CSR in Mining & Oil & Gas:
Indigenous and Community
Perspectives
PhD Student University of South Australia,
CRC REP Scholar, ECVM
Presenter: Anne Fordham
(Supervisors: Prof Guy Robinson, Dr Boyd Blackwell, Dr Nina Evans)
Research Overview
Company
Employees
NGO's/
Government
Business
Consultants
Non Indigenous
Community
Indigenous
Community
CSR
View
CSR
Process Who
CSR
Outcomes
Ethics/Morals
Business needs
Community
needs
Long Term Value Community Led
CSR
Partnerships
Company Policy
Regulation
Environment
NRM
Financial
Human Capital
Community
Development
Long term Value
•Understanding community and stakeholder expectations about Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR)
•Employed an exploratory approach using semi-structured interviews to
explore the meaning and values behind CSR
•Including what stakeholders find important for developing CSR and
linked to on ground delivery
•Research helps inform understanding of community acceptance of
CSR and improving relationship between the community and company
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Key Research
•Understanding community and stakeholder expectations about Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR)
•Employed an exploratory approach using semi-structured interviews to
explore the meaning and values behind CSR
•Including what stakeholders find important for developing CSR and
linked to on-ground delivery
•Research helps inform understanding of community acceptance of
CSR and improving relationship between the community and company
4
Key Research (Continued)
5
Key areas of Importance for Community and Stakeholders:
Moral expectations on company behaviour
Community company interactions and power relationships
Specific processes shaping CSR
Key CSR outcomes for communities and reflections on the adequacy
of current CSR programs
The key community aspirations and outcomes to be delivered
Indigenous Perspectives
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1. Self Determination
and Empowerment
CSR
Outcomes
CSR
Process
9.Create Long
Term Invest
4. Nat Title/
Heritage Legis
10. Indig
Governance
8.Employment
6.Create Social
Change
CSR
View
5.Relns Building
and Trust
7.Education &
Skills
3. Protect Herit
& Culture 2.Create Bus
Ventures
Indigenous Perspectives (Continued)
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6. Mine-site
Rehab
CSR
Outcomes
CSR
Process
11. Create Long
Term Invest
3. Native Title/
Heritage Legis
CSR
View
2. Protect and
Care for Env
7 Education &
Skills
1.Protect Heritage
& Culture
4. Two Way
Communication
8 Create Busin.
Ventures
5. CSR
Accountability
10 Alternatives
to Mining
Indig
Values
9. Create long
term value
Indigenous Perspectives (Continued)
8
CSR
View
Two Way
Communication
Relns Building
& Trust
Company Ethics:
Community development
Company Ethics:
Genuine, honest, empathy
Key Messages
• For acceptance need to focus on long term outcomes and initiatives which
promote empowerment and self determination
Legislation and regulation can underpin this process
Provides basis for community benefit and maximises the opportunities that
communities can harness
Supports accountability and evaluation of progress
Fundamental to this is relationship building, gaining trust and
two communication through-out this process
Company intent does impact this process
9
Elephant in the Room
CSR Company Policy
Clearly stated CSR policy independent of Native Title Claim, transparent and
shows intent
Provides basis for accountability and ownership of issues.
Wider CSR Frameworks
Promote equity between Traditional Owners
More structure in reaching long term outcomes
10
Non Indigenous Perspectives
11
CSR
Outcomes
CSR
Process
3.Address Risks
and find opp
CSR
View
1. Two Way
Communication
6. Community
Development
4. Create Long
Term Value
7. Alternatives
to Mining 5. Relationship
Building trust
8 Company Morals
Genuine and Trust
2. Work
Cooperatively
9.Company Morals
Community development
10 Embed company
in community
Non Indigenous Perspectives (Continued)
12
CSR
Outcomes
CSR
Process
CSR
View
4. Community
Development
2. Create Long
Term value
5. Economic
development
1. Community
Viability
6. Plan for
Future
3. Community
Investment Program
8. Employment 7.Business
Development
Key Messages
• Central to CSR is two-way communication and appropriate engagement with
communities to understand needs
• Community need to see risks are being addressed and companies are
supporting local and regional community investment
• Seeking long term value, within a community development framework with a
major focus on planning for future including alternatives to mining
• Look for companies with morals going beyond compliance and interested in
furthering community needs
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Key Messages
•Ensuring future community viability was a key theme and linked to
economic development interests, creating long term value and planning for
future
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Elephant in the Room
Wider CSR Frameworks
Ensure greater investment of CSR/royalties in regional long term value
More structured process for resolving land-use conflicts and protecting high value
land
More structure around planning for community futures and supporting community
led visions
15
Summary
• Two way communication and reln. building and trust is
critical
• Need to facilitate long term value and alternatives to
mining - creates a long term SLO
• Can potentially harness key values of community through
involvement
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Any Questions?
Thank-you!
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