Alcoa apprentices make the grade

Four years of hard work has paid off for 28 Alcoa apprentices who celebrated the end of their education and training at a special ceremony and awards night last week.

They are the latest cohort to complete apprenticeships at Alcoa’s mines and refineries, gaining trade qualifications in heavy diesel and mechanical fitting, fabrication and electrical instrumentation.

Nine of the 2024 graduates from across Alcoa’s refineries and mine sites received accolades for their efforts, recognised for their outstanding attention to safety performance and as apprentices of the year for each site.

At the time of the awards ceremony, six of the 28 graduates in the 2024 cohort had secured ongoing roles with Alcoa, while another 10 had opted to take on roles with other organisations.

Harvey resident Zoe Blechynden, who completed her apprenticeship in mechanical fitting at the Wagerup Alumina Refinery, was one of 12 women among the 28 graduating apprentices.

Ms Blechynden says that being able to complete her apprenticeship close to home was a significant advantage, although admits to a few unforeseen challenges along the way.

“COVID definitely threw a spanner in the works, particularly when it meant missing TAFE or work,” she said.

“But I want to say a special thanks to all the people who helped me along the way, showing me the dos and don’ts and everything in between.”

Alcoa has seen steady growth in the numbers of women moving into apprenticeships and traineeships in recent years.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, Alcoa Australia operations vice president Elsabe Muller comments on the training program.

“The skills you have learned to date are a wonderful foundation on which to build long, rewarding and very diverse careers in a sector that can take you just about anywhere,” she said.

“The resources sector is one of a limited number of industries that offers opportunities to work around the world, to diversify your skills across commodities, to gain experience across multiple vocational areas and to be involved in some of the most innovative and exciting opportunities available anywhere.”

This year’s graduates bring the overall number of trainees, apprentices and graduates trained by the aluminium producer to more than 2700 since Alcoa began operating in Australia in 1963.