Windlab and the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation (GBAC) have announced a partnership with Australian Pacific Indigenous Personnel (APIP) to support employment, training and local participation outcomes for the Gawara Baya wind energy project.

The appointment was announced at Windlab’s Gawara Baya Meet the Buyer Industry Roadshow in Charters Towers and Ingham, as the project moves toward construction.

The partnership supports the co designed Gawara Baya–Gugu Badhun Employment and Training Strategy, developed through Gugu Badhun cultural leadership and underpinned by a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) between Windlab and GBAC. Windlab oversees project delivery and the appointment of major contractors, through which employment and contracting opportunities for the project will be delivered.

APIP will support implementation of the strategy through culturally informed engagement and workforce coordination, helping connect Traditional Owners, local people and regional suppliers with project delivery teams and contractors. The Meet the Buyer Roadshow brought industry, workforce and delivery partners together ahead of construction to share information about upcoming work and participation opportunities.

Windlab Chief Project Delivery Officer Tom Keddie said the partnership reflects a focus on turning commitments into action.

“At Gawara Baya, cultural leadership and local participation are part of how we do things on Country,” Mr Keddie said.

“Working with GBAC and bringing APIP in early helps ensure opportunities are grounded locally and set up to deliver lasting benefits.”

Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC Chief Executive Officer Allison Hoolihan said APIP’s endorsement reflects a significant step in delivering long term employment and economic outcomes on Country.

“Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC is very happy to announce APIP is an endorsed GBAC business and excited that they will be assisting GBAC and Windlab with the delivery of the Gugu Badhun Gawara Baya Employment Strategy, ILUA commitments and business development throughout the project duration, which will be led by a Gugu Badhun person Noel Gertz,” Ms Hoolihan said.

“APIP will be leading the engagement on behalf of Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC with strong governance structures that allow for GBAC, APIP and Windlab to work alongside each other through collaborative processes and further allow our relationship with APIP and Windlab for the Gawara Baya project to grow through this new phase.

“This engagement will allow for future employment, skills and training for Gugu Badhun Peoples and further regional development and support to other neighbouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, whilst supporting Gugu Badhun Nation in our Economic Development, Research and Nation Building.”

Australian Pacific Indigenous Personnel Owner and Managing Director, Noel Gertz, said the engagement is about supporting practical workforce outcomes on Country.

“Our role is to work alongside GBAC and Windlab to help connect people with real jobs, training and pathways that make sense locally,” Mr Gertz said.

“Being involved early allows opportunities at Gawara Baya to be shaped with local people, local businesses and culture in mind, and to support outcomes that last beyond construction.”

ENDS

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Gawara Baya - Meet the Buyer Industry Roadshow

Windlab delivered Meet the Buyer Industry Roadshow sessions in Charters Towers and Ingham as part of ongoing engagement on the Gawara Baya wind energy project.

The sessions connected regional businesses, First Nations enterprises and jobseekers with key project stakeholders, project delivery partners, and workforce and training organisations. Attendees gained early visibility of construction related work packages, workforce and skills requirements, and opportunities to engage directly with organisations involved in project delivery.

Organisations represented at the sessions included Davbridge Constructions and Cooper McCullough Group, Australian Portable Camps, Australian Camp Services, Australian Pacific Indigenous Personnel, and the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation.

About Gawara Baya

Gawara Baya is a fully permitted, 400MW wind energy project being developed by Windlab in North Queensland, located approximately 65KM south west of Ingham on Gugu Badhun Country.

The project is expected to create more than 300 jobs during construction and supports a strong focus on local employment, training and business participation. Delivery of employment and training outcomes at Gawara Baya is guided by a landmark Indigenous Land Use Agreement (ILUA) between Windlab and the Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation, which sets commitments for employment, education, contracting and ongoing involvement of Gugu Badhun people across the life of the project.

As construction planning progresses, Gawara Baya is working with Traditional Owners, workforce partners and industry to support culturally informed pathways into jobs, skills development and regional economic participation.

About Windlab

Windlab is an Australian renewable energy developer focused on delivering projects that create lasting value for communities, landholders and Traditional Owners.

With origins in CSIRO science and more than two decades of experience, Windlab brings deep technical expertise together with a relationship led approach to development. The company works closely with Traditional Owners, local communities and regional partners to shape projects that respect Country, support local participation and are grounded in trust, transparency and long term outcomes.

At Gawara Baya and across its national portfolio, Windlab’s approach is to engage early, listen carefully and embed cultural leadership, local employment and regional capability into the way projects are designed and delivered.

About Gugu Badhan Aboriginal Corporation

The Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation is an organisation dedicated to the cultural, social, economic and political well-being and development of the Gugu Badhun community. The Gugu Badhun Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (GBAC) is the Prescribed Body Corporate (PBC) registered under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act (Cth) (2006) (CATSI), and holds the Native Title rights, interests and assets as agent of the Gugu Badhun people.

The Gugu Badhun People are the native title holders of country around the upper reaches of the Burdekin River, surrounding the Township of Greenvale that is approximately 220 km north-west of Townsville, Northern Queensland.

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