Aboriginal training initiative starts at Coal & Allied

Coal & Allied is creating new opportunities for Aboriginal people in the Upper Hunter Valley.

This week six Aboriginal trainees started Mine Operator Training at Coal & Allied Hunter Valley Operations, having spent the past three weeks in the classroom at Capability Resources learning the theory and safety required before working on site

Coal & Allied Aboriginal Relations Specialist Cate Sims said the 12 week training programme is designed to skill the five men and one woman to the point of being competent mining operators, skilled to drive an electric truck.

Ms Sims said the training uses existing HVO training procedures that combine classroom theory, truck simulator training and practical one on one coaching out in the pit.

"The course has a very strong safety focus and the trainees are required to demonstrate their competence before they can progress to the next stage of the training," Ms Sims said.

"At the end of the 12 weeks, the trainees will have practical skills that will make them very marketable in the industry.

"Coal & Allied will be working with the Upper Hunter Skills Development Centre, to help the trainees find employment in the industry."

Ms Sims said the programme is one of a number of initiatives by Coal & Allied to help Aboriginal people gain employment in the Upper Hunter Valley.

"Coal & Allied is committed to playing a role in redressing the historical disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people," Ms Sims said.

"We actively look for opportunities to contribute to this and to be innovative in our approaches."

The programme is a new initiative and is the result of collaboration with Commonwealth Government agencies, job network members and many months of work by staff at Coal & Allied and the Upper Hunter Skills Development Centre.

"All the trainees are achieving excellent results in the programme and have found it easy to fit into the mining environment," Ms Sims said.

"As a result, they are great ambassadors for Aboriginal people and we hope they will pave the way for others to follow."