Learning in high-vis: Echuca College students at the Fosterville Gold Mine.
Echuca Secondary College students were given a great insight into the mining industry when they toured Fosterville Gold Mine on February 23.
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The VCE vocational major Year 11 and Year 12 students attended the mine, located east of Bendigo, as part of the Minerals Council of Victoria careers field trip program.
Fosterville is Victoria’s largest gold mine and operated by Agnico Eagle Mines Limited.
The students learned about the range of different jobs in mining and the local jobs on offer in the Victorian minerals industry.
Minerals Council of Australia’s executive director for Victoria James Sorahan said the career field trip program continued to go from strength to strength.
“The mining careers field trips give regional students the unique opportunity to visit a modern operating mine to learn about the jobs young people can aspire to in mining,” he said.
“Local jobs in mining include diesel mechanics, electricians, engineers, geologists, environmental scientists and office roles in finance, safety and human resources.
“A mine is like a mini-city, students are surprised by the diverse range of jobs. Whatever you are interested in there is a role in mining for them.”
States such as Queensland and Western Australia are indelibly linked with mining, but Mr Sorahan said the industry was continuing to grow in size across Victoria.
Fab five: Echuca College students visited the mine as part of the Minerals Council of Victoria careers field trip.
“Mining is employing a lot of people in regional Victoria with four substantial mines in the state,” he said.
“New mines could be built in northern Victoria in coming years near Mitiamo and Swan Hill which will mean hundreds of roles in skilled trades, science roles and entry level labour roles in Campaspe.
“We need more pathways to mining at local TAFEs in Bendigo, Echuca and Swan Hill to point local kids to. Hopefully TAFE and the Victorian Government will do more to deliver training to locals interested in mining.”
The Echuca College students also went home with a memento from the day, keeping their hard hats.
The visit is one of many by schools across regional Victoria this year, with Kyabram Secondary College set to visit the Costerfield mine in the coming weeks.
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