Up to 40 Indigenous People from across Perth and the Pilbara will from this month embark on Rio Tinto’s annual Aboriginal Training and Liaison (ATAL) program, an eight-week initiative co-designed with Traditional Owners to build job-ready skills and provide access to a range of career pathways.
The program was re-launched in 2023 with the guidance of the Regional Implementation Committee, comprised of Pilbara Traditional Owners and Rio Tinto members.
The ATAL program combines training in safety, health and wellbeing, cultural awareness, workplace expectations and financial literacy, together with resume support and career planning to help prepare participants for employment within Rio Tinto and beyond.
The program will run in Perth, Karratha and, for the first time, Tom Price in Western Australia.
“Joining the ATAL program was a turning point for me. I’d never worked in mining before, but the support from the team, and being surrounded by others like me, made me feel comfortable and excited to give it a go,” Yamitji Amungu man and Rio Tinto Mesa A Robe Valley trade assistant Jamahl Martin, who graduated from the program last year, said in the statement.
“Visiting Rio Tinto’s Perth Operations Centre and seeing all the different jobs really opened my eyes to what’s out there,” Martin said. “The program gave me confidence and direction - now I’m working FIFO and aiming to become an auto sparky. If you’re thinking about it, give it a go. It could change your life.”
Since its relaunch in 2023, the program has supported 54 Aboriginal participants, with many securing jobs at Rio Tinto and other businesses in Western Australia.
Most of last year’s Pilbara graduates were from Traditional Owner groups where Rio Tinto operates, including Banjima, Muntulgura Guruma, Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura, Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi and Yinhawangka, with many securing traineeships and jobs at Rio Tinto.
“ATAL is about more than delivering a training program – it’s about listening to our communities, understanding the barriers to employment and creating real pathways to sustainable jobs for Indigenous People,” Rio Tinto Iron Ore Vice President, People, Matt Kimball said.
“Thanks to the leadership of Traditional Owners, and in particular the members of the Regional Implementation Committee, we continue to evolve ATAL to meet community needs and expand the program’s reach across Western Australia.”
This year, Rio Tinto has partnered with Aboriginal-owned employment support provider Impact Services to deliver the program in Perth (August to October 2025), Karratha (October to December 2025) and Tom Price (early 2026).
Expressions of interest for the Karratha program are still open. More information is here.