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Our funds

Our fund committees comprise of Rio Tinto and community representatives

Rio Tinto Coal Australia currently operates eight community development funds. The funds were established to allow us to contribute to projects which address educational, economic and social needs of communities and that will be sustainable in the long term.

They are an integral part of our approach to community relations, a key objective of which is to effectively contribute to communities' long term sustainability. The funds also contribute to our objective of building robust relationships with our communities of interest, through the relationships developed with board members as well as individuals and organisations applying for funding.  Effective operation of the funds also requires us to have a sound understanding of the needs and aspirations of each community.

The funds have operated for different periods. The Coal & Allied Community Development Fund (formerly known as the Coal & Allied Trust) was established in 1999. Other funds were established later with the most recent being 2008.

Four of the community development funds are designed to support projects that provide business, education and training opportunities for the Wiri Yuwiburra, Wangan and Jagalingou and Western Kangoulu People, and the Aboriginal community of the Upper Hunter Valley. In Queensland these funds are established under land use agreements with each Traditional Owner group. Each group determines how the funds will be used in their community.

Each fund has a committee, generally comprising of RTCA representatives and community representatives, which considers applications for funding.  Each committee is supported by an RTCA community relations specialist as executive officer.

Wherever possible, we seek community investment opportunities where we are not the only funding source but are one of a number of community and/or government bodies that contribute to a programme that benefits the community. In this way, the long-term sustainability of a programme is increased and community dependence on mining activities decreases over time.

2010 activity

Since their inception, our community development funds in Queensland and New South Wales have contributed more than $21 million to the communities in which we operate. During 2010 some of the fund boards began the development of a strategic map for their fund to ensure alignment between identified community needs and the programmes funded.

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