Students in the Northern Territory will have a new pathway into the growing local mining industry with the launch of the NT Mining Cadets Program, a new Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools pathway developed by the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) NT in partnership with the Northern Territory Department of Education and Charles Darwin University.
The program will commence in 2027, providing Year 10 and 11 students with the opportunity to undertake a Certificate II in Workplace Skills (Mining) designed specifically for the NT resources sector.
"The Mining Cadets Program will help students explore the many occupations available in the resources sector while developing the practical skills needed to hit the ground running once they enter the workforce," said Cathryn Tilmouth, Executive Director of Northern Australia for the MCA.
"Through the Certificate, students will develop transferable workplace skills including communication, teamwork, problem solving, workplace health and safety awareness and professional behaviours, while gaining exposure to careers in mining, oil and gas.
"Increasing demand for the resources the Territory has in abundance, including gold and rare earths, boosts demand for workers in the sector."
The NT Mining Cadets program was launched at the NT Department of Education and MCA NT Map Your Career in Mining day, which also saw dozens of Darwin students attend to learn about the great opportunities for highly-paid local mining jobs in the NT and future education, training and employment pathways.
The students used practical exercises to step through the mining lifecycle, from the discovery and exploration of mineral resources through to mining, environmental management and rehabilitation.
Students heard directly from industry professionals working across a broad range of occupations - including geoscience, environmental management, engineering, trades, technology, health and safety, and business services - with representatives from organisations such as The Energy Club NT, Territory Generation, SLR Consulting, EcOz Environmental Consultants and Darwin Port.
"Building student awareness of the amazing opportunities in the Territory mining industry creates a stronger pipeline for our growing minerals sector," Ms Tilmouth said.
"These students are now better placed to take advantage of the employment opportunities that will come from the growth of the mining sector in the Territory."
The day concluded with a visit to Territory Generation's Channel Island Power Station, where students saw how minerals, metals and Territory gas support the energy, infrastructure and technology that power Darwin and the broader Territory.
