According to Australian Potash managing director and CEO Matt Shackleton, the company is and has always been committed to making real substantive change to the Laverton community through the proposed 150,000 tonne per annum SoP operation at Lake Wells.

Shackleton said to fulfil that commitment the company had joined with the Community Development Program provider in town, the Wirrapanda Foundation, which represented job seekers in the region, to create real employment opportunities during project construction.

Founded by Wirrpanda in 2005, the foundation gives indigenous people education and employment opportunities.

Under the partnership the foundation will engage with the community to find likely candidates, who will then be trained and prepared for jobs on the project as it develops.

Shackleton said Lake Wells hopefuls would be put through the foundation's sector leading programs to learn work skills, with on the job mentoring and on-going employment support for any hires also on offer.

Wirrapanda Foundation director and founder David Wirrpanda said the foundation was committed to partnering with Shackleton and the team to give local people long-term career opportunities.