Queensland experts will deliver mine safety and sustainability training across resource-rich regions of Latin America as part of an Australian transnational education program supporting the development of skilled workforces in the critical minerals sector.
The University of Queensland has received a $1 million funding package from the Australian Government Department of Education to design and deliver short courses for workers at mining projects in Chile and Argentina.
UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute has deep roots in the Latin American mining industry through its International Centre of Excellence (SMI-ICE-Chile) based in Santiago, Chile, which has 33 staff and strong relationships with local partners.
Using the funding support for innovative international education projects, experts from SMI-ICE-Chile and UQ Skills will expand transnational education delivery by Australia in a key industry by developing locally relevant courses underpinned by Australia’s excellent Vocational Education Training (VET) standards.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said the short courses in Chile and Argentina would be delivered to an initial 160 professionals ranging from front-line workers, supervisors and technical support staff all the way up to executive management.
The courses will also improve local capacity to deliver technical and vocational education and training.
“Training offered in Chile will be geared towards sustainability and autonomous operations,” Professor Terry said.
“This will include modules on decarbonisation, water resource management, tailings management, sustainability reporting, and creating social value from the industry.”
SMI-ICE-Chile executive director Dr Doug Aitken said the training offered in Argentina will focus on mine safety - equipping workers with knowledge and skills that help them keep themselves and their operations safe and healthy.
Dr Aitken said the training comes as the mining sector continues its broad shift towards more sustainable practices.
“These have been driven by market pressures, rising societal expectations, increasing risk exposure, and the tightening of regulatory standards,” Dr Aitken said.
“Queensland, Chile and Argentina are all resource rich regions playing a critical role in supplying the raw materials needed for the global energy transition.”
“To meet emerging challenges, it is essential that workers across Latin America have access to high-quality and practical training programs. These programs can support individuals to grow professionally, and they can help ensure the local workforce remains at the forefront of a fast-evolving industry.”
Professor Maureen Hassall, Director of SMI's Minerals Industry Safety and Health Centre (MISHC) said that for over 25 years MISHC has been developing and delivering evidence-based, leading-edge risk and safety research and training to the mining industry globally.
"This project will allow us to tailor the training materials for Argentinean mining contexts and disseminate the training into Argentina using a train-the-trainer model with local training providers," Professor Hassall said and added that SMI research and education activities have helped companies significantly reduce fatalities.
"Specifically, we will be covering workplace risk and safety management processes, policies and procedures; incident response and investigation; working safely in confined space and working safely at heights," Professor Hassall said and added that the training will equip mine workers with knowledge and skills that help them keep themselves and their operations safe and healthy.
In Chile, UQ will work with SONAMI — the National Mining Society of Chile — and INACAP — the country's National Institute for Professional Training — to develop and deliver the new courses.
In Argentina, the training will be developed and delivered in partnership with Universidad Católica de Salta (UCASAL) and global mining company Rio Tinto.
UQ is consistently ranked among the top universities globally for mineral and mining engineering.
