Rio Tinto has delivered another successful cohort of Indigenous trainees now skilled up and ready for work opportunities in the mining industry.

The iron ore miner's Aboriginal Training and Liaison program, which was relaunched last year with significant input from Traditional Owners, this year resulted in 19 Aboriginal people graduating from the program based in Karratha.

The ATAL program gives Aboriginal people in the Pilbara a chance to develop the necessary skills to help secure them a job in the mining industry, with this year's program entailing six weeks of a 'work-ready' program as well as 'industry-ready' program, with tailored onboarding activities, safety training and hands-on work experience across Rio Tinto's rail and port operations in WA's North West.

Most of the Pilbara graduates are from Traditional Owner groups where Rio Tinto operates, including Banjima, Muntulgura Guruma, Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura, Ngarluma, Yindjibarndi and Yinhawangka peoples.

ATAL graduate and Ngarluma woman, Jazryn Ingie said undertaking the program was a great experience and helped build her self-confidence.

"It was rewarding to work alongside other graduates, learning together and gaining valuable exposure to the mining industry," she said.

Ms Ingie said she had always wanted to work in the mining industry, and her graduation from ATAL had made her and family incredibly happy.

"My family were very supportive of me doing the program and it was great for them to actually be proud of me," she said

"I knew I wanted to get into mining, but I didn't know how, so that's why the ATAL program is so good."

Another ATAL graduate, Banjima and Yindjibarndi man Jason Hubert, said it was a lifelong dream of his to work for Rio Tinto, after returning to Karratha from a stint with Mineral Resources.

"The program was very good, as was the experience of meeting lots of different people, and making new friends," he said.

"Going out on site has given me added experience to take my skills up another level.

"To be part of Rio, it was something I wanted to do, my whole life.

"I'd encourage anyone to give ATAL a go, there's lots of nice people out there who will help you. Don't look back, just go forward."

Rio Tinto this year launched an additional Perth ATAL program, with 12 Aboriginal people graduating, and traineeships offered in fixed plant, mobile equipment maintenance and production training hubs.

Last year the miner relaunched its ATAL program, co-designing elements with Traditional Owners, with 14 people graduating and 12 successfully securing jobs as fabricators, operators and administrators with Rio Tinto's rail and port operations in Karratha, Dampier and Wickham.

Another graduate secured work outside of the company, and another continues to be supported through the program.

Rio Tinto's general manager of rail maintenance, Matt Baartz, said programs such as ATAL were important for the business as they not only offered career pathways but helped the company develop a diverse workforce, bringing new perspectives to its operations.

"ATAL is about more than just a job; it's about helping people overcome specific barriers for employment, enabling them to develop industry-ready skills and setting them up for long-term success," he said.

"With last year's graduates already making valuable contributions to our business, we are excited to see the positive impact these new graduates will bring to our operations and the broader industry.

"Since the reintroduction in 2023 - when the program was co-developed with our Traditional Owner partners – we've had much greater access to local communities, of course, but that also helps us understand the frameworks and support required to help all of our participants bring their best to work every day, and ultimately be successful and find themselves meaningful work.

"At Rio Tinto we've got a huge operation across our mines portfolio, our rail network, our ports and all the utilities that support all of our operations and towns.

"So the opportunities for us to continue to build on our inclusion and diversity, and create opportunities that are sustainable in these regions for those local connections, are really important to us, and it's great that we've opened up our doors to even more graduates this year."

More information on the ATAL program is available here.