South Australia’s (SA) Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer has announced the opening for applications for Nyrstar Australia’s 2024 Apprenticeship Program at the multi-metal processing facility in Port Pirie.
The program ultimately aims to boost the skillset of tradespeople working in the metals and minerals sectors.
According to Minister Boyer, tradespeople are critical to the future of SA’s economy as “Nyrstar here in Port Pirie can’t provide the metals important to everyday life around the world without its tradespeople.”
He added that apprentices will get the chance to hone their skills and contribute to Port Pirie’s goal of providing the critical minerals the world needs.
Currently, there are 56 trade apprentices employed at Nyrstar Port Pirie, which work across the fields of boiler making, electrical maintenance, and fitting and turning, with 16 more first-years to start by January 2024.
Over the past five years, more than 90% of apprentices employed by Nyrstar in Port Pirie complete their four-year trade qualification and then continue into a permanent tradesperson position on-site.
Meanwhile, Nyrstar Australia’s Regional Head of Human Resources Rick Briant said tradespeople are important to the company’s operations in Port Pirie and Hobart and that gaining a qualification through an apprenticeship is the “perfect start.”
“Multiple generations of South Australians from the same family are employed here at Nyrstar at any one time,” he added.
