RMIT to deliver electrical-instrumentation training to Xstrata workers

RMIT University School of Engineering TAFE has been awarded a $900,000 contract to deliver instrumentation training to Xstrata and Stanwell's Mt Isa operations.

The 17-month contract involves upskilling 28 existing workers at the mine and two from the nearby Stanwell power station at Mica Creek.

More than a third of the funds, $310,000, is being provided by the state government's Skills Queensland because of a skills shortage for electrical-instrumentation recognised in the federal government's National Skills Needs List.

Training is being delivered jointly by subject experts from SAGE Didactic and RMIT as the registered training organisation at Mt Isa Institute of TAFE.

The program focused on upskilling and cross-training to address the skills gap around the support of site automation, process control and instrumentation, said Ron Barrow, Divisional Manger (Trades), RMIT Engineering TAFE. Barrow said participants would also be provided with mentor support to enhance ongoing workplace learning.

A prerequisite for training was a Certificate III Electrotechnology (Electrician) or an A-class electrical licence. The training was being delivered to two groups of 15 students, in training blocks ranging from three to five days per block over 17 months.

"In recent years the number of students taking up instrumentation and electronics apprenticeships has declined to the point where the skills shortages in these trades is starting to impact many industries, especially mining," Barrow said.

Kinetic Group, formerly the Mining Industry Skills Centre, was the lead organisation that has brought all the groups together for the training, which started earlier this year and runs until June next year.