Northern Territory secondary students will soon have a dedicated pathway into the local resources sector following the launch of the NT Mining Cadets Program.
Developed by the Minerals Council of Australia Northern Territory (MCA NT) in partnership with the NT Department of Education and Charles Darwin University, the new Vocational Education and Training (VET) in Schools is set to commence in 2027.
It will offer Year 10 and 11 students the opportunity to undertake a Certificate II in Workplace Skills (Mining) specifically tailored to the Territory’s resources industry.
The program aims to equip students with practical and transferable workplace skills, including communication, teamwork, problem solving, professional behaviours, and workplace health and safety awareness, while introducing them to broad career options across mining, oil, and gas.
“The Mining Cadets Program will help students explore the many occupations available in the resources sector while developing the practical skills needed to hit the ground running once they enter the workforce,” said Cathryn Tilmouth, Executive Director of Northern Australia for the MCA.
“Increasing demand for the resources the Territory has in abundance, including gold and rare earths, boosts demand for workers in the sector.”
The cadetship was unveiled at the ‘Map Your Career in Mining’ event in Darwin, where local students participated in hands-on exercises covering the complete mining lifecycle, from exploration and discovery to extraction, environmental management, and rehabilitation.
Attendees heard directly from industry professionals representing organisations including The Energy Club NT, Territory Generation, SLR Consulting, EcOz Environmental Consultants, and Darwin Port.
Participating careers spanned geoscience, engineering, trades, technology, business services, and health and safety.
Students also visited Territory Generation’s Channel Island Power Station to observe firsthand how local gas, minerals, and metals fuel regional infrastructure and technology.
Tilmouth noted that building awareness early creates a stronger local employment pipeline, better positioning Territory students to secure highly paid roles as the regional resources sector continues to expand.
“These students are now better placed to take advantage of the employment opportunities that will come from the growth of the mining sector in the Territory.”