Our people are our success
It is our people that make Alcoa and it is our responsibility to create a work environment that embraces new ideas, respects the individual and provides everyone with the opportunity to succeed.
We believe that social, environmental and economic excellence is underpinned by people excellence.
Empowerment, training, development, reward and recognition, managing people one by one and people understanding the meaning of their work are some of the aspects that deliver people excellence.
Alcoa’s operations support over 6000 direct jobs. Most of these jobs are located in regional Australia and most of these employees live in local communities surrounding our operations with 76% in Western Australia and 24% based in Victoria.
At Alcoa we are proud that more than 60 per cent of our employees have worked with us for more than 10 years. We believe our employees’ loyalty gives our business great stability and also provides the opportunity for young people to learn from experienced employees and delivers stable, long-term jobs in local communities.
Many of our employees have been with us for more than 25 years, with some for more than 40 years. In fact, we have second and even third generation employees.
Why do our employees stay with us for so long? We provide individuals with opportunities to develop their skills and grow as professionals. We invest around $22 million on training in Australia each year comprising:
- $12 million on general training
- $7.5 million on apprentices
- $500,000 on traineeships – Alcoa and sponsored external traineeships.
Our training program is double the national average with 5% of payroll spent on training annually. Our training programs include industry and job skills, people skills, management skills, health and safety, and environment. We also encourage employees to improve professional skills through external study or by acquiring additional qualifications.
Alcoa’s Education Tuition Aid Policy supports employees by providing time-off and financial support for approved courses. Alcoa also takes a collaborative approach to sharing learnings and technology which deliver environmental benefits to industry and the community.
Specifically, we are willing to share our employees’ skills and knowledge with students and peers through training and research collaboration and actively look for opportunities to work with organisations such as universities to share knowledge.
For example in 2008, Alcoa Mining Environmental Research Manager Dr Ian Colquhoun was recognised with a prestigious Senate Medal from Western Australia’s Murdoch University .
The Senate Medal, an annual citation from the University, recognises outstanding service to the University over a period of at least 5 years.
Dr Colquhoun was recognised for working closely with academic staff at the University’s School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology since 1983 and specifically his support of teaching and research at Murdoch, which has underpinned the success of the Tree Pathology group and the School of Environmental Science.
Since Alcoa’s operations began in Australia in the 60s, we have trained over 1500 tradespeople through our apprentice program. In today’s dollars this represents over $300 million investment in training which directly contributes to building skills in local communities.
Alcoa invests around $7.5 million each year on training apprentices in Australia, and a further $500,000 on trainees. Our apprenticeship program trains people to become qualified in a particular trade.
The three and four-year programs involve up to 36 weeks off-the-job training and provide participants with a nationally recognised trade certificate. We also draw apprentices exclusively from local communities around our operations, building strong links with local schools.
In 2008 Alcoa recruited 25 new apprentices and across Australia, we have about 140 apprentices in training.
During the year Harvey’s Tim Hall and Waroona’s Joel Ferraro were recognised for excellence in their final year as apprentices at Alcoa’s Wagerup alumina refinery. Tim Hall received the South West Regional College of TAFE ‘Best metals and Engineering Faculty Student Award’ and was named Best Stage 3 Electrical Apprentice. Joel, a mechanical fitter apprentice was named Best Stage 3 Mechanical Fitter Apprentice.
Our on-going commitment and contribution to apprentice training was recognised by a 2005 Federal Government Award for Excellence which recognised the high standard of training provided by Alcoa to apprentices, resulting in a 99% completion rate for participants.
In addition, we spend over $2 million on youth and community-based training and partnering programs – directly affecting more than 20,000 young lives across Australia further creating a skill pool of future employees.
Specifically our program aims to improve employment prospects and widen career options, with Alcoa locations supporting local young people for 12 months or longer. These programs are nationally accredited and provide 13 weeks off-the-job training as well as a Certificate of Attainment.
Trainees still at school receive the National Training Wage for their work as well as completing their secondary schooling and all graduates benefit with increased employment, further education and training prospects as well as having paid employment for the duration of the program.
Our operating locations are instrumental in developing and maintaining education and business partnerships within local communities. For example, Alcoa’s Point Henry smelter in Victoria is a partner in the Geelong Regional Vocational Education Council (GRVEC).
The Council supports the development of partnerships between businesses, schools and the community, giving young people in the Geelong region the opportunity to develop employability skills.
It promotes VET, organises work placements and supports quality off-the-job and on-the-job training.
A great example of our commitment to the development of youth training is our Future Leaders of Industry and Future Women of Industry programs.
These scholarships provide young people with the opportunity to investigate our industry and network with our employees, show casing the future job prospects available to them.
For more information on these programs see our 2008 Partnering Stronger Communities case study Alcoa preparing future leaders of industry. You can also watch the video on the Future Women of Industry .
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Case Studies
Employee Suggestion Scheme – excellence uncovered
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