ACMER’s primary role is the organisation and conduct of training in various aspects of sustainable development (particularly environmental and social elements) related to exploration, mining, mineral processing and the mine closure and completion process. An additional objective is to communicate the results of the existing and previous research activities of ACMER, SMI Centres and related organisations to the minerals industry and the wider community.
ACMER workshops and short courses are highly focused on sustainable development issues identified by the minerals industry and government as having high priority. The workshops also provide an opportunity for industry and research personnel to meet to define key industry problems and possible solutions and are designed to complement the more general awareness-raising workshops and conferences conducted by state and federal industry organisations.
The majority of ACMER courses and workshops have been designed for personnel from mining and quarrying companies, government departments and consulting groups. ACMER also has the capacity to design courses tailored to individual (company and departmental) requirements. Several such courses have been delivered to government departments in Queensland, Western Australia, to industry and government in Indonesia and South Africa, and to mining companies in NSW. With the move to SMI, there is an increased potential to provide courses specific to individual groups.
In 2006, major workshops were held on (1) Cyanide Management, (2) Sustainable Mine Closure, and (3) Groundwater-Dependent Ecosystems. In addition, short courses were conducted to increase the skill levels of mining professionals in the following areas: (1) general environmental issues on mine sites, (2) practical environmental monitoring, and (3) interpersonal skills and stakeholder engagement, and a training course conducted for personnel from 3 WA government departments. At the end of June 2006, the Centre had achieved a significant milestone with the successful conduct of a total of 118 courses/workshops over 12 years.
The specific objectives of the technology transfer program are -
- Assist in the training of minerals and quarrying industries, government and consulting personnel in sustainable development issues through open short courses and in-house programs;
- Enhance awareness of good practice environmental management and development of skills to implement sustainable development practices by producing practical manuals and guidelines, edited proceedings of workshops and material for posting on the ACMER website;
- Provide a forum for industry, government and research and community organisations to discuss practical solutions to sustainable development issues;
- Communicate the results of state, national and international research to the minerals and quarry industries, government and community through workshops and published reports;
- Identify industry needs on sustainable development issues through focused workshops; and
- Assist in the transfer of Australian environmental technologies overseas by conducting short courses and workshops in developing countries under contract.
Features of the technology transfer program are -
- Program priorities are determined on the basis of regular surveys of personnel in the minerals and quarry industries (and also government) from corporate to the operational level;
- Content of specific courses is devised with input from industry, government, research and consulting personnel with specialist knowledge of topic;
- Workshops are designed to engender group and plenary discussion;
- Both workshops and short courses are attractive to all sectors with approximately half coming from industry and remainder being split between consulting, research and government/community groups; and
- The program has a national focus but can assist in overseas countries where Australian companies have a strong presence.