More than fifty young aboriginal football players from South Australia’s remote lands visited DMITRE’s Drill Core Library on July 3 2012 to learn about career options in the resources sector...

The visit was sponsored by Rio Tinto Iron Ore as part of a week-long stay that saw under 23-players compete in a SANFL curtain raiser match preceding the AFL Crows and Port Power game on July 7 2012, the Aboriginal Lands Challenge Cup in Adelaide.

Many had travelled more than 12 hours from Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yangkuntjara and Maralinga Tjarutja lands.  

To maximise value from a visit to Adelaide, organisers extended the program to include leadership development, life skills and employment workshops, including a visit to the SA Police Academy.

While at the Core library, players heard about the opportunity to forge a career in the exploration and mining relatively close to where they live.  

Speakers joining DMITRE’s team at the core library represented SACOME and Oz Minerals Resource Community Education Officer, John Mignone, outlined the qualities – knowledge, skills and attitudes, employers look for in selecting prospective employees.

The players had informal opportunities to engage with speakers over a lunch arranged by the core library.

Don Sweeney, Chairperson of the SANFL organising committee, indicated the visit to the core library was among the best visits during the program.

The visit was filmed by the SANFL film unit as part of a documentary.

Picture:  DMITRE’s RESOURCE Community Education Officer John Mignone was one of the Core Drill Library staff who discussed opportunities in the mining and exploration sectors. The players also visited the police academy.