Highlights

• BHP outlines a major uplift in regional investment across Western Australia.

• Indigenous business partnerships and community programs remain core focus areas.

• Local training, workforce development and community health initiatives continue to expand.

BHP has expanded its Western Australia community investment through local supplier partnerships, Indigenous programs, workforce development initiatives and upcoming regional projects across Pilbara, Goldfields and Kwinana.

BHP has released its twenty twenty five Community Development Report, outlining a major uplift in Western Australian community and capability investment. The company continues to expand support across Pilbara, Goldfields and Kwinana through supplier partnerships, Indigenous programs and local development initiatives.

A large portion of this year’s investment was directed to local suppliers, with substantial allocations supporting Indigenous businesses. Training and development remain central pillars, with programs delivered across more than a decade continuing to support long term employment pathways.

The company’s Western Australian Iron Ore operations support a large regional workforce, reflecting the scale and influence of these operations across northern and central Western Australia.

Community Partnerships and Social Programs Expand

Tim Day, president of the Western Australian Iron Ore operations, highlighted the importance of collaboration between communities, industry and government.
A key example is the Pilbara Safe Spaces Program, a youth-focused initiative in Port Hedland and Newman. The program provides supervised support environments, skills learning opportunities and connection to essential services.

BHP also supports the Women’s Legal Service WA, which provides trauma-informed legal assistance for women across Port Hedland and Newman. The service began as a pilot and has since developed into a broader multi-year initiative focused on better safety and wellbeing outcomes.

Another long running partnership is with the Newman Community Centre, providing support programs for new mothers, community events, mental health initiatives and early intervention services managed by a Community Health nurse.

Through its Community Grants Program, BHP also funds a range of grassroots projects each year. Funding has supported upgrades to community facilities, safety infrastructure, fitness initiatives and career development programs.

Western Australia Workforce Outlook Supports BHP’s Regional Strategy

A workforce forecast from the Australian Resources and Energy Employer Association notes that Western Australia holds the largest pipeline of upcoming resources and energy projects.
The report identifies the region as a major driver of national workforce demand, reinforcing the importance of long term skills investment.

BHP recently contributed funding to the Western Australian Department of Training and Workforce Development to support apprenticeships and skills programs across the Goldfields region.
According to Annabelle Blom, Vice President of Western Australia Nickel, building local skills helps strengthen community retention while aligning with the long term needs of the regional resources sector.

This continues to build on BHP’s earlier initiatives, including the WA Nickel Community Fund developed to support Goldfields communities following operational changes in the region.

Upcoming Western Australia Projects

Several upcoming Western Australia projects remain on BHP’s development roadmap, including:

• Western Ridge iron ore project in Newman

• Ministers North iron ore deposit in Pilbara

• NeoSmelt pilot plant in Kwinana, developed in collaboration with Rio Tinto

These projects are expected to support long term regional capability, workforce development and production scale.