NEWCREST Lihir’s Work Ready Program is proving to be a success. It is training more local workers to work in the Lihir mine in New Ireland.
In a statement, the company said its aim is to upskill locals and Papua New Guineans to take up roles within the operation.
Since 2019, Lihir’s mine department has successfully trained and recruited 12 Lihirians who had initially trained under the Work Ready Program.
Lihir’s Geotechnical Superintendent James Bu welcomed Elizah Penias, Aaron Toarino, Cecilia Aeh, Dorothy Ziksaranie, John Liu, and Gerard Anap and praised them and their trainers for being resilient during their 12-month training program despite Covid-19 restrictions and challenges.
The six have completed their training and received certificates and licenses to operate haul trucks. They completed an initial three-month training program that included simulator training, familiarisation on haul trucks, safe operating procedures, and theory assessments before proceeding into mine operations for real training experiences.
“As a business, we are proud of their achievements; it reflects Newcrest’s commitment to upskilling local talents (Lihirians) and Papua New Guineans to take up roles within the operation,” said Mr Bu.
“Our Work Ready Program empowered the talents with skills such as time management, public speaking, work standards and ethics, innovation and problem solving and safety. These skills helped them to focus and succeed in their training program with our mine department,” Mr Bu said.
Furthermore, Lihir’s Mine Production Superintendent Noven Giuna said the Work Ready program is crucial to the operation.
“It is building a diverse workforce and is setting us in the right direction, not just for Lihir, but for PNG,” Mr Giuna said.
Cecilia Aeh, one of two women among the new technicians, described her achievement as ‘proof’ that anything is possible.
“I am empowered as a woman and a Lihirian to achieve more,” she said.
Dorothy Ziksaranie, the other female technician, said her family had supported her to take on a role that men once dominated.
“If I can come this far, other young Lihirian women can too; I encourage them to believe in themselves and take on such opportunities,” said Ms Ziksaranie.