Coasters pleased to teach the Aussies a thing or two about drilling

Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s (West Coast) new pre-employment programme, The Certificate in Drilling - Non-hydrocarbon (Driller’s Assistant), has generated a huge amount of interest in New Zealand and across the Tasman since its launch in January. 

 “Australia might beat us in the mineral wealth stakes but when it comes to drilling for it, there’s plenty we can teach them about pre-employment industry training,” says Peter McRae, Head of Department for Civil and Mining at Tai Poutini Polytechnic.

 “The programme has received a tremendous amount of support from the industry at home so it’s not surprising the Aussies are keen to know more,” says McRae, who was invited to present a paper on the programme at DRILL 2010, the Australasian Drilling Conference held in Adelaide last month.

 “We’re teaching students a wide range of practical skills, which could typically take years to gain if they followed the traditional route, learning on the job. It’s meeting a real demand, introducing quality, entry-level people to the industry.

 “A conservative estimate of the value to employers is $16,000 per graduate. That adds up to good value in anyone’s book.”

The 20-week programme provides students with the necessary skills for work in the industry including basic rig maintenance, welding and gas cutting, heavy truck driving, first aid and emergency care, lifting and moving loads, and environmental, health and safety training. It comprises 14 weeks of training at Tai Poutini’s Greymouth campus, followed by six weeks of work-based training.  

Programme Leader, Michele Cox, says the course is aimed at “mechanically minded, physically fit, outdoorsy types who are prepared to work long hours and who are not afraid of hard work.”

 Historically learning was passed from father to son, or learnt on the job, but the Extractive Industries Training Organisation (EXITO) has been pushing for some years for companies to have their staff gain recognised unit standard-based qualifications and has worked closely with Tai Poutini to develop the programme.

Despite the global economic downturn there are plenty of jobs in the drilling industry, says Cox, and students who graduated from the first intake in July all readily secured jobs.

She says industry demand is being led by soaring international mineral prices and high market demand for these resources, a trend that is expected to continue.

Tai Poutini’s current intake includes students from a wide range of industries as far afield as the Bay of Plenty. 

The New Zealand Drilling Federation is very supportive of the programme, providing a $2000 scholarship to the top student from each intake.

 Applications are now open for the next programme, which begins on 31st January, 2011.