SACOME Annual Report 2010-11

SKILLS &
Education
Skills & Education
Careers Promotion Program
In 2010/2011, SACOME’s Careers Promotion
Program delivered school presentations to over
6500 Primary School students and over 1500
High School students, as well as attending
school careers expos.
OZ Minerals sponsored SACOME to deliver the
Careers Promotion Program to schools in the
far north, including Coober Pedy Area School,
Mintabie Area School, Marree Indigenous
School and Oodnadatta Indigenous School.
In a similar venture, Iluka sponsored trips to
schools in Ceduna and the surrounding area,
including Yalata Anangu School, Penong
Primary School, Koonibba Aboriginal School,
Crossways Lutheran School and Ceduna Area
School.
SACOME also teamed up with Syngas to
deliver a ‘Careers in Mining Day’ in Kadina
to over 300 High School students attending
schools on the Yorke Peninsula.
In an initiative led by the Queensland
Resources Council, SACOME collaborated with
the Minerals Council of Australia, Chamber
of Mines and Energy Western Australia, New
South Wales Minerals Council, Tasmanian
Minerals Council, Australian Uranium Association
and the Australian Coal Association to develop
an innovative, interactive online environment
called Oresome Resources. This is the first high
quality educational resource of its kind based on
the minerals and energy sector.
SACOME’s Emma Hughes with students in Koonibba
The 2011 SACOME Treasure Hunt was a sell out
in the April school holidays, with 300 children
and parents participating. This year’s hunt was
held at the University of Adelaide and highlights
included the 3D suite in the Australian School
of Petroleum Science School, exploring rocks
and tectonic plates at the School of Earth and
Environmental Sciences, a seismic survey on the
Barr Smith Lawns and a science show by Rock
Chick and Science Geek.
SACOME is very grateful to all those who
contributed their valuable time and resources to
the success of the event, in particular Professor
Graham Heinson (University of Adelaide); Ian West
(Australian School of Petroleum); Maris Zwigulis
(Beach Petroleum) and John Mignone (PIRSA).
These programs and events are crucial in
addressing the future workforce requirements of
our industry, by instilling an industry awareness
and interest amongst our children from an early
age. An additional benefit is assisting teachers
and parents to better understand the industry
and its significance in our State, contributing to
greater community awareness.
Geoscientist Assistance Program (GAP)
GAP is funded by the State Government and
aims to encourage mining professionals to
remain in South Australia to maintain their
skills and expertise. The program provides salary
subsidies of up to $25,000pa per participant
and offers training grants up to $8,500pa.
To date, the program has been very successful
and has placed 26 participants in 23 companies
with 13 participants having completed their
placement. Of the $750,000 funding received
in 2009, there was sufficient funding to apply
to the State Government for an extension to the
two year program until 30th June 2012.
MOU with Resources and Engineering
Skills Alliance
Since late 2010, SACOME and the Resources
and Engineering Skills Alliance (RESA) have
been in discussions to establish a Memorandum
of Understanding (MOU) which addresses
areas of mutual interest and contributes to the
coordination of plans and initiatives to meet
industry workforce needs.
Areas identified for potential collaboration
include: promotion of resources sector as an
industry of choice for workers; contributing to
the uptake of Science, Technology, Engineering
Participants in SACOME’s sold
out 2011 Treasure Hunt at the
University of Adelaide.
& Mathematics (STEM) and resources industry
supporting curriculum in schools; career
promotion initiatives to support industry;
attraction, retention, training and education
initiatives to address gaps and issues to meet
industry needs; and a point of reference for
industry workforce information.
The MOU is set to be signed in the third quarter
of 2011.
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annual report 2011
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