Mining related questions

I don't live in Australia. Do you offer sponsorships for people wanting to migrate to Australia?

As we work on behalf of mining companies to find staff for them, we don't usually sponsor people from overseas - the mining company will do this. We will sometimes advise them of the process to follow. It is important to note that even though there is a lot of talk at the moment about the shortage of skilled staff in Australia, the immigration laws in Australia are stringent and Australian mining companies are unable to employ staff from overseas unless the person has skills that are in short supply or very difficult to find in Australia.

Because of the above, we suggest you contact some of the major Australian mining companies directly as they may be able to give you more advice. Another good place to start in this regard is the Australian Immigration Department site at www.immi.gov.au

I live outside Australia but I have a mining qualification & experience. How do I work in Australia?

Rules and regulations for working in Australia are governed by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. Rules vary depending on your needs and experience.

Immigration and Visa's for Australia are a complex issue. Because of this we are unable to give you accurate advice.

We suggest that you have a look at the Australian Immigration website - www.immi.gov.au as this lists all the pre-requisites for working within Australia.

The basic scenario would be that if you were to come out to Australia on a temporary working visa it is likely that we would be able to find you work. At the moment there is a lot of work in the mining industry and the industry is always looking for staff.

However, if you do not fit into this category of being able to get a temporary working visa, then you may find working within Australia quite limited. The only other way to get employment within Australia is to be sponsored by your employer. We do not do this directly, and mining companies will generally only do this for senior roles or for people with specialised or hard-to-find skills as it is quite an expensive process. Sometimes though it may happen that should you have gained access on a temporary working visa, found a job and then proved yourself to be a good employee, they may continue your employment and ultimately sponsor you.

It may be worth your while calling the Department of Immigration within Australia (rather than outside) to find out exactly what category you fit into. Sometimes you do have to wait on the line, but you might be able to get all your questions answered at once. Check out the contact details on http://www.immi.gov.au/contacts/aust.htm

Further to this, there are agencies that, for a fee, can complete immigration paperwork for you, alleviating the confusing and frustrating process. Check out the following websites:

I would like to enter the professional sector of mining. Are there any websites I could visit that may assist?

Yes, the following websites represent tertiary institutions that run specialised mining industry courses:

In addition to this, there are major universities in most Australian capital cities also running mining industry courses, either for 1st and 2nd year or, in some limited cases, for the full course length. The list above though is a good start.

Is there anywhere I can get a list of mine sites located around Australia?

Yes, there is - www.australianminesatlas.gov.au

What are the minimum security requirements that I require to start work on a mine site?

Some mine sites will have different pre-employment security measures based on the type of mineral they are mining and their location in Australia. Should you be considered for a role through us, we will advise you if you will need to obtain one of the following: a GSDU clearance, National Police Certificate, Australian Federal Police National Police Check or other state-based security checks.

Medical Requirements

We strongly suggest finding out the company & site requirements before organizing any tests to be done as medical results are only considered valid for a certain period of time before they are not considered current. Completing these tests prior to seeking a job does not guarantee that you will be offered a role. The most common situation is that once you have been offered a position you are then required to complete any medical requirements - the results of which are used as confirmation of suitability for the role and ability to work.

Training Courses/Licences/Qualifications

Not all sites require the same qualifications. It is best to check with the company offering the position to find out their requirements before obtaining further tickets and training. Site requirements can include a manual driver’s licence, Heavy Rigid (HR) licence, and a MARCSTA. There are major universities in most Australian capital cities that run mining industry courses. There are also many training companies offering courses, and a simple internet search will be able to give you with a list of providers. Please keep in mind that completing training courses does not guarantee that you will be offered a role.

Information on Australian Mines

There is a list of mine sites located around Australia at www.australianminesatlas.gov.au