Supporting the WA mining industry
North Metropolitan TAFE services the WA mining industry, which has created $88 billion in total sales value, from approximately 45% of Australia’s 400 mines.*
As such, the mining sector holds a significant value to the state in terms of employment and economic opportunity. Given the mining industry’s significance to the State’s economy, North Metropolitan TAFE works with industry to ensure the provision of a skilled labour force and with enterprises to assist with workforce development.
In 2017, 46% of the mining sector workforce was vocationally trained. VET qualifications are not just supplying entry-level workers and apprentices into the mining sector, but VET skills sets and advanced qualifications are providing the transformative knowledge and skills for promotion; implementation of new technologies; cross-skilling of experienced workers and the development of leadership and management skills to underpin career progression.
* Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety - Resource statistics > Latest statistics release(opens in a new tab)
Benita Brown - this deadly woman in mining tells her story of how a Diploma of Surface Operations Management at NMTAFE is shaping her career.
Our expertise
Industry 4.0 and global megatrends are transforming our workplaces. We work with the Department of Training and Workforce Development, Industry Training Councils and other peak bodies to identify the evolving new technologies and skills needed to ensure that our curriculum and training strategies keep pace with innovations in the WA mining sector.
Our services include:
- Training needs analysis and workforce development planning
- Nationally recognised qualifications, units or skills sets
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and verification of competencies
- Training delivered in the workplace, onsite or at one of our campuses.
Our facilities
North Metropolitan TAFE is the largest resources trainer in WA, offering the state’s most comprehensive, industry-targeted training.
Our specialised facilities cater for surveying, geology, metallurgy, environmental management, induction training, automation and laboratory operations to name a few.
Simulated Underground Mine
Students are immersed in a life-like underground mine, where they experience all aspects of this unique environment, including wearing full safety equipment and access to a refuge chamber.
This facility is used by students in surveying, mining exploration and school students (VETDSS) seeking traineeships and employment in the sector to gain exposure to a real underground mine environment, prior to site mobilisation.
This simulated mine is also used by industry for mine induction training.
Green Skills Training Centre
The Centre has a 6-star Green Rating from the Green Building Council of Australia for leadership in environmentally sustainable design. It is completely self-sufficient in energy and water and often used as a demonstration centre for its design and energy efficiency.
The building is used to deliver specialised training in green jobs of the future including in renewable and alternative energy, biotechnology, water operations and environmental management.
Mining Training Centre
At the Centre, students learn a range of practical skills from interpreting the geology of a drill core in our core yard, to analysing materials in industry standard laboratories and off-road 4-wheel driving.
Autonomous Operations
The robotic autonomous plant helps in training for the use of plant and equipment for basic autonomous mining operations, including control room requirements.
Water Operations Superlab
The laboratory has capability to train in water operations including a RO (reverse osmosis) process plant and high-tech instrumentation such as HPLC (High performance liquid chromatography), auto-titrators and testing equipment for water quality.
Metals and Engineering
This campus features a specialist metals and engineering centre, built to ensure a focus on new technologies and the integration of these technologies across traditional trade and industry sectors.
Students learn high speed, high precision operations in a safe environment on a range of various programmable automated equipment. They’re exposed to up-to-date computer controlled machining technology and they’ll gain skills in industrial robotics and component design using current industry standard computer-aided design.
We are also an industry leader in delivery of fluid power training, rail operations and rail infrastructure.
For this job, what course should I do?
Job titles
- Electronic Instrument trades workers
- Instrumentation technicians
Responsibilities
Set up, adjustment and tuning of control loops.
Job titles
- Surveying technician
- Spatial Science technician
- GIS technician
- Surveying assistant
Responsibilities
Perform routine tasks to assist Surveyors and Geologists by transporting, assembling, maintaining and laying out prospecting and surveying equipment, collecting and labelling samples, and collecting and evaluating survey data and preparing maps and plans.
Job titles
- Laboratory technician
- Chemistry technician
- Instrument operator
- Sampler and tester
Responsibilities
Recording and measurement of results, assisting in collecting and preparing of samples, planning and conducting laboratory/field work, maintaining a laboratory, routine sampling and testing, recording data, and using laboratory computing programs and application software.
Job titles
- Electrical fitter
- Switchgear tradesperson
- Electronic instrument technician
- Industrial measurement and control technician
- Electronic engineering technician
Responsibilities
Manufacture, fit, assemble, erect, operate, test, fault find, alter, and repair electrical equipment.
Job titles
- Pit or underground technician
- Drilling offsider
- Geological field assistant
Responsibilities
Collect and analyse geological samples, record information .
Basic vehicle maintenance, mining computing, first aid and mining methods.
Job titles
- Miner
- Mining plant operator
Responsibilities
Foundation work as an operator on sites such as a quarry or an open cut metalliferous mine, undertaking prescribed tasks involving known routines and procedures, and taking some responsibility for the quality of work outcomes.
Job titles
- Driller| Miner
- Production operator
- Drilling plant operator
- Mining plant operator
- Shot firer
Responsibilities
Assemble, position and operate drilling rigs and mining plant, and detonate explosives to extract materials from the earth and demolish structures.
Job titles
- Production manager (Mining)
- Mine manager
- Mine superintendent
- Quarry manager
Responsibilities
Lead and supervise operations involved in the extraction of materials in an open cut mine.
Job titles
- Mining support worker
- Process operator (Mineral processing)
- Processing plant attendant (Extractive industries)
- Mineral processing technician
- Process operator (Mineral processing)
Responsibilities
Perform routine tasks in mining and mineral ore treating operations, such as assembling, operating and dismantling mining equipment, taking ore, rock and dust samples, and mixing ore treating chemicals and catalysts.
Job titles
- Boilermaker
- Welder
- Fabricator
- Pressure Welder
- Welder (First Class)
- Sheetmetal Patternmaker
- 1st Class Sheet Metal Worker
Responsibilities
Create and work with metal fabrications, using workshop tools and equipment and various welding techniques.
Job titles
- Metal machinist
- Machinist (first class)
- Machinist CNC
- Fitter-Machinist
- Fitter-Welder
- Fitter and turner
- Plant mechanic
Responsibilities
Fit and assemble fabricated metal parts into products, operate machining tools to shape metal stock and castings to fine tolerances, using detailed drawings and specifications.
Job titles
- Mechanical Engineering draftpersons and technicians
- Civil Engineering draftpersons and technicians
Responsibilities
Assist in mechanical and civil engineering research, design, manufacture, construction, operation and maintenance of machines, manufacturing equipment, mechanical installations and facilities.