Mader partners with mining giants to develop mechanics of tomorrow

Global heavy equipment maintenance provider, Mader Group is preparing for the June intake of its award-winning Trade Upgrade Apprenticeship Program, part of its ongoing contribution to the mining industry through quality training and development.      

Launched in October 2019 on the back of a tightening skills shortage, the Program provides a pathway for Light Vehicle and Road Transport Mechanics to advance their skills, developing the necessary knowledge and experience to support mining industry requirements.

Mader Group CEO Justin Nuich explains while the company has been proud to run full-term mechanical apprenticeships for more than a decade, the modest size of its Perth-based workshop has always been a limiting factor in the volume of apprentices it could take on.

He says introducing the tailored Trade Upgrade Program has allowed the company to bolster its training capacity, significantly expanding the volume of apprentices it trains and enabling the business to partner with top tier clients to give participants highly varied experience in the field.

“With access to more than 300 mine sites in Australia alone, the Trade Upgrade Program is the perfect solution for customers wanting to integrate cost-effective Dual Trade Mechanics into their teams, while doing their part to contribute to the industry,” he says.  

Mr Nuich explains one of the biggest threats to operational efficiency, is the shortage of skilled specialists, and as the mining industry continues to grow, demand for these specialists is only going to increase.

“The skills shortage is not a new development for us, we have seen unprecedented demand for Heavy Duty Diesel Mechanics for the past five years. It’s up to us to attract and develop the workforce of tomorrow, which is why we launched this program in 2019,” he says.

“It’s an exciting time for advances in mining – not only for innovation and technological developments, but also for gender diversity. With a widening skills gap, the mining industry needs female participation more than ever and studies show that diversity in the workplace drives improved productivity and morale.

“While female participation is growing steadily, women still account for a very small percentage of our trade qualified population nationally; in fact, it is estimated that in 2022, in Australia, women makeup just three percent of the trade-qualified workforce.

“This is why we are focussed on encouraging female participation within our apprenticeship programs while building an attractive workplace that is inclusive, progressive and highly flexible allowing us to support and empower our people, both on and off the field.

“We’re working towards a long-term goal of 30% female representation across our apprenticeship programs and to do this, our number one priority is to create a brand and business that is equally attractive to both male and female candidates.

“Our blue-sky business model ensures that the principles of mateship and comradery are embedded in daily operations, with a culture that is inclusive, diverse and deeply family oriented.”

The company has inducted 175 apprentices into its Trade Upgrade Program since its inception and currently has 128 active participants. Additionally, a total of 47 apprentices have fully completed the program and graduated as dual-trade mechanics.

The 18-month training combines classroom-based learning, simulated training environments and on-the-job training to prepare participants for diverse mining workspaces, maintaining both surface and underground heavy mobile equipment.

After completing TAFE – 10 weeks for Light Vehicle Mechanics and five weeks for Heavy Road Transport Mechanics, participants are matched with a range of different teams across a wide variety of sites.

In 2021, the Trade Upgrade Program was recognised for its Training Excellence in The Australian Business Awards. Mader was also recently named Employer of Choice at the RISE Business Awards powered by Business News, and Contract Miner of the Year at the Australian Mining Prospect Awards.

Additionally, the business is set to increase the volume of participants in its full-term mechanical apprenticeship program when it launches its new, world-class, custom-built workshop facility which is due for completion in mid-2022. A number of significant rebuild projects for customers nationally have made up just some of the activity at Mader’s bustling Perth maintenance facility, with high demand calling for the workshop to relocate to a larger facility.

Mader Group was established in 2005 in Western Australia by its executive director, Luke Mader who worked as a tradesman out of his Ute in the Kimberley, providing a flexible maintenance service to mining operations.

Today that same business supports equipment maintenance in mining, civil and energy sectors across the globe. Mader boasts over 2,000 employees who service more than 240 customers across 370 mine sites, with nine offices supporting operations around the globe.