ACT

How did I get a start in mining?

Contrary to the norm, my journey started well before I actually worked for a miner. I left high school in 1989 not knowing what I wanted to do. Mining didn’t even rate a mention in those days as it wasn’t the media focus it is now. University wasn’t an option for me as I’d had enough of studying. Besides, I don’t think my TE score would have got me into any university! I eventually joined the Navy after nothing else took my fancy.

Atlas Copco Scholarship – now open

This scholarship allows the winner to spend a week of work experience with Atlas Copco in Australia, followed by two weeks with Atlas Copco in Sweden. It is open to all student members of The AusIMM who are in their penultimate or final year of a recognised minerals-related course. For one week with Atlas Copco in Australia, the winner of the scholarship will gain some practical experience using Atlas Copco's mining equipment and will also understand how Atlas Copco works with the Australian mining industry.

Global skills shortage looms large; new study

Jody Elliott, Director of The Resource Channel speaks to ABC Radio's Babs McHugh about the increasing challenge of securing new resource sector workers as other countries ramp up their own operations and projects, demanding some 250,000 new entrants.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/rural/resource/201201/r882802_8761919.mp3

Extraordinary Ichthys

Named after the classical Greek word for fish, the Ichthys Project is expected to produce 12.8 trillion cubic feet of gas and 527 million barrels of high value condensate over its 40-year life.

INPEX and joint venture partner Total achieved the Final Investment Decision (FID) for this US$34 billion project on the 13th of January 2012. INPEX Chairman Naoki Kuroda made the announcement in Darwin.

China's increasing importance to Australia

When China was first touted as the anticipated future superpower some ten years ago by a handful of Australian resource company executives, many couldn’t see past the strong trade reliance with the US. Cut to 2011, and Australia's economic ties with the US are night and day from those with China.

Barrick expands its Australia Pacific business

Having just acquired Equinox Minerals in the largest Australian merger and acquisition transaction to date in 2011, Barrick has expanded its global operating sites to 26.

The acquisition of Equinox adds two additional copper assets to the Australian Pacific Region. With seven operating gold mines in Australia and the Porgera mine in Papua New Guinea, the Equinox sites expand the Australian Pacific Regional Business Unit area of operations from Western Australia, New South Wales and Papua New Guinea to Zambia and Saudi Arabia.

Australia increases Visa Options

With 61,500 new operational jobs expected in the Australian mining sector by 2015, as well as tens of thousands more in the construction stages, the industry is facing a skills shortage that far exceeds that experienced in the boom period of 2003 to 2008.

The Atwood Falcon and Jobs in 2012

The Atwood Falcon was awarded “Floater Rig of the Year” 2011 by Shell in recognition for excellence in Safety and operational performance and from May 2012. The Rig joins the Atwood Eagle and the Atwood Osprey as our 3rd operating Rig in Australian waters. 

I’ve applied to hundreds of jobs and still can’t get a start.....the brutal facts

We hear this complaint regularly from job seekers.  The job search process can be a time consuming, often frustrating and at times, soul destroying process, particularly for those seeking a start in the industry. 

Let us share the common mistakes we still see people making: