SACOME Annual Report 2007-08

Skills and Education
With the mining and energy sectors
facing continuing pressure from the
current skills shortage, the South
Australian Chamber of Mines and
Energy partnered with stakeholders
to promote careers in the industry,
and focused on educating young
South Australians on the importance
of studying maths and science in order
to broaden their future career options.
Schools program
SACOME continued its Education
and Careers Program until the
departure of the geologist Andy Becis
early 2008. The program, funded by BHP
Billiton, aimed to increase participation
in maths and science subjects by
providing students with interesting
minerals related information. Twenty
six secondary and primary schools
across the State participated in the
program during terms three and four
of 2007. Showing parents and teachers
the types of roles available was also an
important part of the program, ensuring
that interested students have access to
additional information to assist them
with career choices.
These pathways recognised and built
on the skill demands in careers such
as engineering, trades, laboratory
operations and geosciences.
Students from the Port Augusta
Secondary School studying Certificate
I in Manufacturing Industry (Pathways)
secured full-time apprenticeships by the
end of 2007. Eighteen students from the
Mid North Schools Education Cluster
commenced their studies in July 2007
in a modified Port Augusta program.
Six of the 18 students were successful in
securing either apprenticeships or entry
into pre-vocational programs at the end
of their six months’ study.
The success of this pilot prompted a
number of organisations to approach
the project management team
expressing interest in becoming
involved. These included the Australian
Drilling Industry Association and ETSA
Utilities. ETSA Utilities funded the
development and customisation of a
complementary model, which has the
potential to result in school-based
apprenticeships in the near future –
in addition to preparing students for
full-time apprenticeship selection.
Due to the success of this pilot program
and unprecedented demand from
teaching staff, parents and students, the
pathways are likely to continue in 2008.
Career pathways
The program Unearthing Australia’s
Potential Skilled Workforce for the
Resources Industry (UAPSWRI)
ended late 2007. The project was a
joint initiative between The Department
of Education and Children’s Services
(DECS) Futures Connect strategy,
TAFESA, the Australian Government
Department of Education, Science and
Technology (DEST), SACOME and its
member companies. Its aim was to
pilot pathways from education and
entry-level training programs to careers
in the mining and resources industries.
The resources developed for career pathways have been recorded on CD
and distributed to all government high schools in South Australia.
SACOME 2008 ANNUAL REPORT
11