Employees in the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector will be able to advance their skills in emerging technologies thanks to a new program launched this month.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said the Future Skills Masterclass program was vital to the growth of regional communities and their access to jobs.

“Digital automation technologies continue to present a tremendous opportunity for Australia’s mining and resources sectors with the potential to add $74 billion to the economy and create over 80,000 new jobs by 2030,” Minister Andrews said.

“As the application of remote and autonomous technology matures in the resources sector, we need to make sure workers in our regional communities can take advantage of those opportunities.

“By bringing these elements together in a masterclass focused on regional areas, we will be creating job opportunities in remote locations for years to come.”

The program includes a mix of different delivery models, from online content, remote facilitation, and group training sessions. The focus of the course is to deliver practical skills in data, analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence.

The METS Ignited Growth Centre is partnering with the National Energy and Resources Australia (NERA) Growth Centre to deliver the program.

METS Ignited and NERA are two of six Industry Growth Centres established by the Coalition Government in sectors of competitive strength, as part of its broader plan to grow the economy and create 1.25 million new jobs over the next five years.

Click here for more information on METS Ignited.