Graduates All Win Mine Jobs - Program Doubles Intake As First Trainees Prove Such A Success
Friday September 19, 2008
A SECOND group of Aboriginal trainees is working hard to gain mining qualifications at Coal & Allied's Hunter Valley Operations, following the success of a pilot program last year.
The five alumni who graduated in December 2007 have been joined this year by eight men and two women, who are now being trained as mining operators. Coal & Allied Aboriginal Relations specialist Cate Sims said the new group of trainees is progressing well in their year-long program. "Last year the program was a big success, as all five qualified graduates found work with partners Pegasus Employment at Hunter Valley Operations," Ms Sims said. "We are very pleased that through Pegasus Employment we have been able to offer traineeships this year, and to have doubled the number of participants is extremely encouraging for all involved." The program is part of Coal & Allied's approach to encourage and assist Aboriginal people in the Hunter Valley to gain the skills necessary for employment in the mining industry. The general manager of operations of Hunter Valley Operations, Graham Gageler, said the site was also benefiting from the increased availability of skilled employees. "It's always important to have good, qualified operators available, and even more so in the current climate of growth," he said. Mr Gageler said the trainees are undergoing classroom theory, safety lessons, truck simulator training and practical one-on-one experience in the mine pit. "We've taken a different approach this year, extending the study time from 12 weeks to one year, to provide the graduates with a Certificate II in Surface Coal Operation," he said. "To be able to provide this opportunity for a group that has traditionally been disadvantaged by the recruitment process shows that, with the right approach, Aboriginal people can get the skills needed to find employment in our industry."The traineeships are the result of the collaboration between Coal & Allied, Pegasus Employment and Upper Hunter Skills Development Centre, which undertook the important work of identifying the right people to take up these opportunities."
© 2008