Community investment

Rio Tinto Iron Ore's community investment programmes seek to establish and maintain relationships that contribute to communities where our employees live and work. These programmes must be mutually beneficial and deliver long term sustainable results.

Australia

Our key Australian partnerships and community programmes are outlined below or you can find out more by visiting our community investment website www.ciwa.riotinto.com. 

In Australia, we support a wide range of projects and partnerships through two programmes - the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund and the Pilbara Community Partnerships Programme.  The Rio Tinto WA Future Fund currently supports 11 partnerships and  commits around $2 million in funding to its partnerships each year.

The regional Community Partnerships Programme  focuses on creating partnerships with local communities in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This program commenced in 2006 and currently has 19 partnerships with local communities in areas ranging from the conservation of local wildlife to promoting healthy living among school children. To complement the Pilbara Community Partnerships Programme, Community Development Liaison Officers in each town manage grass roots donations and sponsorships. Grass roots sponsorship and donations focus on areas such as extra-curricular education, sports and recreation, arts and culture as well as other community-based initiatives aimed at improving community spirit in the towns.

At a local level, HIsmelt® has forged strong links with stakeholders in the Kwinana, Rockingham and Cockburn districts of the Perth metropolitan area and provides sponsorship for community projects in these areas. A key focus of activity in the region is to help develop the next generation of skilled workers, particularly through training and educational programmes, so they can support the continued growth and success of the local industry sector.

Canada

The Rio Tinto Iron Ore operations in Canada also have a long tradition of community support.

The Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC) actively supports many community organisations and events including:

• Book Fairs
• Junior Achievement Programme 
• Cain's Quest 2007 Snowmobile Endurance Race
• Elite Badminton Club
• Labrador West Music Festival
• Radisson Scout Troop
• Canadian Cancer Society Relay for Life
• Regatta 2007

Further information about community support and initiatives visit www.ironore.ca