TECHNOLOGY
SHOWCASING THE FUTURE OF GOLD MINING WITH MORE THAN 8000 STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE, THIS YEAR’S RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY SHOWCASE HAS BEEN HAILED A SUCCESS BY ORGANISERS AND VISITORS ALIKE.
T
he Resources Technology Showcase (RTS) has given the next generation of workers an insight into how advanced a career in the mining industry has
become. Held at the Perth Convention Centre in June, the event saw primary and secondary school students, teachers and the general public interact with robotics, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, autonomous vehicles and more. Hourly TED-style talks were a feature of this year’s showcase, giving visitors the opportunity to witness the various technologies being introduced into mining. Gold Industry Group, a presenting partner of this year’s event, is an advocate of the critical role innovation and technology play in driving the industry forward and making it attractive to work in, captivating attendees on renewables in gold winning the race with the talk, Green and Gold. Gold Industry Group chair Kelly Carter explains how important it is to prepare and inspire tomorrow’s workforce. “The Gold Industry Group’s initiatives are centred around education and developing talent pathways to support our future industry workforce,” Carter says. “Through hands-on STEM activities we are bringing Australia’s gold industry to life.” Gold Industry Group executive officer Rebecca Johnston shares the importance of supporting RTS as a presenting partner in 2021. “It’s really to inspire the next generation about Australia’s gold industry and the diverse career opportunities it offers,” she says. City of Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas says the showcase highlights the importance of the mining and resources industry to the city’s economy. “Global mining companies have called Perth home for decades with many headquartered in the city, and each with significant operations throughout WA,” Zempilas says. “The resources sector has proven
GOLD INDUSTRY GROUP’S ANDREA MAXEY, PETER COOK, REBECCA JOHNSTON, TIM CONVERSI, JAMES KOERTING AND ASHLEIGH SHELTON PROVIDED FEEDBACK TO STUDENTS.
to be an economic game-changer for Western Australia, and we’re excited to see our homegrown technology on display for the whole community. “Events such as the RTS are hugely important not only for the sector, but also to provide a behind the scenes look at how our resource industry is evolving.” Students, teachers, and members of the community rushed to the Gold Industry Group’s exhibit to take on four action-packed interactive gold challenges. Thousands of students took the Gold Jobs challenge to unearth a career in gold and were excited to receive a list of career options that might suit them in the gold industry based on their answers to the challenge. Many students who had no idea what some of the jobs entailed were eager to find out more from the Gold Industry Group members at the exhibit. Some of Western Australia’s leading executives also inspired the next generation, including Westgold Resources executive chairman and Gold Industry Group director Peter Cook, who assisted students at the AUSTRALIANMINING
Gold Jobs challenge. Cook is proud to represent the gold sector at an event like the RTS to share his industry knowledge. “The gold industry has been the backbone of the Western Australian economy for more than 150 years, so we’re here to teach people about what the gold industry is really about,” Cook says. Nearby, Elizabeth Quay became home to a variety of mining equipment, including haul trucks provided by WesTrac, a partner of the showcase. WesTrac general manager people and culture Tanya Eales says the main purpose of the display, which featured Cat equipment, was to inspire attendees to explore and pursue careers in the resources industry. “These sorts of events, and particularly the opportunity for people to get hands-on with technology and equipment, provide a fantastic way for the next generation to explore pathways into the resources industry in an interactive environment,” Eales says. The Gold Industry Group
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also offered a once-in-a-lifetime class excursion to Northern Star Resources’ Super Pit in Kalgoorlie. Thirty Year 11 students from Woodvale Secondary College and their science teachers flew to Kalgoorlie-Boulder on June 10 to explore the famous mine, which is one of the largest gold operations in the world, as well as some of the top sights in the Goldfields city. Participants in the excursion got an up-close look at the scale of the operation and insights into the diverse careers in gold mining from Northern Star employees during a guided tour and careers session. Gold Industry Group director Andrea Maxey says both the excursion and the showcase have been an amazing platform to highlight the role technology plays to inspire and prepare our future leaders. “We think it’s a vital event to help children understand the technology that is used in mining and resources and all the opportunities available for them to have a career in mining,” Maxey says. AM