CQU’s Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health will trial a new collaborative venture when about 20 cadets employed by BMA are enrolled into mining-focused engineering programs at the commencement of the 2006 academic year.

Rennie Fritschy, Chancellor of CQU and Professor Elizabeth Taylor AO (Executive Dean Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health) were guests of honour at the launch of BMA’s ‘Skills for Growth’ initiatives.

The launch included the announcement of an engineering alliance with CQU.

BMA and CQU have formed an alliance under which CQU will play a central role in the development, coordination and delivery of the new BMA Cadetship and Engineering Extension Programs.

BMA will provide funding over 3 years for 2 new research and teaching positions in engineering, and a new postgraduate scholarship to support doctoral research into organisational leadership.

The initial BMA commitment to CQU is $750,000 over 3 years.

At the launch, BMA’s Chief Executive Officer, John Smith, said changing circumstances had called for new and innovative solutions.

“Strong competition for skills from other industry sectors and an historical decline in numbers undertaking mining education and training have meant that we have to take a fresh approach to attracting and retaining people.”.

With the assistance of young engineers from mine sites across Queensland, John Smith illustrated the breadth of BMA’s Skills for Growth initiatives as a pyramid that brings together schools, colleges and universities to work in partnership with the mining industry.

The new initiatives include alliances with CQU and the University of Queensland, and wide-ranging scholarship, cadetship and engineering extension programs.

The activities come on top of BMA’s major involvement in whole-of-industry programs to drive innovative education and training opportunities in the resources sector.

In 2006, BMA will increase its investment in training and education programs to almost $19 million, a 50% increase on current year expenditure.

By the end of 2008, the company will have invested more than $50 million in these programs over a 3 year period.

Other BMA supported initiatives include:.

The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA). The Academy is a joint initiative of the resources industry and Queensland Government’s Department of Education and the Arts that aims to raise secondary school student interest in careers in the minerals and energy industries and increase tertiary enrolments in mining and energy related courses. BMA is a foundation industry sponsor of the Academy, contributing $100,000 over 2 years and helping to fund the Coalfield’s Engineering Skills Centre at Moranbah State High School which is one of the Academy’s hub Gateway schools that also include the Blackwater, Dysart, Emerald and Pioneer State High Schools.

The Mining Industry Skills Centre (MISC). The Centre is a partnership between industry and the Queensland Government’s Department of Employment and Training. Its aim is to significantly increase apprenticeship numbers and raise the standard and consistency of vocational education and training across the mining sector. To be based in Mackay from early 2006, MISC is an important component of BMA’s Skills for Growth strategy that will support several new company-specific initiatives.

The Coalfields Engineering Skills Centre. BMA will join with other coal companies, the Belyando Shire Council and the Federal Government through the Australian National Training Authority to fund the establishment of the centre, which will be fitted out and function like a mine site engineering workshop. The Centre will be based at Moranbah State High School and builds on the existing school robotics program sponsored by BMA and supported by volunteer engineers from their mines. BMA is reviewing the potential for a similar Coalfields Engineering Skills Centre to be based at Blackwater High School in the southern Bowen Basin coalfields region.

At the launch Premier Peter Beattie noted that ‘Skills for Growth’ is “a significant and necessary investment in the industry’s future. We are working very closely with the mining industry to address the shortage of skilled workers.”.

He also praised BMA’s commitment to both CQU and UQ.

CQU’s Chancellor Rennie Fritschy and UQ's Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Greenfield also welcomed BMA’s commitment to professional education in Queensland and the opportunity for our universities to further develop their role in partnership with industry and government.

The alliance, coordination and delivery of the new BMA Cadetship and Engineering Extension Programs, was negotiated by BMA’s Vice President Commercial Relations, Ross Willims, and CQU’s Executive Dean Faculty of Sciences, Engineering & Health, Professor Elizabeth Taylor, AO.

CQU’s facilitation of alternative pathways to mining engineering will further increase opportunities for Central Queenslanders to undertake mining-related tertiary studies and thereby play key roles in the future of Queensland’s booming minerals industry.

Last year, for example, BMA shipped 56 million tonnes of coal to 92 customers in 27 countries.

Following the Skills for Growth Launch, BMA’s Chief Executive Officer, John Smith, and his management team attended a seminar on Organisational Culture, Safety and Leadership presented by CQU’s Professor of Organisational Systems, Peter Smith and CQU Research Fellow, Dr Craig Garrett.

The seminar was an opportunity to update BMA on the significant progress of CQU’s ongoing research support for BMA’s internal leadership development and cultural change programs led by BMA’s Manager Training and Employee Development, Daryl Calvert – who won the Bob Marshman Leadership Award at 2005 Mining Industry Skills Centre (previously QMITAB) Awards.

Photo above: With the assistance of young engineers from mine sites across Queensland, BMA CEO John Smith illustrated the breadth of BMA’s ‘Skills for Growth’ initiatives as a pyramid that brings together schools, colleges and universities to work in partnership with the mining industry.

Photo below: BMA CEO, John Smith, and future mining leaders (L-R) Jodie Gordon from Townsville, Wade Sainsbury and Matthew Dennis from Moranbah, and Erin Simons from Townsville.