Time ‘ripe’ to promote mining industry as a career choice in NT schools, says McArthur River boss

THE time is ripe to promote the mining sector as a career choice in NT schools, according to an industry boss

There are 11 women and men currently employed as graduates at McArthur River Mine, situated 970km southeast of Darwin. Picture: Supplied

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WITH the mining and resource sector firmly on the table as an economic driver for the Northern Territory going forward the time is ripe to promote the industry as a career choice in NT schools.

McArthur River Mine general manager Steven Rooney says government has a vested interest in getting young Territorians upskilled and aware of the career opportunities in the sector.

McArthur River Mine is in the final stages of recruiting for its popular Mining Engineering Cadetship Program and Mr Rooney says mining is no longer the pick and shovel industry it once was.

The time is ripe to promote the mining sector as a career choice in NT schools, according to McArthur River Mine general manager, Steven Rooney. Picture: Supplied

“When everyone thinks of miners they think of people underground with a pick and axe and that is not the case anymore … it is a hi-tech industry rich in opportunity,” he said.

“In our case at McArthur River if you think of a small city. There 1150 employees and contractors, we have everything from cooks, people doing gardening, admin and the mining and milling and stuff like that.”

With a workforce that comprises 16 percent trainees, apprenctices, cadets and graduates, training Territorians to be the talent of the future is one of McArthur River Mine’s highest priorities. Picture: Supplied

McArthur River Mine is located on one of the world’s largest deposits of zinc and lead, about 970 kilometres southeast of Darwin and is 65 kilometres southwest of Borroloola township, with a population 871.

Mr Rooney says more mining projects in the Territory will keep young Territorians here and will be a main driver for economic recovery.

“McArthur River Mine has been here for 20 years and we will be here for another 20 years,”

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Mr Rooney said. “Whether it is with us at MRM or one of the other mines that eventually comes on line, it would be a benefit to the Territory if there is an opportunity for school leavers to spend their whole career working and living in the Northern Territory.

“Government could certainly help to promote it in the schools. We have CDU which is a great centre for apprenticeships.”

As part of McArthur River Mine’s recruiting for its Mining Engineering Cadetship Program it is holding information nights in Darwin and Alice Springs to provide locals with a final opportunity to apply for the program.

The time is ripe to promote the mining sector as a career choice in NT schools, according to McArthur River Mine general manager, Steven Rooney. Picture: Supplied

The program sees cadets undertake three years of paid study while working full time at McArthur River Mine on a fly-in, fly-out roster.

“Upon finishing the program cadets will graduate with an associate degree in mining engineering and move into guaranteed roles at the mine,” Mr Rooney said.

“The program is open to Territory -based residents only and aims to fill a critical skills shortage in mining engineering.

“It is a long-term objective for us and a recognition of the need to secure local people. There were 130 applicants last year and we took nine of them.

“With the number of mining projects on the table the industry’s future in the Territory is a bright one and this represents opportunity for young Territorians.

“At McArthur River Mine we invest in Territorians because they have shown they are less likely to want to leave and at the same time we want to support locals first and not have to rely on getting skills from the east and the west.

“It’s good for the Territory and it’s good for the mine.

“Our long-term focus has really been getting to Territory students before they graduate from school or get them to stay at school so they can get the skills required to come and work in the mine.

“There are a number of entry level positions, which do not need a degree or anything. These are your truck driving roles etc. We are pushing Territory based only for those positions as well.

“We are training people from scratch, particularly in truck driving, which is one of our bigger roles there.

“Within six to 12 weeks we have people qualified to start operating machinery, within 12 months they are fully skilled up to be operators in the mine and then they will go through the various upskilling on different equipment until they can operate all the machinery on site.

“Mining hasn’t been regarded as an exciting career in the past but the reality is it is a great career with opportunity and good rewards.”

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The Darwin cadetship program session is Wednesday, 20 January, 5pm-7pm at the Zen Ramada Rooftop and in Alice Springs it is Thursday, 21 January, 5pm-7pm at Alice Springs Convention Centre.