General News
27 May, 2024
Highview students explore mining jobs
Career prospecting was on the cards for Highview College students as they explored new pathways during a visit to the Stawell Gold Mine earlier this month. The trip formed part of the broader Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) mining careers...
Career prospecting was on the cards for Highview College students as they explored new pathways during a visit to the Stawell Gold Mine earlier this month.
The trip formed part of the broader Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) mining careers program, which gives young people a snapshot of the industry and the jobs it offers.
Participating in this initiative, 22 local students from Year 11 and 12 toured the operational mine in Stawell, met with engineers, environmental scientists, and other professionasl involved in the sector, and developed an understanding of the skills needed to work in the field.
According to Highview College, head of physical education and vocational major Lucy Freemantle, it was a highly educational and insightful opportunity.
“The excursion was very interesting and students were surprised by the size of the site as well as the many occupations that are related to the mining industry,” she said.
“Staff at the Stawell Gold Mine were very welcoming and very informative.”
Since the program commenced in 2022, over 700 students from 30 schools have taken part in school field trips of this kind.
These visits are a gateway for regional students to further explore the industry’s offerings, which employs over 300,000 Australians, MCA Victoria executive director James Sorahan said.
“Visiting modern mines is critical — historic mines can’t show the technology, innovation, and environmental responsibility that modern mining does and this is important for young people to understand that mining is much more than digging and shoveling,” he said.
“The best way for young people to learn about jobs in regional areas is to actually see the jobs and meet the workers in the workplace. It is up to industry to work with schools to make this happen and mining has really put itself forward to support schools to advising students on career pathways.
“Stawell Gold Mine is a great supporter of the program, along with Bendigo’s mines and Ballarat. More school visits are scheduled and we hope more schools in the Central Goldfields can take part as more mines plan to be built in Victoria in coming years.”