Letter to the Editor - Thursday September 13, 2012

Aussie jobs

I have recently learned of Australian recruiters offering the prospect of employment in Australian mines to the people of Northland. Apparently, applicants had little success in finding work.

There are many opportunities within the extractive sector in Australia, despite the recent slowdown, which in reality is more about delayed expansion.

People looking for work should be aware of what the mining companies are looking for. They are looking for people with skill, have a good record, and you must pass a medical. Mining companies rarely hire people who are large, as anyone must be able to drag you to safety if injured. Hence smaller people are favoured.

In some states you must have a truck licence to be allowed on-site (as an absolute minimum). If you don't have this, then states such as Queensland can get this for you fairly quickly. Therefore you must be willing to travel to obtain the tickets necessary for the job. Often this will be at your own expense.

Work exists on several levels. There are jobs with the first-tier mining companies, the site contractors, second- or third-tier mining companies, or on the east coast of Australia filling the gaps in quarries and the like, where positions often become vacant due to the draw from the mines.

Bear in mind the focus is on what you can do for the company. Competencies are the key to finding employment. If thinking of working in an area, say, driving a rigid-body dump truck, then the number of hours on this type of equipment is critical.

There are courses available to build these competencies both in Australia and New Zealand. Few fail to find employment if they tick all the boxes - clean police record, good health, not too heavy, tickets.

KEN HORLOR

Quarry manager Australia

Christchurch