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A TRAINING organisation in Malaga knows the drill to getting skilled workers into the resources sector
DrillSkill Training was opened by the Mineral Drilling Association of Australia earlier this year to address the industry’s skills shortages.It is a not-for-profit Registered Training Organisation that provides specialist education to the resources sector of the drilling industry.
DrillSkill’s teachers have a combined 65 years of drilling experience, while its administration staff has more than 30 years’ educational experience.
It offers training both to people experienced in the industry and to those just starting out.
DrillSkill Training chief executive Peter Milne said the organisation aimed to ensure the drilling industry received the right people for the job.
“Because of the shortage of manpower, anyone applying for a job and can meet the physical requirements will be taken on, but there is a high attrition rate,” he said.
“The average attrition rate for people starting in the drilling industry is 50 per cent in the first two months.
“The drilling industry is struggling to get the right people in because of the labour shortage in WA.
“It’s a very transient industry; if you can give people a career path hopefully they will stay in the industry longer and progress and develop.”
DrillSkill Training has two classrooms in its
“It will have a couple of drilling rigs and work benches to make it a practical training area,” Mr Milne said.
He said the training offered by DrillSkill Training had been developed after the Mineral Drilling Association of Australia consulted the industry.
It currently has four training courses – two nationally certified qualifications and two introductory courses to drilling: the one-day “Drilling for non-Drillers” course and the three-day “MDAA’s Introduction to Drilling”.
Mr Milne said the one-day course is aimed at people just starting in the industry, geologists and office and support staff, letting them know what was involved in working as a driller.
“It tells the story of drilling from down the bottom of the hole,” he said.
“The three-day course gives participants all the tuition they need to make them work-ready for the initial entry to site.
“The three days are followed by a list of practical assessment to be conducted on site by the drilling supervisor.”
One of the qualifications offered by DrillSkill Training is a Certificate I in Resource and Infrastructure Operations, which Mr Milne said was aimed at people with no previous experience with mine sites.
“It covers all the basic requirements expected for people to be safe and functional on a mine site,” he said.
The Certificate II in Drilling – Mineral Exploration was aimed at people who were experienced in the industry and wanted to develop their careers.
Mr Milne said DrillSkill Training planned to offer a Certificate III by the end of this year.
DrillSkill Training also offers Skills Recognition for experienced workers who wanted a formal qualification and refresher training.
Mr Milne said DrillSkill Training had received a very good response from the industry.
“The work orders are starting to come in thick and fast,” he said.
“Many drilling companies have seen the benefit of an industry-owned independent training company.”
DrillSkill Training is at