Fifteen Indigenous youth from Gulf communities will commence apprenticeships and traineeships at MMG Century’s Lawn Hill site next week, after graduating from the mine’s Pre-Apprenticeship Course today.
This is the second time that Century has run the 12-week course, which aims to prepare participants for a career in the mining industry through a mixture of classroom work, practical training and workplace experience.
The program specifically targets young Indigenous people from the Waanyi, Mingginda, Gkuthaarn and Kukatj Native Title Groups, in accordance with the Gulf Communities Agreement under which Century operates.
Century’s Apprentice Support Coordinator Barb Bailey said that she would be pleased to see them enter traineeships and apprenticeships next week.
“This was a very talented group of students, who have accomplished a great deal since they began our Pre-Apprenticeship Course in early March. As well as undertaking safety and mining-related training, the students have improved their literacy and numeracy skills and completed a Certificate II in Engineering through the Normanton Campus of Mount Isa TAFE and Driveway Training.”
“It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they have developed new skills and settled into mining life and it will be a real joy to see them begin fulltime work in a field of their choice next week.”
Kirby Brennan, one of the graduates, said that she was looking forward to commencing an apprenticeship as an auto-electrician.
“I have wanted to be an auto-electrician since I was young, and this was a great opportunity for me to get ready for an apprenticeship in an environment where everyone was willing to help me.”
This intake will bring the total number of apprentices and trainees at the mine to 58. This includes nine direct entry apprentices from Normanton and Karumba who recently commenced at Century’s Port operation in Karumba.
Century is the world’s second largest zinc mine, producing more than 500,000 tonnes of zinc annually. The mine was acquired by MMG, a resources company headquartered and incorporated in Australia and part of China Minmetals Corporation.
One of the fifteen Pre-Apprenticeship students, Pieta Wakeling will undertake studies to become a Laboratory Technician.
(High resolution photographs available)
For more information:
Jillian D’Urso
Stakeholder Relations Officer
0417 117 753
jillian.durso@mmgroupltd.com
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