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Resources kits

a classroom hit

embers of the resources industry have been
Mfacilitating educational classes for primary and
secondary students across Australia for two years
now in an initiative started by the Gold Industry
Group.
The National Gold Education Program celebrated its
second anniversary in March, having reached more
than 1,200 schools across the country with students
learning the ins and outs of the gold industry and
Australia’s resources sector.
Class sessions are facilitated with “resources kits”
that include gold and rock samples from Australian
mines that teach students workplace problem-
solving and industry sustainability practices.
Western Australia alone has seen 111 class
sessions across 25 primary and 23 secondary
schools in Perth, Kalgoorlie, Kambalda, Norseman
and Boddington.
Perth Mint group manager of organisational and cultural
Children in years 4-6 use problem-solving skills to move a gold development Kristen Potter facilitates a Gold Industry Group
bar by designing a pulley system in a scenario that aims to teaching lesson with Joondalup Primary School students
teach workplace safety. Students in years 7-10 experience more
advanced sessions by analysing geological and geophysical
Representatives from these companies include metallurgists,
maps to identify areas prospective for gold mining.
environmental advisors, exploration geologists, human resources
Class facilitators include industry workers from companies advisors, general managers and vice presidents.
such as Gold Fields Ltd, Gold Road Resources Ltd, Northern
Gold Fields project geologist Craig Talbot, who has delivered five
Star Resources Ltd, Bellevue Gold Ltd, Evolution Mining Ltd,
sessions so far, spoke highly of the programme.
AngloGold Ashanti Australia Ltd, St Barbara Ltd, Agnico Eagle
“Being a facilitator in the Gold Industry Group’s National Gold
Mines Ltd, Ramelius Resources Ltd, Westgold Resources Ltd
Education Program has been incredibly rewarding,” Talbot
and the Perth Mint.
said. “It offers a fun, interactive way to show students just how
interesting gold and mining can be through engaging, hands-on
activities and presentations.
“Seeing a room full of hands in the air at the end of the session
when I ask the question, ‘who would like to have a career in the
gold industry?’, shows just how powerful these sessions can be.”
Primary and secondary teachers have also sung the praise of the
programme.
“Thank you for making gold real for my students,” Bletchley Park
Primary Year 5 teacher Michelle Davies said. “They were very
surprised to learn how gold plays a big part in their day, but they
had no idea how or why. I have passed the kit on to our school
science teacher and she is delighted to have real specimens to
use in her classes.”
School Term 2 will see the programme expand with the addition
of online and in-person class sessions to reach more secondary
Gold Fields project geologist Craig Talbot assisting at Duncraig schools due to ongoing positive feedback and demand.
Senior High School

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