Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

case study
Another successful year for our
Apprenticeship Program
Xstrata Copper is committed to providing real and meaningful
vocational career pathways for individuals in careers that reflect the
needs of our business. We make it part of our business strategy to
invest in training and developing local talent.
Daniel DeValter commenced his full-time
apprenticeship as a fitter and turner.
Joining the program straight from school,
Daniel was familiar with the Apprenticeship
Program from prior experience as a schoolbased
apprentice and Xstrata bursary
scholarship recipient.
Prior to 2006, Xstrata employed on average
25 apprentices a year. However, in 2006, the
$3.5 million custom built, state-of-the-art
Xstrata Skills Centre commenced operation,
employing 72 apprentices in its first year
to help develop our own employees and
continue to attract and retain our workforce.
The unique environment of the Xstrata Skills
Centre provides students with real life, handson
work experience and interaction with
other apprentices in an encouraging, safetyfocused
and disciplined environment.
Xstrata Mount Isa Mines now has over 250
apprentices or trainees on site. The training
programs offered at the Skills Centre include
several key innovative initiatives including
the Apprenticeship Program, school-based
apprenticeship, Certificate II in Metalliferous
Mining, and Certificate I in Engineering.
On 27 January 2010, 50 new apprentices
started work at the Xstrata Skills Centre.
As with every new intake, 2010 saw a
diverse group of apprentices come together,
all motivated by the year ahead and the
opportunity to develop their skills.
Dave Watson – Superintendent of the Xstrata
Skills Centre, believes the first year at the
Xstrata Skills Centre is a vital component of
the Apprenticeship Program.
“The Xstrata Skills Centre is integrated
into Xstrata’s Apprenticeship Program to
offer students the opportunity to learn in a
controlled and safe environment,” said Dave.
“It allows apprentices to develop essential
skills without the pressure of production, so
when they go out into the workforce they
add value and make positive contributions,”
he said.
Kerry Brisbane – Apprentice Team Leader,
said there had been a lot of positive
outcomes from the 2010 group.
“This year’s group of apprentices were
fantastic. They worked well, and excelled at
the projects they were given,” said Kerry.
“The apprentices participated in placements
on site and in community events such as the
Xstrata Mount Isa Mining Expo, Mardi Gras
float and Christmas party set-ups,” she said.
Alongside the Apprenticeship Program,
the Xstrata Skills Centre conducted schoolbased
programs such as the school-based
apprenticeships. During 2010, 11 students
from high schools were given the opportunity
to discover trade options and to experience
what potential careers will hold for them.
“The school-based program gave me the
opportunity to discover all the different fields
and it helped me to decide which trade I
wanted to do,” said Daniel.
“Being both a school-based apprentice and
a bursary recipient gave me the advantage
of getting my foot in the door and gave me
experience in how Xstrata operates. It also
assisted me to build a positive relationship
with the supervisors,” he said.
Xstrata also introduced the school-based
Trainee Program, which was introduced
to encourage Year 12 school students to
consider working at Xstrata Mount Isa
Mines after leaving school. There were five
students selected for the program in 2010
and four of these were Indigenous students.
All five students completed and achieved a
Certificate II in Metalliferous Mining. Three
of the students were given apprenticeships,
while the other two students returned to
their own communities in Normanton and
Doomadgee to find work. The program
proved so successful in 2010 that the
company’s school-based Apprenticeship
Program will be modified in 2011 to include
the Certificate II training elements.
2010 also saw the introduction of the Xstrata
Skills Centre partnership with TAFE. This
partnership has proved beneficial for the
46 XSTRATA COPPER NORTH QUEENSLAND