Rio Tinto names Shell’s Katie Jackson as new copper chief
Jackson, who is the current president of National Grid Ventures, an energy group, joins Rio Tinto on September 1.
ABC News examines the rumour that big money can be made in mining in Australia with nary more than a high-school diploma.
Rejecting the idea that apprentices can walk into a mine and pull down a couple hundred grand, ABC quotes a recuriter at a jobs expo in Perth saying that high salaries aren’t paid without suitable skills:
“There are a lot of tickets and qualifications you will need before you’re let on site and most companies do prefer people with experience,” said recruiter Tim Bayliss.
“So, that myth of basically being able to come to Perth and have a job in a mine straight away getting paid $200,000 isn’t really that realistic.”
What is realistic though, is the number of positions expected to go begging in the next three years. Successful applicants will almost certainly have to have the proper tickets:
“By 2015, we’re looking at creating another 83,000 roles and that will vary all the way through to operators, engineers, geologists, trade professionals and boiler makers,” (Australian Mines and Metals Association expo organizer Minna) Knight said.
“There certainly are entry level positions into the resource industry particularly with the more allied sectors, however, the truth is that you do need to have appropriate certificates and qualifications,” says Knight.
“A mining environment is not like a cafeteria or a petrol station where you may be able to train up over a couple of hours.”
Australian Miner has put together a guide for job seekers of mining positions in Down Under, which includes a total of 456 projects in the construction pipeline, with a combined value of over $400 billion.
Acute shortages will be felt in the following disciplines:
- Structural Fitters and Welders
- Mechanical Fitters
- Electricians
- Fixed and Mobile Plant Operators
- Structural Steel Fixers
- Motor Mechanics
- Crane Operators
- Carpenters
- Concreters
Of the committed projects, the breakdown by state is:
- Western Australia; 89
- Northern Territory; 36
- Queensland; 123
- New South Wales; 94
- Victoria/Tasmania; 53
- South Australia; 61
Continue reading the article that will facilitate your own research>> >>
12 Comments
lifting services perth
Successful applicants will almost certainly have to have the proper tickets
Paul Bear
Mechanical fitters are a must in mining. Custom equipment has to be fashioned for specific projects, and replaced when it wears out. Those things are often not mass produced, so they have to be manufactured individually. Hopefully fitters are still available in upcoming years. hamiltonengineering.com.au
crane hire Perth
Mining camps and try and use this as a stepping stone
alf
Anyone looking for an electrician with a builders supervisors licence with plenty of experience
john allen
all i want is a job to pay my house and bills .. i have excavtor ., bulldozer..,and frontend loader tickets plus 4 years crushing experence with awell known company .. money is low so saving to get mine induction is almost impossible (kids cost a furtune).. i have extact minerals cert but none of this can help me get into the mines..anyone got any ideas how to do this …
chris
I am a mining teacher for a tafe school in victoria we train people to Cert II in undergound mining including some mobile plant. From my experence about 70 percent of my students get work with in the industry but they dont get employment from the big miners they get there starts with the contract companies who are contracted to the big miners(bhp,xstrata,rio tinto).This is how i started 2 years with contractors and then 16 years with anglo coal and xstrata. People need to get some basic training this would include HR licence, frontend loader,marcstar induction for hard rock mines or the generic coal induction and coal board medical for coal then phone the larger mining operations and fined out which contrators are used on site and try and gain employment with them. also i advise my students to fined work at the mining camps and try and use this as a stepping stone to getting into the industry.
Tamwatson
Hi chris your post is good reading i have tried to get in to the mines for the last year but had no luck i have a cert III in carpentry but every time all i get is sorry you have not got the job would not mind but have applied for over two hundred jobs with various mines so any help or advice would be really good cheers tam
Kevin S
Yes you are right RB. I have worked in the mines as an operator now for 12 months and still can’t get the top money. I have applied for the big money jobs and don’t get an interveiw because I don’t have enough experience. The government won’t say it but the mining boom is over, so it is going to get a lot harder to get in. Before I got in I spent $6000 doing courses, I had to wait 4 months to get a truck driving job, I was at the right place at the right time. The job come via a friend of a friend. The only advise I can give, is to get on the internet and on the phones to training companies. If they can’t get you a job after their courses then you are wasting your money, If you dont have the money to waste then don’t spend it.
RB
Keep knocking on those doors Kevin S. Eventually, someone will listen and you’ll advance in your career aspirations. My advice, for what it’s worth, is to express an interest with your current employer to learn how to operate some of the ancillary machines – loader, grader etc. This way you’ll make yourself a ‘more valuable’ employee and therefore improve your employment prospects in the future.
RB
Unless you’re a qualified fitter, boilermaker, electrician, mechanic, rigger, plumber etc, you’ll need to gain some basic qualifications. The jobs that will be offered to imported workers under the 457 visas, will be for skilled workers (like those mentioned above) during the construction phase of new mining ventures such as Roy Hill. If you are a qualified trades-person, then you should have no problem getting a job.
If you are unskilled (don’t have a trade) and seeking a position as an operator (driving a dump truck for example) you’ll need the appropriate driver’s license, some basic experience or knowledge of the operation of the machine, an understanding of what’s required of you in a mining environment (terminology used, position of machine in relation to load unit, what to look for and be aware of etc etc).
Many people have the misconception that they can simply apply for a job as a dump truck operator earning in excess of $130,000 /year, with no experience whatsoever. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you want a start in this industry, then you’ll have to help yourself a bit first. Get the appropriate driver’s license, obtain a blue or white card, and do an operator training course (they are not cheap either). There are many training firms out there offering basic training courses and some even offering placement services too, through the recruiting arm of their company (some mining companies employ ‘greenies’ through operator training companies).
Upon completing these simple steps, you’ll at least put yourself in a better position. If you are considered eligible for a job, then you’ll have to pass an extensive medical, provide a police clearance certificate, do a drug & alcohol screen, induction and much more.
The myth that you can jump in your car, head across the continent with all your belongings and simply walk into a job earning the same income as a qualified doctor, is exactly that – a total myth!
Alvin ombao
I agree that all mine worker must have a certified skills and tickets but sometimes it doesn’t happen to have a proper licence or ticket to work on the mines site and primarily it requires a great amount of safety of thinking and attitude to work there.and secondly the attitude and last the Skills and Trade.
Johnathan pieper
how do you acquire the proper tickets and papers you need to work. I work as a under ground electrician at a salt mine in the united states,how find the information i need to work in australia.