Glencore's highly regarded Queensland Metals Apprenticeship Program has proven once again to be a valuable employment pathway for those seeking a career in the mining and resources industry.
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This year, we've welcomed 39 new apprentices at Mount Isa Mines and Ernest Henry Mining, who have embarked on their trade careers within their chosen areas, including electrical, diesel fitting, boiler making, fitter/welder, auto-electrical, motor mechanic and radio technician disciplines.
Glencore's Queensland Metals Manager Risk Audit and Training, Greg Palm, says the Apprenticeship Program is about future-proofing our business to ensure we have the right mix of qualified skills for the future.
"Our comprehensive four-year program covers all aspects of each apprentice's chosen field, and sees them rotated through different areas of our operation to learn important skills and gain a broad understanding of our business," says Greg.
"It's often forgotten amongst the focus on science and technology that skilled tradespeople play a key role in the day-to-day operation of our assets and keep things running smoothly."
"We are really pleased to see how enthusiastic the new apprentices are in starting their trade careers with us," Greg says.
The apprentices spent their first week at the Mount Isa Mines Skills Centre undertaking important safety inductions, and obtaining skills to prepare and equip them for their first day onsite.
For most participants in the Apprenticeship Program, this is their first full-time position within the workforce, with 20 of the apprentices having recently graduated high school in 2020.
One of those graduates, Jayda Kling, is looking forward to the future as she begins her electrical apprenticeship at Glencore's Mount Isa Mines.
"I hope my trade will allow me to keep on learning and create lots of career opportunities once I'm a qualified electrician," says Jayda.
"Being part of the Apprenticeship Program is an amazing opportunity as Mount Isa Mines pride themselves on inclusiveness and producing some of the best tradesmen and women."
Cloncurry local Alex MacNamara feels at ease to know that he has secured a diesel fitting apprenticeship in his home town.
"My goal at the end of school had always been to secure an apprenticeship with Glencore at Ernest Henry Mining," says Alex.
"Being able to live in the town I grew up in, and learn my trade while making money, makes everything easier."
The driving force behind his decision stems from his grandad who showed Alex from a young age the ins and outs of diesel fitting.
"My granddad owned a grader plant hire company, so I grew up working on the mining equipment," Alex says.
The apprentices will undertake further upskilling before commencing onsite and will spend a block of study at TAFE before joining their respective operational teams.
*Disclaimer: This article was first published in the Mount Isa Mines newsletter, Resourceful.
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