The welcome mat will be rolled out to anyone who is part of the Kalgoorlie-Goldfields region’s mining community for this year’s Goldfields Mining Expo (GME) to be held in Kalgoorlie from October 30 to November 1, 2012. A range of mining community-focused events and information sessions, along with specific programs aimed at “frontline” miners – operators, maintenance crews, foremen, supervisors, leading hands, shift managers and labourers – will be key elements of this year’s exhibition. Special events and information sessions will include a Women in Mining day, a careers and recruitment program, as well as health and welfare information presentations for local miners and their families.
“Community is a vital element of the ongoing success of the Australian mining industry – and an event such GME gives everyone in the local mining community a unique opportunity to come together and engage with each other,” said Paul Baker, Exhibition Director for Reed Mining Events. “That’s why, over the past two years, we have developed an integrated program to allow anyone who is involved in the mining community – or who is looking at opportunities to do so – to participate in Reed Mining Events exhibitions.”

Mining community-related events that will be an integral part of GME 2012 include:
• Women in Mining, which aims to celebrate the increasing role of women in mining – and to encourage greater participation from women who are considering careers in the industry.
• A careers and recruitment program through the GME Careers Centre that will bring together mining companies with people from Kalgoorlie and surrounding regions who are looking at careers and opportunities in mining.
• Advice and support on health and welfare issues for local miners and their families, with practical information sessions put on by Mining Family Matters.

“With our mining community approach to GME, we want to get the message out that everyone involved in the mining community, no matter at what level, should come along to the exhibition,” said Baker.
“Mining has really moved on from being a ‘male-only’ industry, and it has recognised that it needs to engage with people across the community – not only those currently involved, but those looking at job opportunities, and which will allow the industry to grow and prosper in years to come.

“At the same time, we are also keen to encourage those already in the industry and working in frontline roles to come along to GME 2012,” he said. “It is a once-in-two-years opportunity for them to see at first hand the latest products, services and techniques that they are likely to be working with in the future. It’s also an opportunity for them to identify for their employers new products and services which should be considered – as well as giving ‘hands-on’ feedback to exhibitors and suppliers. Over the next few months, we’ll be releasing more details about each of our mining community-related events that will be part of GME 2012.”