A new partnership between the Victorian Government and the resources industry will focus on ensuring the best talent enters and progresses through the ranks of the mining sector.
The Prospects Partnership will aim to help women make an increased contribution to the sector with a specific focus on getting more women at senior levels, particularly those with STEM skills.
The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), the peak body for professionals in the resources sector, will work with government to target future leaders for scholarships to boost the number of women on resources industry boards.
The new initiative, which is part of State of Discovery, the government's Minerals Resources Strategy, will also focus on attracting and retaining talent into Victoria's resources sector and support clearer career pathways into the sector for secondary and tertiary students.
Mining and the supporting equipment, technology and services sector accounts for over 120,000 jobs in Victoria.
The industry in Victoria is diverse with large and small organisations across the supply chain, education, training and at a corporate level.
Victoria is a mining hub and home to the headquarters of BHP, MMG, Oceanagold, Newcrest Mining, Alumina, St Barbara, Orica and Incitec Pivot, as well as Rio Tinto's Asia Pacific regional headquarters.
In regional areas the sector is booming. Stawell Gold Mine is returning to full employment and the state's largest mine at Fosterville is going from strength to strength with 600+ employees working at the site near Bendigo and high-grade gold resources of over 2.7 million ounces.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows mineral exploration expenditure in Victoria is growing at a higher rate than other states, increasing 60 per cent for the year to September 2018, compared to 26 per cent growth for all of Australia over the same period.
As stated by Acting Head of Resources John Krbaleski
"The Prospects Partnership is encouraging more women at senior levels across the resources industry."
"Mining is about much more than getting minerals out of the ground. We have a sophisticated and broad industry that includes highly skilled jobs in business services, R&D, ICT, government and environmental disciplines to name but a few."
"We're focussed on helping the resources industry employ more people across the state, let's ensure the best talent is entering the sector and progressing through the ranks."
