Last Thursday a group of Castlemaine Secondary College students visited Fosterville Gold Mine for a careers field trip, learning all about mine operations and meeting a wide variety of industry experts.
17 Castlemaine Vocational Educational Training (VET) students from years 10, 11, and 12 met up with 22 students from Echuca College at Agnico Eagle’s Fosterville Gold Mine, where they meet engineers, environmental scientists, geologists, and trades professionals to learn about the science behind mining.
Castlemaine Secondary School teacher Anthony van Emmerik said the experience was excellent.
“The young people really enjoyed it and one student who is studying to be an electrician is now interested in pursuing a job at one of the mines in the future.”Part of my curriculum is to take the students to see different industries. We’ve been out to the Grand Prix and are hoping to go and see where the Bushmasters are made later in the year.
“It’s such good exposure for the students,” said Anthony.
“Taking the students to see different workplaces gives them something to look forward to and shows them what jobs look like in the real world.”
“At Fosterville we spoke to environmental experts and geologists and had a look at the automotive light vehicles and rock crushing. There’s such a broad spectrum of roles at the mine,” Anthony commented.
The careers field trips, organised by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), are designed to provide an understanding of the skills required in the mining industry and to learn about the varied careers available.
James Sorahan Executive Director of Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) Victoria said the mining careers field trips give students a unique opportunity to visit a modern operating mine and learn about jobs they can aspire to in mining.
“Local jobs in mining include; diesel mechanics, electricians, engineers, geologists, environmental scientists, and office roles in finance, safety, and human resources,” said James.
“A mine is like a mini-city, students are surprised by the diverse range of jobs. Whatever you are interested in there is a role in mining for them.”
The field trips first began last year with 14 schools from Horsham to Echuca taking part. Castlemaine Secondary College was the first school to take up the program in 2023; the rest of the year is filling fast.
“Mining is not just about Victoria’s gold rush past, it is a big industry now which will only be a more important part of Victoria’s future as we need more minerals essential to modern life,” said James.
‘Regional Victoria needs more pathways to mining at local TAFEs to point local kids to. Hopefully, TAFE and the Victorian Government will do more to deliver training to locals interested in mining.”
For more information on the program visit: minerals.org.au/careers, call 8614 1851 or email info.vic@minerals.org.au.