Tennant mining program strikes gold

By Jason McIntosh

A major gold explorer in the Barkly Region of the NT has joined a successful pre-employment program for Tennant Creek's budding Indigenous miners.

Local gold explorer, Westgold Resources has joined transport contractor NRW and Bootu Creek mining site owner, OM Managense Holdings in supporting a program to encourage more locals to take up a career in mining.

Developed in July 2009 by Skills DMC, the National Industry Skills Council, in conjunction with Charles Darwin University (CDU), the course gives students foundation skills in safety, communications and opportunities to experience life on a mining or exploration site.

Advice on course content was sought from key staff at the Bootu Creek Manganese Mine, the Department of Education and Training (DET) and the Department of Planning and Infrastructure (DPI).

Managing Director of Westgold Resources, Andrew Beckwith joined representatives from CDU, the Central and Northern Land Councils, NT DET, OM Manganese, NRW and Job Services Australia employment agencies to welcome participants for the most recent course.

He said Westgold Resources was impressed with the program because it gave participants and their families a good insight into the opportunities and realities of working on mining sites.

“It covers good core generalist skills that they will need in their future employment such as occupational health and safety including first aid training, and critically, gives the opportunities for not only participants but also their family to come out and see where their relative might be working,” he said.

The course includes nationally accredited units from the Certificate I in Resource and Infrastructure Operations as well as providing literacy and numeracy support.

CDU Tennant Creek Centre Leader, Kate Young said the program was refined following feedback from Skills DMC, the NT Minerals Council, employment agencies and local mining companies.

“All agree it’s a course that provides locals a very good insight into the huge opportunities mining brings to people who are prepared to put the effort in,” she said.

Polly Dixon, who attended the information session, said she was keen to make an opportunity for herself after moving to be with family in Tennant Creek.

“I’m going to stick out the nine week course because as a busy mum it’s about making the most of it and Tennant Creek has so many great jobs on offer,” she said.