Moranbah North mine’s 12 new apprentices for 2012 will soon complete a four week mine readiness course and officially begin their four years of on-site training that will result in formal trade qualifications.

Moranbah North mine Training and Development Superintendent, Justin Murray, said five new maintenance diesel apprentices, three new electrical and four trainee miners had joined the team in late January and all were ready and eager to begin their trades.

“Their first taste of the apprenticeship for our new starters began in late January, with two weeks with 4sight Training Solutions on-site, followed by one full week at the simulator underground training facility in Mackay, before returning to Moranbah North for a further week of site specific training,” Justin said.

“Now the four week mine readiness programme is almost complete, the first year apprentices are broken up into crews in the outbye sections of the mine for the first six months, before a gradual introduction into the mining cycle.

“With six months experience under their belts, they will then move into the direct mining process.”

Justin said he was delighted to see two familiar faces among the new starters, with Aiden Brunker and Sam Kenny who have previously completed Moranbah North’s unique schoolbased training programme with Moranbah State High School now second year apprentices and starting work straight into the mine operations.

“We strive to provide education and employment opportunities for our local community,” Justin said.

“We are also very proud to support women working in non-traditional roles and welcome maintenance diesel apprentice Suzie Algie this year as our third female apprentice currently completing training at Moranbah North,” he said.

This year Anglo American’s Metallurgical Coal business offered 45 apprenticeship positions across its operations.

Contact:
Metallurgical Coal External Affairs:
Jacqui Strambi: 0439 774 526