29 August 2025
A group of ten aspiring young leaders from MADALAH recently had the opportunity to step inside the heart of Fortescue’s port and rail operations in Port Hedland.
MADALAH, a long-standing community partner of Fortescue, is a not-for-profit organisation offering secondary and tertiary education scholarships for First Nations students in Western Australia. Many of the students involved in the visit come from communities in which Fortescue operates.
The visiting group included a mix of Year’s 11 and 12 students, including members of MADALAH’s Student Council.
During the tour, the students explored Fortescue’s concentrate handling facility, climbed atop a ship loader as it loaded a bulk carrier vessel with iron ore, witnessed a train unloader, and learnt about the rolling stock maintenance yard. They also attended presentations from Fortescue’s First Nations team members who shared their career journeys and experiences working within the mining industry.
The visit aimed to educate the students on the wide range of career opportunities available within the resources sector.
MADALAH student Alyssa Latham shared her excitement at seeing Fortescue’s operations.
“We got a glimpse into what life could be like working for Fortescue and got to see different things across Fortescue’s port and rail operations.”
“While I knew mining, I never truly comprehended just how diverse the mining community is, in both people and jobs, without seeing it firsthand,” Alyssa said.
Fortescue’s support for the initiative reflects its commitment to maintaining strong, long-term relationships with First Nation communities and to investing in the next generation.
Fortescue’s Director of Approvals, Communities and Environment Warren Fish said the goal was to create opportunities that inspire students and broaden their horizons.
“By opening our doors and sharing our people’s stories, we hope to spark ambition and show that a career in mining can be both rewarding and achievable. Partnerships like this are about listening, learning and working together to create opportunities that reflect the aspirations of First Nations communities.”
MADALAH General Manager, Casey Jo Drummond thanked Fortescue for their ongoing support and the opportunity to tour their operations.
“We are grateful to our corporate partners that enable these site visits and provide an opportunity for our scholars to experience what it would be like to work in the various sectors.
“This trip was an incredible demonstration of the diversity of roles within the mining sector and definitely opened the eyes of many of the scholars who were able to attend.”