A grant to support Yamatji Traditional Owners broaden their skills through a tailored TAFE course was among more than $119,000 invested by Mineral Resources in Mid West communities this year.

Participants are working to earn a Certificate II Yamatji Heritage Advisors – Workplace Readiness - at Geraldton's Central Regional TAFE and are on track to complete their training late next month.

MinRes' community grants in regions it operates are designed to support health and wellbeing, education, Indigenous engagement and environmental initiatives in communities across the Pilbara and Goldfields-Esperance, and shires of Yilgarn, Irwin and Mingenew.

In the 2023 financial year, the company increased Indigenous business spend by 140 per cent, now contracting more than 30 Indigenous businesses, with more significant growth forecast.

The diversified resources leader with headquarters in Osborne Park said it worked with Traditional Owners to engage organisations that would benefit from an Indigenous Small Business Grant.

Funding assists them with set-up costs such as registration, business advice, legal structure and basic training.

Other MinRes support was granted to Fremantle Biennale for a Yamatji-inspired light and sound display during July's NAIDOC Week celebrations.

The MinRes Indigenous Employment and Energy teams also recently participated in the Clontarf Foundation's Geraldton Employment Forum, discussing and advising Year 11 and 12 Yamatji students from Geraldton Senior High School and Champion Bay Senior High School on career opportunities.

YSRC chief executive Luka Gray said the Certificate II Yamatji Heritage Advisors course was the first of its kind.

"The program, developed in collaboration with CRTAFE and funded by MinRes, was created to upskill Yamatji Heritage Advisors and create a robust skilled workforce that can provide a strong reliable service to business," he said.

"Most importantly it will create a knowledgeable team that can represent the Yamatji Nation, with support provided by the respective Cultural Committees.

"YSRC is keen to watch how the program develops and work in partnership with CRTAFE to further develop and amend the course as required."

MinRes was a platinum sponsor of the 2024 Mingenew Mid West Expo, the biggest agricultural field day in the Mid West.

Grants for the Shire of Mingenew were used to build new facilities for the Mingenew Hockey Club, a new community shed for the Mingenew Historical Society, and entertainment for the Mingenew Turf Club's annual race day.

Regular donations from Containers for Change collections at the MinRes drill operations are also being made to the Mingenew Primary School P&C, which will be used to support a Year 6 school camp.

With the support of a grant, the Irwin Volunteer Fire Brigade were able to purchase new 4WD tyres for its fire truck, ensuring their dedicated team of volunteers could maintain the vital service for its community.

In the Shire of Irwin, MinRes supported the installation of a new children's playground at the Dongara foreshore, new gymnastics equipment for the Irwin Recreation Centre and provided a grant to the Dongara Osprey Girl Guides allowing a group of guides to attend an adventure camp in Kalbarri.

Additionally, a MinRes grant was invested in a much-needed barbecue trailer for the Mingenew Irwin Group so locals can easily transport the trailer to support community events and field days across the Mingenew and Irwin regions.

Mingenew-Irwin group CEO Dee McKeown said MinRes' support enhanced the quality of events it delivered across the community.

"To be able to streamline tasks for our team while also better delivering engaging content to the region is invaluable," Dee said.

"It's support like this that sustains Grower Groups and rural communities."