From mining to child care, MMG Century casts wide net with opportunities for young locals.
Eleven young Indigenous and non-Indigenous people from around the Gulf of Carpentaria are benefiting from MMG Century mine’s renewed approach to training and employment opportunities in 2014, with traineeships and apprenticeships in workplaces from mining to childcare.
The eleven are Century mine’s latest graduates¹ in its Work Ready, Job Ready program at the Myuma training facility near Camooweal, 200km west of Mount Isa.
Under the program, MMG Century recruits participants, pays their wages and funds three full-time mentors to support the group during their time at Myuma. The Queensland Government provides funding for the training aspects of the program.
While six of the eleven graduates have taken up apprenticeships and traineeships at Century’s Lawn Hill operation, one will be employed as an automotive apprentice with a major vehicle retailer in Townsville while another participant will take up a child care traineeship in Normanton.
Two of the graduates have been offered positions in administration and traffic control at Myuma and another has been placed with CopperChem in Cloncurry.
General Manager of MMG Queensland Operations, Mark Adams, says that while mining companies usually train people to take on roles within the resources sector, Century has taken a more creative approach with its latest intake of trainees and apprentices.
“For many years, Century has invested in training to give young locals greater choices in life.
“Now as we approach the end of production from the Century open pit, we’re looking to help reduce reliance on the mine for employment while still providing opportunities for young people in areas that appeal to their individual strengths and preferences.
“We’re in a position to help young people from the Gulf region gain skills and qualifications that will help them in their future careers. Seeing them grab these diverse training opportunities is, in our view, what success looks like.”
During the 13-week Work Ready, Job Ready program at Myuma, participants are trained in a range of areas from machinery operation to safety and health. The facility provides pre-employment training for a number of companies, including MMG.
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MMG Century’s latest Work Ready Job Ready participants at the Myuma training facility near Camooweal.
¹MMG Century’s Work Ready Job Ready graduates and positions they have been offered:
Adam Fry – Apprentice, Mike Carney (Townsville)
Keama Richardson – Apprentice Chef, ESS (MMG Century)
Keason Petersen – Trainee Carpenter (MMG Century)
Liam Hill – Apprentice Maintenance Fitter (MMG Century)
Pitt Ross – Apprentice Diesel Fitter (MMG Century)
Tenisha Erbacher – Trainee, Environment (MMG Century)
William Shadforth – Apprentice Boilermaker (MMG Century)
Winona Owens – Trainee, Childcare Centre (Normanton)
Lesley Gallagher – Operator CopperChem (Cloncurry)
Josephine Ploenges – Administration, Myuma (Camooweal)
Nathan Willetts – Road Traffic Control, Myuma (Camooweal)