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It's one thing to have work available in mines, but quite another to get skilled professionals to fill roles. When Australia's mining industry needed more fully qualified geologists, it looked overseas.
"The industry had to bring in professionals on 457 visas," says Andrew Hammond, of Central Queensland (CQ) University.
One partial solution has involved training paraprofessionals - geologists trained to work alongside their fully qualified colleagues. This associate degree, designed with input from the minerals industry, does just that.
The course is aimed at those already working in the mining industry who want to advance to supervisory positions, as well as those keen to enter the field.
Mining roles are typically in remote locations, which is a reason this course is run mostly online.
Duration: Four years part time (16 courses in total).
Time: Expect to study about 10 hours a course a week.
Where: Online through CQUniversity. (Some residentials required from the Rockhampton or Mackay campus.)
When: Intakes twice a year, in February and July.
Link: handbook.cqu.edu.au.
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
The Associate Degree of Geoscience is a program designed to train paraprofessionals to work alongside fully qualified geologists, particularly in the mining industry. It aims to help those already in the field advance to supervisory roles or assist newcomers in entering the industry.
The degree was created to address the shortage of fully qualified geologists in Australia's mining industry. By training paraprofessionals, the program helps fill the gap and reduce the reliance on overseas professionals.
The course is aimed at individuals already working in the mining industry who wish to advance to supervisory positions, as well as those who are keen to enter the field.
The program is primarily delivered online through CQUniversity, with some residential components required at the Rockhampton or Mackay campus.
The degree is a four-year part-time program, consisting of 16 courses in total.
Students should expect to study about 10 hours per course each week.
Intakes for the program occur twice a year, in February and July.
The course is mostly online to accommodate the remote locations of many mining roles, making it accessible to a wider range of students.
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