The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has launched three new mining skills project hubs with a view to create thousands of new apprenticeships and supercharge the development of Australia’s future minerals workforce.
MCA said the three new project hubs in digital transformation, apprenticeships and attraction and retention would accelerate skills development and make Australia’s apprenticeship system even more relevant to industry and learners.
Additionally, the project hubs are expected to boost opportunities for new talent entering the Australian minerals industry, as well as to enable existing mining workers and workers from other industries to access new skills that would allow them to move into mining or shift to new types of jobs if already working in the sector.
All three project hubs are a part of the industry-led Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP), which is being co-ordinated by the MCA with partners across the mining industry.
According to MCA, the apprenticeships hub will target at least 5000 new apprenticeships to modernise trades training, education and development, with an initial focus on in-demand Heavy Duty Diesel Fitters and developing content, delivery and assessment models that better align industry need and apprentice knowledge.
The digital transformation hub is expected to facilitate faster delivery of training products for automation and the application of digital technologies, with the goal of integrating existing automation training products into Australia’s training package framework.
The attraction and retention hub will be tasked with identifying and testing strategies that make a career in the industry attractive to those with partial or transferable skills and qualifications by aligning the skills necessary for a successful career in mining with those in other industries through a Mining Fundamentals skill set.
MCA noted that Australia’s minerals industry already has a strong relationship with the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, with ABS data showing more than one-third of the mining workforce holds core trades qualifications at Certificate III or Certificate IV level.
“A more responsive and flexible VET system which improves skills delivery and enhances the learner’s experience will ensure the industry has access to the skilled talent pipeline it needs to continue creating highly skilled, highly paid jobs and making a significant contribution to the national economy,” MCA said in a statement.
“With the pace of technological change accelerating, the future minerals workforce must be skilled in technology adoption, confident in using and applying technology, adaptable and flexible to thrive now and into the future.”
“Through MSOP, the mining industry has the flexibility to trial innovative new approaches to skills development and acquisition to complement and enhance the current system so responsive pathways and skills acquisition can create and sustain job opportunities as Australia recovers from COVID-19.”
