$900,000 to improve mine workers’ skills

Reflecting the shortage of skilled electronics technicians and electricians in the mining sector, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, University School of Engineering TAFE, has been awarded a $900,000 contract to deliver training at Mt Isa mines in Queensland.

The 11-month contract will provide instrumentation training for personnel at Xstrata and Stanwell’s Mt Isa operations and involves improving the skills of 28 workers at the mine and two from the nearby Stanwell power station.

More than a third of the funds, $310,000, is being provided by the state government's Skills Queensland because of a skills shortage for electrical instrumentation recognised in the federal government’s National Skills Needs List.

Training is being delivered jointly by subject experts from SAGE Didactic and RMIT as the Registered Training Organisation at Mt Isa Institute of TAFE.

Training started earlier this year and runs until June next year.

Specialist training equipment built by SAGE, some purpose-designed by RMIT, is providing students with an industry-relevant learning experience. RMIT has been delivering instrumentation training for more than 100 years.

The program will focus on upskilling and cross training to meet the skills gap around the support of site automation, process control and instrumentation. Participants will also be provided with mentor support to enhance ongoing workplace learning.

A prerequisite for training is a Certificate III Electrotechnology (Electrician) or an A-class electrical licence.