Rio Tinto employs 16 more first-year apprentices in Gladstone

Sixteen new first-year apprentices have walked through the gates of Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL), Boyne Smelters Limited (BSL) and Rio Tinto Yarwun to begin careers in the aluminium industry.

The apprentices are all Gladstone locals studying electrical instrumentation, air-conditioning and refrigeration, fitting and turning and boilermaking across the three businesses.

Through CQUniversity, the apprentices will gain practical, on-the-job training and formal qualifications during their four or five-year trades. The group will also be provided with mentors within the business to assist, challenge and inspire them throughout their training.
QAL general manager Pine Pienaar said “Apprentices are a valued part of our operations’ future in Gladstone. It is a priority for the three sites to continue to support local youth employment in the Gladstone region.

“Apprentice intakes are always an exciting time; seeing the fresh enthusiasm for the industry is revitalising for all involved. Our aim is always to build diversity in the workplace and continue to develop new ideas and our apprentices are a vital part of this. We believe strongly in investing in Gladstone’s youth and are proud to welcome our new apprentices. Congratulations and welcome!”.

Congratulations and best of luck to:
BSL apprentices: Jessica Wilmot, Renee Shaw, Samara Belton, Hayden Bright, Ryan Lingard, and Ken Eccles.
QAL apprentices: Jaize Whelan, McKinley Pope, Royce Parnaby, Teah Daley, Bill Dwan, and Kate Smith.
Yarwun apprentices: Josiah Eldridge, Tori Nimwegen, Eleesha Whiting, and Blake Vincent.

BSL Apprentices
Left to Right
Ken Eccles, Jessica Wilmot, Samarah Belton, Hayden Bright, Renee Shaw, and Ryan Lingard.

QAL Apprentices:
Left to Right:
Jaize Whelan, McKinley Pope, Royce Parnaby, Teah Daley, Bill Dwan, and Kate Smith.

Yarwun Apprentices:
Left to Right:
Josiah Eldridge, Tori Nimwegen, Eleesha Whiting, and Blake Vincent.