PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Diversified miner BHP has cut the ribbon at its FutureFit Academy in Western Australia, as part of its commitment to create 2 500 new traineeships and apprenticeships nationally over five years and build the skills needed for modern mining. 

Launched in 2020, the BHP FutureFit Academy offers paid training pathways into the mining industry for those without previous mining experience, at any stage of their career. To date, more than 1 100 people have joined the FutureFit programme and more than 500 have graduated with qualifications and a guaranteed job with BHP. 

“BHP launched the FutureFit Academy in 2020 with a A$300-million commitment to create a pipeline of future talent in highly skilled roles that will help support productivity and keep the Australian economy strong,” BHP President Australia Geraldine Slattery said.

“Minerals and mining are critical to Australia’s economy and the global energy transition. We have an enormous opportunity but also challenges to overcome to keep competing in the global arena, among them the need to build the skills needed in a modern mining sector.” 

Through its two academies in Western Australia and Mackay in Central Queensland, the BHP FutureFit Academy is creating 2 500 new traineeships and apprenticeships over five years, with entrants joining BHP in permanent roles upon graduation. 

The purpose-built learning academies feature immersive virtual reality technology combined with workshop learning to develop skills and knowledge. They are fully equipped to simulate the workplace, including disability access and parent and prayer rooms. 

“We’re thrilled to have welcomed more than 1 100 people to the FutureFit programme and more than 500 graduates into permanent jobs with BHP,” Slattery said. 

“Through an innovative approach to training and employment, we’ve opened the door to a more diverse talent pool, especially people from non-mining backgrounds who want to reskill or pursue a new career.”  

“Our new BHP FutureFit Academy in Perth will provide an even better learning experience for the next wave of Australia’s tradespeople, technicians and maintenance professionals.” 

The new BHP FutureFit Academy in Forrestfield is more than double the size of its predecessor in Welshpool, with an additional 110 000 m² of workshop space and capacity for many more students. 

Forrestfield also offers an expanded curriculum, including high-risk work licensing, maintenance associate and trade programmes in auto electrical, fabrication mechanical fitting and heavy diesel, and is now delivering the apprentice programme for BHP’s Western Australia iron-ore and Nickel West operations.