Social Responsibility

Community Engagement

PanAust actively strives to build mutually beneficial relationships and interact constructively with local communities. The Company assists in local community development and applies the principles of mutual respect, active partnership, and long term commitment. Accordingly, PanAust is committed to:

  • being an active member of the communities in which the Company works;
  • maintaining fair, accurate and transparent dealings with stakeholders;
  • improving cultural awareness through education, vocational and cultural programs;
  • endeavouring to improve the wellbeing of local communities by contributing to them through the provision of a higher degree of employment, training and development; and
  • seeking feedback from the community regarding aesthetic, environmental, economic and social issues which may arise due to the Company’s activities.

The Company has a number of policies and procedures to ensure that:

  • all employees and contractors are made aware of appropriate standards of socially acceptable behaviour among local communities, and communicate the critical importance of respecting those standards at all times.
  • it will take appropriate steps to counsel any person who creates unnecessary friction with the local community.
  • any instances of local community resentment of, or resistance to, the Company’s activities will be addressed promptly with community members and representatives through the establishment of grievance mechanisms and request procedures.

Community Development

The Company is focused on community activites which are sustainable, in that the resulting benefits of such contributions will continue after mining activities have ceased.

PanAust has adopted an approach to community development:

  • Provision of a Community Development Fund that is overseen jointly with Company, Government and community representatives via the Community Development Board and Village Development Committee (VDC)
  • Contributions on a case-by-case basis upon application
  • Community activities focus on a range of core areas including health, livelihood, eduction, infrastructure and small-scale business development.

The VDC was established by PanAust to represent the interest of local villages in the allocation and management of community development funds and management of local programs.

The Committee structure was designed to maximise the participation of the villagers in self-governance with the ultimate goal of achieving sustainable rural and business livelihoods beyond the productive life of the Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation.

Together with PanAust, the VDC is working towards culturally appropriate community development, consistent with the needs and desires of the villages.

For further information, refer to:

Community Cooperation section from the 2008 Sustainability Report

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Sustainability