Fortescue Metals Group’s (Fortescue) Vocational Training and Employment Centre (VTEC) program has celebrated another graduation in Port Hedland, with six trainees being offered full time employment.
After successfully completing the program at Port Hedland over a 12-week period, the six graduates have secured full-time employment across Fortescue’s Chichester Hub operations with the drilling, dewatering, process operations and mobile maintenance teams.
VTEC graduate and Nyamal man Alex Taylor has lived in Port Hedland his whole life and will soon commence as a dewatering operator trainee. He has credited the program with changing his life and providing priceless memories as well as newly developed skills in mining.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment of being involved with VTEC and the opportunities I have been provided are invaluable. Bringing everybody together as a family is what the program does well – they make you feel welcomed and a part of a team and I have learned so many new skills that will help me in my new career,” Alex said.
Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said, “Our Vocational Training and Employment Centre program was established to drive economic and generational change in the regions where we operate by providing training and employment pathways.
“With over 1,000 Aboriginal people securing employment with Fortescue through the program since 2006, we remain committed to adapting the program to ensure its growth and relevancy so we can continue to help Aboriginal Australians make sustainable changes in their lives,” Ms Gaines said.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony, General Manager Chichester Hub Jay Natesan said, “VTEC provides Fortescue the opportunity to tap into pools of underdeveloped talent, providing opportunities to upskill through a unique program which guarantees a job following the completion of training.
“Over the past three years since joining Fortescue, it has been fantastic to see so many of our graduates moving up the ranks to become fantastic leaders and supervisors,” Mr Natesan said.
