BHP Billiton renews Pilbara education contract

BHP has renewed its investment in one of the nation’s largest industry and government public education partnerships.

Kaelan Agir at Newman Senior High School.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has renewed its investment in one of the nation’s largest industry and government public education partnerships, devoting an additional $7 million towards ensuring students in the Pilbara get the same opportunities as those in Perth.

BHP’s iron ore arm and the West Australian Education Department have been working together since 2005 in a partnership now worth a total of $23m to lift the skills of students in the resources heartland.

Renewed this week, the investment has lifted the median Australian Tertiary Admission Rank score for students at the Hedland Senior High School from 56.5 per cent in 2001 to 70 per cent in 2014. It is also helping equip local students with skills and experience, including Kaelan Agir, 18, who graduated from Newman Senior High School last year after gaining a Certificate II in Engineering.

Mr Agir, who is now a heavy diesel mechanic apprentice with BHP at its Mount Whaleback iron ore mine in Newman, said if the trades training centre in the area had not existed he would have had to move to Perth or interstate.

“I chased this one for a while because I knew it was something I wanted to do,” Mr Agir said.

“The whole diversity of it with the trade certificate, you can take that around the world and pretty much travel anywhere.

“I really enjoy what I do. It’s a very active job and something I’m happy to make a career out of.”

The renewal of the Pilbara Education Partnership will now focus on providing a greater range of ATAR courses for Hedland and Newman students, including in the vital area of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). These will be delivered by local teachers and online through the School of Isolated and Distance Education.

BHP asset president WA iron ore Edgar Basto said the $7m contribution from 2016 to 2020 would help support 4000 students in the Pilbara across 14 schools. This included expanding the ATAR courses, a continued investment in vocational education and training, and grants for school projects.

“We are extremely proud that this partnership is making a real difference to the lives of students by providing high-quality options for young people to continue their education here in the Pilbara,” Mr Basto said.

“We believe everyone living in the Pilbara should have access to the same level of facilities as those living in the metropolitan area.”

WA Education Minister Peter Collier said the partnership meant “we are now seeing more Pilbara students achieve qualifications, graduate from Year 12, perform well in their studies and go on to university’’.