Contractor dies after incident at WA mine

Students at Hedland Senior High School are gaining hands-on experience in drone technology and STEM pathways through a partnership with Fortescue (ASX: FMG). The three-year agreement, announced in 2025, includes a $600,000 investment from Fortescue to support a STEM education program, upgrade the school’s Technology Hub and expand vocational and tertiary pathways for students. The partnership is aimed at strengthening industry-linked education opportunities in WA’s Pilbara region. A key focus of the program has been the transformation of the school’s technology hub into an innovation centre supporting drone technology, engineering, coding and immersive learning, with students learning to operate and program drones while developing skills in aviation safety, mapping and data collection. Fortescue approvals, communities and services director Rosli Wheelock says the initiative is designed to connect students with emerging industries in the region. “Programs like this are about making sure students in the Pilbara can see themselves in the industries shaping the future of our region” he said.  “These technologies are already used across the Pilbara in mining, logistics and environmental management.” The program has also enabled three teachers to gain qualifications to deliver training toward a remote pilot licence and Certificate III in Aviation (remote pilot), providing students with access to industry-recognised credentials while still in school.  Students are applying their skills to practical scenarios such as bushfire assessment, disaster response, medical supply delivery and environmental monitoring, aligning classroom learning with real-world applications. The program has also contributed to increased enrolments in STEM and industry-aligned subjects, including engineering pathways, with strong participation from First Nations students. Participation in trade and engineering pathways has also grown, with students progressing into school-based traineeships and pre-apprenticeships in engineering and technology. The partnership will continue to expand, with plans to integrate immersive technologies into Two-Way Science, combining local cultural knowledge with digital tools and technology.  

Tivan (ASX: TVN) has established a community development initiative with the Central Land Council (CLC) to provide grant funding to support Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders in Central Australia.Tivan will provide up to $1m to fund regional community development initiatives, structured as $250,000 in initial funding, and three further annual funding stages of up to $250,000 over the next three years.Existing projects under the Community Development Program are targeted at delivering positive outcomes across health, cultural strengthening, education, infrastructure, employment and enterprise development.Tivan executive chairman Grant Wilson comments on the initiative.“The board of Tivan is proud to support this landmark initiative, that will provide much needed development funding to some of the most remote communities in Australia,” he said.“For too long resources companies in the Territory have adopted an adversarial and transactional approach to land access and have focused on bare minimum outcomes in respect of Aboriginal Australians. Tivan is different. The early and genuine inclusion of Traditional Owners and Native Title Holders is a foundational principle at our company, and we are committed to furthering a durable alignment of interests throughout the project development lifecycle.“Tivan will fundamentally reshape how resources projects are developed in the Territory in the years ahead.”Tivan says that wherever possible, initiatives are delivered in partnership with Aboriginal-controlled organisations and companies, strengthening local capability and economic participation.

Amid ongoing scrutiny, Chris Ellison will not be relinquishing his hold on Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) despite promises to do so by mid-2026.