Australian mining set to become autonomous
Published by MAC on 2019-06-19Source: The Australian
The world's leader in engineering "mines of the future" supposedly won't be consigning established Australian workers to the wilderness.
That's provided they're young, eager, duly convertible to cyber-isation and presumably willing to turn their backs on the old guys who've been the mainstay of company achievements to date.
Good luck to them (we might say)!
Soon, perhaps, a fresh employee can proudly boast that he/she is "doing it Huawei"?
[Comment by Nostromo Research]
Rio Tinto invests in Australia's autonomous future
The Australian
13 June 2019
Rio Tinto has introduced Australia’s first nationally recognised
qualifications in automation to provide workers with skills in the
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) industry.
The new certificate courses are the result of a collaboration between
Western Australia’s resources sector including Rio Tinto, South
Metropolitan TAFE and the Western Australian Government.
It is the first course to provide education pathways to jobs in the area
of autonomous operations in the country and has been developed over the
last year with the approval by the Training Accreditation Council WA.
A certificate two in autonomous workplace operations will be introduced to
TAFE curriculum and piloted by a group of Rio Tinto’s iron ore workforce
from August.
It will also be piloted for year 11 and 12 students in selected high
schools across the state.
A ‘working effectively in an automated workplace’ micro-credential course
for trade qualified, apprentices and technicians will also be available.
Rio Tinto is contributing up to $2 million to the development of the new
qualifications with a certificate four in remote centre operations also in
development.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Chris Salisbury welcomed the
announcement, saying that it would assist the country’s resource sector in
preparing for the changing nature of the workforce.
“Mining has moved to become a genuine leader in innovative technology, and
we recognise the critical need to provide effective education programs and
opportunities to help our people succeed in this new era,” he said.
“We believe these courses will make a long-lasting and positive difference
to the lives of many Australians, it will help ensure our industry remains
globally competitive and is a leader in innovative technology.”
WA Premier Mark McGowan commented that the courses were a great example of
industry working in partnership with government to ensure the state’s
training sector creates a highly skilled workforce.
“These new courses will allow us to maintain our competitive advantage as
a leader in automation technology in Australia and ensure local people
have the skills for the new jobs that are being created through
technological innovation,” he said.
“They will also ensure the diversification of our economy and help Western
Australians assist the mining industry well into the future.”