His Alice Springs-based company, GreenGlass, has helped more than 60 Territorians do just that. 

He manages the Yapa Crew, which is celebrating 10 years of finding pathways for Warlpiri workers to fulfilling jobs. 

A dozen have joined the team at Newmont’s Granites gold mine in the Tanami Desert and more than 50 others work for GreenGlass at the mine site. 

They all have the added satisfaction of working on their own land. 

GreenGlass operates two crews at the mine, working back-to-back on an 8/6 roster. 

Shane Murphy and Veronica Stafford have been with the business since the beginning. 

“We have close to a 50-50 gender mix and a wide range of ages, bringing a true diversity to the crew with a depth of cultural knowledge, skills and now experience on site,” says Mr Glass. 

The Yapa Crew are spread across a good portion of the NT with staff from Kalkarindgi, Lajamanu, Yuendumu, Yuelamu, Laramba, Willowra, Alice Springs and Amata. 

GreenGlass travels 2200 kilometres every week in dual-cab Landcruisers and Mitsubishi canter bus to pick up crew and take them to and from the mine. 

“We drive on the worst roads in the country,” says Mr Glass. “But the scenery, sunsets, wildlife and wide-open spaces are incomparable to just about anywhere else.” 

GreenGlass Consulting aims to complete two blocks of training for Certificate lll in Plant Operations or Resources and Infrastructure each year. 

The training is carried out at various locations, such as Hamilton Downs 

Youth Camp, Tilmouth Well, Stuarts Well and Granites mine itself, where the cost of the training is sometimes offset by trainees completing civil works as part of their study. 

The last block of training focussed on excavator and skid steer, white card and working safely on site. 

“We have also put a strong focus on gaining and retaining car, truck and other licences this year with good results,” says Mr Glass. 

“As the capability and numbers have increased, so has the need for truck drivers, licensed operators and light vehicle drivers.” 

In an effort to provide a career stream within Yapa, as well as the option to transfer to Newmont, the crew now operates an excavator, tip truck, water carts and skid steer on site, greatly increasing the scope and nature of the work they can complete. 

Workers also carry out weed and land management, tree pruning and similar tasks. 

Warlpiri are proud to be part of the Yapa Crew – the interest in joining the crew is so strong that there is a waiting list of men and women. About 12 people are waiting to come onboard. 

The retention rate is 87 percent, which makes positions hard to come by. 

Standard mining recruitment criteria apply, including criminal history check, mine medical, strength and function test, drug and alcohol screening, and online and face-to-face inductions. 

Mr Glass says running an Aboriginal crew such as the Yapa Crew comes with unique challenges, cultural and environmental. 

“But it also comes with considerable rewards. There is a strong evidence base that having a working role model in a family helps with positive outcomes in the wider family group in areas of health, education and reduced criminal behaviours.” 

Cultural commitments are managed without significant impact on operational capability. 

The Yapa Crew is a key part of Newmont’s 10-year plan with the Central Land Council and forms part of its social licence to operate. 

“GreenGlass aims to enhance this social licence to operate while ensuring the Yapa Crew provides a very real operational capability to the mine.” 

Newmont has fully owned and operated the Tanami mine since 2002. 

CONTACT 

Green Glass Consulting 

2/66A Smith Street, Ciccone, Alice Springs NT 0870 

PO Box 3590 NT 0871 

08 8953 0230 

martinglass62@outlook.com 

greenglassconsulting.com.au