As the Western Australian resources landscape changes it has never been more important for the mining industry to invest in its employees. The old mantra “do more with less” is heard increasingly often and training is one vital way that companies can ensure every employee is operating to their full potential.
Investing in your staff increases employee retention, generates loyalty and enables your staff to do more for your company. This means increased productivity, less supervision and improved staff morale.
The cornerstone of investing in your employees is that you need to know staff will be provided with quality training that suits the workforce development needs of your company. Polytechnic West offers a range of flexible training options for the mining and quarrying industries, meaning delivery can be tailored to suit the needs of different companies, and has a proven track record in assisting businesses from across the mining industry in investing in their employees and optimising their futures, including Downer EDI Mining, Citic Pacific Mining and Premier Coal.
Polytechnic West is one of the largest training providers in Western Australia, currently training approximately 40 per cent of the state’s apprentices, as well as offering an extensive range of other TAFE and associate degree qualifications.
QUALIFICATION PATHWAYS
Polytechnic West’s experienced lecturers work closely with the various sectors within the mining industry to deliver customised training solutions across a range of skill sets. The organisation’s training emphasises a hands-on, practical approach to the acquisition of new skills, grounded in a solid foundation of theoretical knowledge.
Polytechnic West’s courses from the Resources and Infrastructure Industry (RII) training package serve to train mining professionals through to Diploma level. The courses on offer cater to workers at a range of different experience, management and skill levels with Certificate II, III, IV and Diploma qualifications available, and are structured so participants can follow a specialised learning pathway.
The Certificate II in Surface Extraction Operations caters to workers new to the industry, while the Diploma of Surface Operations Management is suitable for site managers, quarry managers and other mining personnel with over four years’ experience. Polytechnic West have worked with many contractors to deliver Certificate II traineeships, tailoring the training in each instance to suit the needs of the client. The course delivery generally involves lecturers travelling to the client’s worksite and working with the students and the on-site training staff to select suitable units for the students before guiding them through the learning process. This means there is no time lost taking trainees out of their work environment.
The unit delivery is flexible, and the Polytechnic West lecturing team works with the client to ensure that if there is a change of plan and a company wants to train an employee for a different job, the units can be altered to suit the new course of action. In addition to this, the training is designed so students can progress their learning, continuing onto the next qualification after finishing their initial course.
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION
Polytechnic West’s Section 44 Appointed Persons Course is specially designed to enable the option for it to be conducted on-site or in Perth with tuition from a serving quarry manager.
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The Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum’s Quarry Manager exam is a requirement in gaining a First Class Mine Manager’s, Quarry Manager’s or Restricted Quarry Manager’s Certificate of Competency in Western Australia. Polytechnic West offers one- and two-day courses to assist participants to prepare for and complete the exam. The one-day preparation course is designed for those with limited time, and involves one-on-one tuition with a qualified quarry manager experienced in the assessment process. To date over 90 per cent of course participants go on to pass the exam.
As an approved training provider for the Shotfirer’s Course on behalf of the Western Australian Department of Mines and Petroleum, Polytechnic West provides comprehensive and flexible shotfirer training and shotfirer renewal training. Training can be conducted on the worksite or at Polytechnic West’s training site in Perth. On completion of these courses, participants will receive their Western Australian Shotfirer’s Certificate.
All of Polytechnic West’s students benefit from the organisation’s close ties with employers and industry, which ensures clients are trained in the latest methods, technologies and trends relevant to the workplace. There is also a strong focus on Work Health and Safety (WHS) in the training process to reflect the importance the industry places on creating a safe workplace. The WHS courses are available online, ensuring flexible study options for students around Australia.
EXPERIENCED LECTURERS
An experienced team of mining professionals, who all still work in both underground and surface operations nationally and internationally, lead Polytechnic West’s mining training. The team includes a practising underground mining engineer, quarry manager, consultant drilling expert and lead shotfirer trainer.
The close links the lecturing staff maintain with industry ensures that the training remains contemporary, relevant and matched to the needs of employers.
To discuss your training needs or for further information, contact Polytechnic West, tel 08 9267 7500, email info.centre@polytechnic.wa.edu.au or visit polytechnic.wa.edu.au
Downer EDI, Komatsu donate equipment to boost training
In the last year, Downer EDI and Komatsu Australia have made significant equipment donations to Polytechnic West’s heavy automotive training facility.
Downer EDI donated a Caterpillar 980C wheel loader worth close to $100,000 and Komatsu Australia provided a PC78MR-6 excavator. Students are using both vehicles for advanced training activities, including diagnostic testing for hydraulics, steering, braking and electrical systems.
Polytechnic West’s managing director Jill Jamieson described the donations as representative of the institute’s strong relationships with both Downer EDI and Komatsu Australia. Komatsu has over 50 apprentices participating in heavy vehicle mechanics training at Polytechnic West while Downer EDI has 20 apprentices. Downer has also collaborated on the development of a Certificate II Heavy Vehicle Servicing traineeship that was originally completed by 12 trainees. In 2012, the company also donated a Caterpillar 777C dump truck worth $200,000 and a Volvo L180D wheeled loader worth $54,000.
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Jamieson said Polytechnic West’s strong focus on building productive industry partnerships ensured the institute’s training and workforce development services were aligned to current industry trends and workplace practice.
“The heavy automotive training area, and indeed training areas throughout Polytechnic West, works closely with employers to provide students with customised industry current training experiences,” she said.
Polytechnic West’s transport head of programs Jeff Gittos said the equipment was important for students’ learning. “It is essential to have equipment that is currently being used in the industries which our apprentices work in,” he said. “Having operational equipment brings realistic training capability to the delivery area, ensuring the skills developed are aligned to the job skills required.”
INDUSTRY VIEWPOINTS
John Andretich, Komatsu Australia’s general manager for Western Australia and the Northern Territory, said it was Komatsu’s responsibility to look to the future and ensure apprentices received the best training possible.
“Within this relationship there is excellent communication which assists in quicker problem solving and gives a degree of flexibility in programming that continually improves the outcomes for Komatsu apprentices,” he said.
“Komatsu has plans to assist where it can with donated parts, training aids and information that may help the betterment of not only Komatsu apprentices but all apprentices that come through Polytechnic West’s doors.”
Maintenance training superintendent Andrew Scudds, who manages Downer EDI Mining’s apprentice program, said it was crucial that apprentices are trained with equipment relevant to the mining industry.
“Downer recognises the importance of having apprentices exposed to machines and machine systems they will encounter on the job,” he said. “Providing Polytechnic West with mining equipment such as this builds a platform to sustain a continued high standard of delivery to the industry.”
A broad range of Polytechnic West heavy automotive students, ranging from pre-apprentices to post-trade students, will benefit from Komatsu Australia and Downer EDI Mining’s generous donations in the next few years.
Source: Polytechnic West