Ten new apprentices join Rio Tinto

Ten new apprentices have joined Rio Tinto’s Hunter Valley Operations and Mount Thorley Warkworth mines in Australia.

They join 25 other apprentices already completing four-year electrical or mechanical apprenticeships with the opencast coal mines, employed through group training organisation Programmed Training Services.

Mark Rodgers, General Manager of operations at Mount Thorley Warkworth, said: “Rio Tinto is pleased to be able to provide these apprenticeships to local people in the Hunter Valley. With the support of our group training partner, Programmed, the new apprentices will receive training and hands on experience in a safe and supportive environment for their chosen trades.”

Rodgers added: “The programme provides apprentices with a great start in the mining industry, builds capacity in the Hunter Valley and allows Rio Tinto to draw on a pool of talented workers.”

New mechanical apprentice Corey McNee commented: “I’m already learning a lot from working alongside trades people who have so much knowledge and experience, which they’re happy to share.”

McNee continued: “I’ve always been mechanically minded and interested in understanding how things work, so the mining industry is really exciting. We get to work on such a variety of large vehicles and equipment, there’s always something new to learn. … I’d encourage anyone thinking about doing a trade to look at the mining industry, there’s so many opportunities and it can take you anywhere in the world.”

Edited from press release by Harleigh Hobbs

Read the article online at: https://www.worldcoal.com/mining/13072016/ten-new-apprentices-join-rio-tinto-2019/