or execute projects that positively impact on the community and generate outcomes that have a long term benefit.

2014 Finalist – WA Premiers Awards, Improving Government
Recognises projects that aim to strengthen existing systems or develop strategies to enhance efficiency, accountability, workforce capacity or community confidence in the public sector.

Photo:  Representatives from Rio Tinto and City of Karratha with Shontay Cardew (far left) receiving the 2015 Pinnacle Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence

Yinjaa-Barni Aboriginal Art Centre

Yinjaa-Barni Art was formalised in November 2007 and operates an independent Aboriginal Art Studio and Gallery from Dalgety House, on the main street of the Northwest Pilbara town of Roebourne.

Yinjaa-Barni is a local Yindjibarndi word meaning ‘Staying Together’. The Centre prides itself as being an independent contemporary aboriginal art centre that nurtures individual Artists styles that reflect and express their connection to culture, country and family.

Artsource, the peak membership body for visual artists in Western Australia, engaged Jumping Puddles Community Consultancy through funding provided by Rio Tinto to work with Yinjaa-Barni Art to provide professional guidance and mentoring to increase the business and governance capacity of the organisation.

Yinjaa-Barni Art Strategic Business Plan [2011 -2014] was the result of many consultations and mentoring sessions conducted by Jumping Puddles. The final document provided Yinjaa-Barni with a document that:

1. provided direction through specific tasks to be completed over three years;
2. could be used for ‘leveraging’ of further assistance through partnerships, collaborations and funding opportunities;
3. sets the scene and provides a historical and social context that may assist with addressing rationale based questions required by funding bodies;
4. integrated business rationale statements and justifications as a subtle learning tool for the organisations members, employees and directors to further understand the importance and need of strategic business planning and due attention to governance.

Jumping Puddles has had a long and enduring relationship with the Artists and Members of Yinjaa-Barni Art Group for almost 20 years, forming lifelong friendships. Jumping Puddles continues to provide mentoring and general guidance to the Centre as required.