GAWARA BAYA BRINGS JOBS AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES HOME WITH APIP PARTNERSHIP

At the Ingham ‘Meet the Buyer’ event many local providers and interested persons gathered to hear more about the project. Photo credits: Victoria Velton

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Windlab and the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation (GBAC) have announced a partnership with Australian Pacific Indigenous Personnel (APIP) to support employment, training and local participation outcomes for the Gawara Baya wind energy project.

The appointment was announced at Windlab’s Gawara Baya Meet the Buyer Industry Roadshow in Charters Towers and Ingham, as the project moves toward construction.

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The partnership supports the co-designed Gawara Baya–Gugu Badhun Employment and Training Strategy, developed through Gugu Badhun cultural leadership and underpinned by a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) between Windlab and GBAC. Windlab oversees project delivery and the appointment of major contractors, through which employment and contracting opportunities for the project will be delivered.

APIP will support implementation of the strategy through culturally informed engagement and workforce coordination, helping connect Traditional Owners, local people and regional suppliers with project delivery teams and contractors. The Meet the Buyer Roadshow brought industry, workforce and delivery partners together ahead of construction to share information about upcoming work and participation opportunities.

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Windlab Chief Project Delivery Officer Tom Keddie said the partnership reflects a focus on turning commitments into action.

“At Gawara Baya, cultural leadership and local participation are part of how we do things on Country,” Mr Keddie said.

“Working with GBAC and bringing APIP in early helps ensure opportunities are grounded locally and set up to deliver lasting benefits.”

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Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC Chief Executive Officer Allison Hoolihan said APIP’s endorsement reflects a significant step in delivering long-term employment and economic outcomes on Country.

“Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC is very happy to announce APIP is an endorsed GBAC business and excited that they will be assisting GBAC and Windlab with the delivery of the Gugu Badhun Gawara Baya Employment Strategy, ILUA commitments and business development throughout the project duration, which will be led by a Gugu Badhun person Noel Gertz,” Ms Hoolihan said.

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“APIP will be leading the engagement on behalf of Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC with strong governance structures that allow for GBAC, APIP and Windlab to work alongside each other through collaborative processes and further allow our relationship with APIP and Windlab for the Gawara Baya project to grow through this new phase.

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“This engagement will allow for future employment, skills and training for Gugu Badhun Peoples and further regional development and support to other neighbouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, whilst supporting Gugu Badhun Nation in our Economic Development, Research and Nation Building.”

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Australian Pacific Indigenous Personnel Owner and Managing Director, Noel Gertz, said the engagement is about supporting practical workforce outcomes on Country.

“Our role is to work alongside GBAC and Windlab to help connect people with real jobs, training and pathways that make sense locally,” Mr Gertz said.

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“Being involved early allows opportunities at Gawara Baya to be shaped with local people, local businesses and culture in mind, and to support outcomes that last beyond construction.”

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