For apprentices learning their trade, there is no substitute for working with the real thing. BTP’s donation of heavy machinery components to Zeal Futures’ Rutherford campus is helping local apprentices build the practical skills, confidence and experience they need for long-term careers in the mining industry.
BTP Business Development Manager Stephen Tritten said it started with a phone call about sourcing the right components for apprentice training.
“In early January this year I received an unexpected phone call from Charlie at Zeal Futures. They were in real need of planetary-type transmissions to support real world training scenarios focused on diagnostics and repairs,” explained Stephen.
“As he spoke about the needs of Zeal Futures it immediately struck me as a great opportunity to back a local organisation and contribute to strengthening skills and career pathways in the mining sector.
“Fortunately, BTP were able to identify eight components that were ideal for the CERT III Mobile Plant Technology program, including torque converters, transmissions, final drives and differentials.
“The team from Zeal Futures visited our Mt Thorley operation and confirmed the components were perfectly suited for their training needs. Once everything was agreed, we made the components available for pickup and delivery to Zeal Futures’ Rutherford facility.”
The new components will be used by students studying a Certificate III in Mobile Plant Technology (AUR31220). Introduced last June through a partnership between Zeal Futures and Glencore, the program provides specialised training opportunities for apprentices employed across the mining industry and gives them hands-on access to late-model components to learn diagnostics and repairs.
The donation comes at an important stage, supporting apprentices as they move into their second year of training when technical complexity increases and practical experience becomes even more critical.
“We partnered with Glencore to undertake a structural redesign of the Certificate III Mobile Plant Technology trade delivery, ensuring apprentices are being trained to work with more complex modern mining fleets,” said Zeal Futures Learning General Manager Debbie Laarkamp.
“Now the apprentices are training in an authentic heavy plant environment at our Rutherford facility, made possible by Glencore and the generous donation of genuine mining components from BTP.”
Stephen added that access to authentic machinery components allows apprentices to move beyond theory and build the kind of confidence and capability they will need on the job.
“It allows apprentices to apply theory in a practical environment, building technical competency, problem-solving capability and confidence,” Stephen said.
“This is especially important in the mining industry, where getting hands-on experience makes a real difference to safety and quality outcomes.
“That’s why supporting Zeal Futures was an easy decision for us. We’re proud to play a part in developing the next generation of talent in the Hunter region.”
