Executive+Summary+081

Through extensive consultation with mining industry stakeholders, we have identified the need for a system that simplifies entry level training delivery and assessment for all new mines personnel, whilst keeping it interesting and relevant. Northparkes Mines (NPM), the Drilling, Mining, Quarrying & Civil Construction Industry Skills Council (SkillsDMC) and TAFE NSW – Western Institute (Western Institute) are partnering in this project to address this need.

There is an identified major skills shortage in the mining industry. This skills shortage can be partially met by encouraging a new target group into mining. The identified target group includes inexperienced young people and others who live in proximity to the mine who may consider working at NPM.

Historically mines felt that allowing young people, or others without mining experience, to work at mine sites was highly risky so the practice did not occur. Experienced staff were ‘recruited’ from other mining ventures and related industries including metal fabrication and agriculture. The severe skills shortage now requires a change of viewpoint, employee numbers need to increase across the industry, not just move from mine to mine and inexperienced workers need to join the mining ranks.

To date, considerable time and expense has been invested by mining enterprises in conducting pre-site induction training and assessment of new workers. This project will enable mines training personnel to assess participants’ progress at a time that suits the mine, rather than having to schedule and supervise participants completing the training onsite. The e-learning approach of this project will appeal to young learners and will also benefit contractors, by simplifying the pre-site work skills component of access and allowing them to complete the training when and where it suits them.

To effectively engage young learners who don’t respond well to static or text based training materials, we need interactive, technology based learning that interfaces with the variety of platforms users access at various locations.

We have reviewed the 311 Mining Tool Box Resources. However, those resources were designed for the 1999 Training Package MNM99, and have since been superseded by different units in the revised Metalliferous Mining Training Package MNM05 in 2005, and the new Resources and Infrastructure Training Package RII06 in 2006.

To enable completion of a Certificate I in Resources and Infrastructure it is proposed to develop 5 elective units from the training package. This will complement the existing 4 core and one elective units available as e-learning resources through Skills DMC. The five new units will be trialled with school students, new employees and contractors at NPM. A strategy will be developed to guide use of the e-learning resources - for contractors and, in combination with work placements, for school students.

The benefits of the project include:
 * Opportunity for the mining industry to meet significant growth in training demand;
 * Opportunity for potential employees from remote locations to embark on a mining career;
 * Improved employment outcomes for young, inexperienced people to join the mining industry;
 * Reduced delivery costs to employers by reduced time spent delivering training material;
 * Learners can access user friendly, current, consistent delivery material with high quality training outcomes; and
 * Learners can access the training when and at a pace that suits them.

Currently, only limited e-learning resources exist to support the mining industry’s training needs. This project will provide a learning tool for NPM and other mines across Australia. The Program will also provide a pathway not previously available for inexperienced people to build skills through training then enter the mining industry. This is a positive outcome of the Program for not only the learners, but also the mining industry.

This e-learning Certificate I is the ideal way to attract entry level candidates into the mining sector, where previously lack of experience may have prevented their employment.