The requirement in Queensland for a deputy to be present during a shift has meant a shortage and a premium being paid for the position.

Stewart said industry was addressing the problem from a range of angles. “Some mines are training people on an on-going basis, whereas other mines have just realised there is going to be a shortage and want to train people quickly,” said Stewart.

In answer to the imminent shortage, QMITAB have been working with industry to ensure there are enough training providers to meet demand, as well as working with individual mines that have existing staff with some composite skills to help fill in the gaps, so individuals don’t have to complete an entire training program.

The training body received $87,000 last year to provide government with specific information about the industry’s skill needs so the State could direct education funding to appropriate areas. The funding makes up small chunk of QMITAB’s overall budget of $1.6 million.

QMITAB operate a generic industry-agreed induction program which is run prior to a person entering a mine site in order to save time wasted re-inducting people on-site. The company also assists in developing assessment tools, learning strategies and training systems.

QMITAB have completed work with Anglo Coal’s Moranbah North longwall mine, designing an assessor training program. The project looked at how the mine could recruit assessors and what personality, capabilities and technical skills an assessor required. It also standardized how assessors trained workers on the job.

The company has also worked with Thiess in the design and mapping of assessment tools.