Innovation at every level – shaping Australia’s minerals industry with the Minerals Council of Australia
When establish its presence in Western Australia two years ago, the Minerals Council of Australia quickly determined that the CORE Innovation Hub and its ecosystem provided the ideal location for its operating base.
The Minerals Council of Australia is proud to be part of the CORE ecosystem as a Foundation Partner and its WA office has been co-located in CORE Perth since its expansion into WA.
Founded in 1995, the Minerals Council of Australia succeeded the Australian Mining Industry Council which was established in 1960. The current team consists of approximately 40 people nationally, across Canberra, Melbourne, Darwin and Perth.
The goal of the Minerals Council of Australia is to promote and enhance the sustainability, profitability and competitiveness of Australia’s world-leading minerals sector. The team seeks to represent Australian mining as dynamic, diverse, and sustainable both nationally and globally, with some fantastic initiatives helping to drive education and awareness across all levels of the ecosystem.
A key focus of the organisation is to help eliminate harm and sexual harassment in the mining sector, creating a more inclusive industry where everyone who goes to work returns home safe and healthy.
Their recently released MineWell mobile app is helping to support better mental health for frontline workers. The preventative mental health and wellbeing app was developed by miners, for miners to provide prevention, intervention and education for Australia’s 256,000 mining workers.
The Minerals Council of Australia is also working to seek greater involvement by First Nations Australians across the mining sector, as both landowners and employees. “We know that genuine long-term partnerships with First Nations communities in the development of the industry will be key to creating long term success and sustainability,” said Victoria Jackson, Executive Director – Members, Western Australia Region.
The organisation’s soon to be launched Careers Guide will showcase a broad-cross section of Australians, the amazing diversity of career opportunities and the highly skilled, highly paid jobs on offer in the mining sector.
Two new digital educational games for Year 6 and Year 8 students are currently being trialed at across 57 Australian schools – a Minecraft style game, ‘Resource, Respond, Rescue’ and a web-based game ‘Old as Dirt’. These interactive games are being pitched as a permanent feature of the national Earth Sciences curriculum as a wonderful example of digitisation and education advancing in the mining sector.
When looking to the future, the Minerals Council of Australia is excited about the many prospects and opportunities for Australian companies to provide the minerals and technology for a decarbonized world – including renewable energy, storage and electric vehicles – and the increased use of automation to improve safety, reduce emissions and increase efficiency across the industry.
“We’re hoping to see an increase in electrification and use of renewable energy on mine sites, which is already underway across Australia. There is great potential to unearth real innovation within the sector aimed at reducing emissions from mining operations”
As a key focus for the Minerals Council, innovation was a key driver in selecting CORE as its place of business in WA.
“Aside from the excellent location and facilities, it’s important for the MCA to be connected with innovation in mining through various pathways, and CORE plays an important role having developed much of that ecosystem here in Perth.”
“CORE is a fantastic community with members all working towards a common cause. The networking opportunities provided by CORE activities and the opportunity to assist CORE members with relevant connections is invaluable to the Minerals Council of Australia,” concluded Victoria.
Stay up to date with all the Minerals Council of Australia's initiatives by visiting their website here.
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