Their focus has been directed towards education and employment pathways, as well as to procurement practices, as these sustain economic development in First Nation communities.

Specifically, BG&E has an agreement with Sevenoaks College in Cannington, Western Australia (WA) to provide the following:

Cultural Awareness

• A minimum of two BG&E staff will attend the College’s NAIDOC Week celebration each year to improve cultural awareness among BG&E staff.
• A minimum of two BG&E staff will attend the College’s Harmony Day Festival each year to improve cultural awareness among BG&E staff.
• Sevenoaks students to be invited to perform suitable Aboriginal cultural activities (e.g., dance or performance) in the BG&E offices for BG&E staff at a gathering during NAIDOC Week to improve cultural awareness among BG&E staff.

Other Interactions between BG&E and the College

In addition to the above BG&E commits to the following:

• BG&E guest speaker(s) to visit the College and talk to Years 11 & 12 about careers in engineering and related fields. Nominally twice per year.
• Workplace learning and shadow placements for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students in BG&E offices.
• The opportunity for a limited number of students with interests in engineering and related fields to visit active construction sites (subject to availability and time).

BG&E Scholarships for Secondary School Studies

BG&E will provide a total of two scholarships of $1500 each per school year to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students entering Year 11 or Year 12 with an interest in STEM; such awards will be made at the commencement of each school year.

The scholarships are intended to provide financial support for educational expenses such as tuition fees, mentoring programs, and textbooks. Should a BG&E scholarship holder fail to successfully complete the Year of studies, the College may recommend, at its own discretion based on a belief that the student has the potential to succeed, that the scholarship is continued for a repeat of the Year.

If any of the Year 11 or 12 scholarship holders cease studies at the College prior to the commencement of the school year, the College may recommend a replacement scholarship recipient on the same basis as above; the administration of the scholarship funds once awarded by BG&E would be managed by the College. The scholarship recipients will be selected by the College and recommended to BG&E.

Prize for Completion of Secondary Schooling

BG&E will provide a single $500 prize at the completion of Year 12 studies for the top ATAR Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students in the College.

This prize will be presented by a representative of BG&E at the College’s Presentation Ceremony (or similar).

BG&E Work Experience

BG&E will collaborate with Follow the Dream Program and Clontarf Foundation in providing two Year 12 students the opportunity of paid work experience in our Perth office or related project offices and construction sites. Such an offer would be dependent on satisfactory academic results and an entry interview.

University Pathway Scholarship

BG&E in collaboration with Follow the Dream program and the UWA School of Indigenous Studies, and Curtin University Centre for Aboriginal Studies will provide two scholarships of $2000 to two students that have completed Year 12 with an interest in STEM and intend to do further studies at university, however, have not met the requirement for an undergraduate course and required alternative entry pathway such as bridging courses. The scholarship is intended to provide financial support for educational expenses such as tuition fees, mentoring programs, and textbooks.

At the successful completion of the bridging course, students can apply for BG&E Tertiary Scholarship. The value of the scholarship will be $5,000 (excluding GST) per annum for a maximum period of 5 consecutive academic years.

BG&E’s preference would be that the scholarship is awarded to a student who intends to study engineering or related subjects (e.g., surveying, drafting, environmental science, or commerce/business administration). However, if no student chooses subjects of this type, then BG&E, at its discretion may award the scholarship to a student choosing to study another STEM-related subject.

The University would make the recommendation of the suitable recipient to BG&E, providing information on their previous academic record, chosen area of study, and general suitability