Every year the WA Mining Club, in conjunction with industry co-sponsors, offers a number of scholarships to encourage and foster the development of the next generation of leaders within Western Australia’s mining sector.This is the 18th year in which the Cub has supported the next generation of mining professionals, with more than 74 receiving scholarships since 2003.
In 2020 seven $10,000 scholarships will be awarded in the following categories:
1. Geology, co-sponsored by IGO
2. Female Student in a Technical Discipline, co-sponsored by Mt Gibson
3. Resource Related Engineering Discipline, co-sponsored by Mt Gibson
4. Mining Engineering, co-sponsored by Western Areas
5. Environmental Sciences, co-sponsored by Sandfire Resources
7. Metallurgy, co-sponsored by Iluka Resources
6. Indigenous Students who wish to work in the mining sector, co-sponsored by IGO
The first six scholarships are open to university students, while the Indigenous Student Scholarship is open to high school, TAFE and university students.
In addition to the $10,000 award, winners will participate in a mentoring program designed to help them start building real life experience and a network in the mining industry. Winners and some finalists may be offered vacation employment with co-sponsors as part of the program.
WA Mining Club Joint Scholarships Co-ordinator Sam Retallack said the scholarship program was based on the WA Mining Club’s belief that the future and sustainability of the industry depends on the skills of the next generation of mining professionals.
“It will give me great pleasure to present the WA Mining Club Scholarships to students who will be an asset to the mining industry in years to come,” she said.
The scholarships are a sustained and proactive response by WA Mining Club to the dwindling numbers of enrollments in mining related disciplines. Last year, only eight students signed up to study first-year mining engineering at Curtin University, alarming the industry.
Enrolment at Curtin’s WA School of Mines has plunged more than 70 per cent over the past five years, with less than 100 students enrolled in 2018.
This is a worrying development in a State where mining accounted for 36 per cent of Gross State Product in 2018-19 and at a time when demand for graduates was surging.
It has been a similar story nationwide. The Minerals Council of Australia forecast a more than 80 per cent fall in mining engineering graduates by 2020.
“The WA Mining Club continues to play a role to support Western Australian students navigate the pathway into mining,” Sam said.
All scholarship winners and finalists will receive a complimentary WA Mining Club membership for 2021. All winners and finalists will be invited to attend at least one WA Mining Club luncheon in 2020 as a complimentary guest of the Club.
New sponsors are welcome. Apart from supporting the next generation of miners, a key benefit for our sponsors is that they obtain early access to the brightest graduates each year.
Should you wish to discuss how you can partner with the WA Mining Club, please contact Sam Retallack via email at scholarships@waminingclub.asn.au
If you know a student currently studying in one of these discipline – they could be a neighbour, niece, son or daughter – please encouraging them to apply via our website – www.waminingclub.asn.au/giving-back/scholarships/
