UQ mine safety training headed for Argentina

Australia’s Department of Education has awarded The University of Queensland (UQ) a $1 million funding package to design and deliver short courses for workers at mining projects in Chile and Argentina. The UQ experts will deliver the mine safety and sustainability training as part of an Australian transnational education program designed to support the development of skilled workforces in the critical minerals sector.

The university has deep roots in the Latin American mining industry through its Sustainable Minerals Institute — International Centre of Excellence (SMI-ICE-Chile), which is based in Santiago, Chile and has 33 staff; now, experts from SMI-ICE-Chile and UQ Skills will use the funding to develop locally relevant courses underpinned by Australia’s VET (Vocational Education Training) standards.

The training offered in Argentina will focus on mine safety and be developed and delivered in partnership with Universidad Católica de Salta and Rio Tinto — with the training designed to equip workers with knowledge and skills to help keep themselves and their operations safe and healthy.

In Chile, UQ will work with SONAMI (the National Mining Society of Chile) and INACAP (its National Institute for Professional Training) on the courses, which will be geared towards sustainability and autonomous operations. “This will include modules on decarbonisation, water resource management, tailings management, sustainability reporting, and creating social value from the industry,” UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry AC said.

Initially, the training will be delivered to 160 professionals — ranging from frontline workers, supervisors and technical support staff up to executive management — and comes, SMI-ICE-Chile Executive Director Dr Doug Aitken said, 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,” Aitken said.

SMI-ICE-Chile Executive Director Dr Doug Aitken.

“Queensland, Chile and Argentina are all resource-rich regions playing a critical role in supplying the raw materials needed for the global energy transition,” Aitken added. “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.”

Top image credit: iStock.com/standret. Stock image used is for illustrative purposes only.