Mineral Resources (MinRes) has partnered with the Swan Districts Football Club (SDFC) to create more opportunities for young people in Onslow, Western Australia.
MinRes’ Onslow iron project is located 150 kilometres east of Onslow and is expected to ship around 35 million tonnes of iron ore per year. It is expected to be one of WA’s largest iron ore operations.
The SDFC’s VSwans program, now known as the Swans Onslow program, has been part of the Onslow community since 2008. It focuses on improving the lives of young people and their families by supporting personal growth, facilitating meaningful connections and helping reduce the likelihood of at-risk behaviours. MinRes’ partnership with SDFC will be for three years.
The Onslow team is expected to grow with the appointment of social impact development officer, Nicole Drummond, who will help in delivering programs focused on physical health, mental health, individual development, social and community development, and access to opportunities.
More than 600 regional activities were delivered by SDFC, engaging 281 young people in social and sporting initiatives across its early years and youth shed programs in 2022.
“Our partnership with MinRes enables our Swans staff to be immersed in the Onslow community, not just as a service provider,” SDFC director of social impact Ian Westmore said.
MinRes manager of stakeholder engagement Daniel Barker said the SDFC partnership would help deliver critical services to the Onslow community, which aligns with MinRes’ community investment objectives.
“MinRes is committed to meaningful partnerships that deliver positive outcomes in the regions where we operate, and this multi-year partnership will help ensure young people and their families in Onslow have ongoing access to community-building initiatives and activities,” Barker said.