Sixty two people are celebrating in the lead up to Christmas after receiving offers to commence apprenticeships with BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) in 2020.

BMA Asset President, James Palmer, said the number of apprenticeships being offered to Central Queenslanders is the highest in several years.

“We want our workforce to reflect the communities in which we operate, so it’s pleasing to be able to build on that with our diverse apprenticeship intake next year," James said.

“We see these apprentices as the future of our business and for us to continue being an important part of the local community, we need to support it.”

Offers are being made to applicants from across the region including 13 people from Moranbah, five from Rockhampton, four from Dysart, four from Blackwater, four from Emerald, 15 from the Greater Mackay area and a further eight from greater Central and Northern Queensland.  

The new cohort will also include 23 females (37%) and 10 Indigenous Australians (16%).

Early next year, the 2020 apprentices will embark on their four-year apprenticeships across a range of trades including Electricians, Mechanics, Diesel Fitters, Auto-Electricians and Boilermakers and be spread across BMA's operations in Central Queensland.

Declan Fraser from Moranbah was thrilled to receive a letter from BMA, offering him a position working at Goonyella Riverside Mine as an apprentice Diesel Fitter.

“I am very excited about my apprenticeship and can’t wait to start in January," Declan said

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity and think it will be a perfect fit for me.”

The bulk of applicants for the BMA annual intake are now receiving letters with the completion of their final year of schooling in the coming weeks.

The new apprentices will gather in Moranbah in early 2020 for a formal welcome to the organisation and induction program, where they will learn the basic skills required to start training on a mine site, with a heavy emphasis on safety.