Rio Tinto helps Aboriginal people into employment opportunities in mining

A Rio Tinto training partnership in a remote Western Australian town is helping long term unemployed Aboriginal people into jobs in mining and related industries.

A dozen people from Onslow are starting work in Pannawonica this week to support Rio Tinto's Mesa J iron ore mine, after completing a 10-week pre-employment program.

Rio Tinto formed a partnership with Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation and Pilbara TAFE to deliver the training and with contractors ISS and Skilled to provide the entry level jobs.

Initially the new employees will work a four-day-on, four-day-off roster in town services such as catering, cleaning and landscaping. They will be driven by bus to and from Pannawonica each day until a shortage of accommodation in the town is resolved.

The Work Start program was created by Rio Tinto in conjunction with the Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation as a pathway for the long term unemployed to enter the mining workforce.

The participants study literacy, numeracy, occupational health and safety, time management, personal finance management, small machinery operation and other workplace skills.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Aboriginal employment strategy manager Camis Smith said it was a progressive introduction into the workforce, with the final goal being permanent employment in the mining industry.

"We are able to create many jobs for Aboriginal people in mining and its support services, but the real test is retaining these people in our workforce," Mr Smith said.

"This is a challenge for Rio Tinto and for every other employer. The way we are responding is by making arrangements to suit our new recruits wherever possible. Starting a drive-in, drive-out roster from Onslow is the latest in a range of flexible work arrangements we are making across the Pilbara to recruit and retain more Aboriginal people in our workforce."

Rio Tinto has held Work Start courses in the Pilbara towns of Tom Price, Paraburdoo Karratha, Roebourne and Nullagine, and a course is underway at Roebourne Regional Prison.

A graduation ceremony for the group will be held in Onslow at 5pm today.

About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading international mining group headquartered in the UK, combining Rio Tinto plc, a London and NYSE listed company, and Rio Tinto Limited, which is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange.

Rio Tinto's business is finding, mining, and processing mineral resources. Major products are aluminium, copper, diamonds, energy (coal and uranium), gold, industrial minerals (borax, titanium dioxide, salt, talc) and iron ore. Activities span the world but are strongly represented in Australia and North America with significant businesses in South America, Asia, Europe and southern Africa

Forward-Looking Statements
This announcement includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Rio Tinto's financial position, business strategy, plans and objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and objectives relating to Rio Tinto's products, production forecasts and reserve and resource positions), are forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Rio Tinto, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Rio Tinto's present and future business strategies and the environment in which Rio Tinto will operate in the future. Among the important factors that could cause Rio Tinto's actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of demand and market prices, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, operational problems, political uncertainty and economic conditions in relevant areas of the world, the actions of competitors, activities by governmental authorities such as changes in taxation or regulation and such other risk factors identified in Rio Tinto's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or Form 6-Ks furnished to the SEC. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this announcement. Rio Tinto expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers (the "Takeover Code"), the UK Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and the Listing Rules of the Australian Securities Exchange) to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Rio Tinto's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

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