2024 Bengalla Apprentice Intake

Applications for the 2024 Bengalla Apprentice Intake open Monday 5 June 2023 and close on Monday 3 July 2023.

Applicants for the Bengalla Mining Company apprenticeships must currently reside in the Muswellbrook, Scone and Denman LGAs.

Overall, we are looking for someone who has:

• A focus on safety
• Great communication skills
• A thirst for learning and a willingness to adapt to an ever-changing environment

We value diversity and encourage people from all walks of life to apply including current students, school leavers, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and mature age applicants. 

You will need a cover letter and a resume highlighting your interests in the chosen trade and the relevant skills you will bring to your apprenticeship.

A cover letter is your opportunity to tell us:

• A little bit about you
• Why you want the apprenticeship
• What makes you right for this role

Tell us about what interests you, what you do in the local community and why it will make you a great Bengalla apprentice. Read some other tips about writing a stand-out cover letter.

Think of your resume as a catalogue of your skills and experience. We’d like to see your school and subjects listed along with your grades and any pre-vocational certificates you have completed, plus any full-time or part-time work.

Make sure you include any work experience or volunteer work where you may have had the opportunity to be part of a team. And don’t forget to list any clubs or groups you are actively involved in. Read more tips for resume writing.

It’s a good idea to have your referees in mind and start talking to them about providing a reference if you are successful in moving forward with your application.

A great referee is someone who knows your skills and strengths, has managed or mentored you, and can tell us about what will make you a great apprentice. They might be a teacher at school, a manager at work, or a coach of a sports team you play for.

When applications open on Monday 5 June 2023, you can apply here on the MIGAS website by selecting the apprenticeship role that best suits you.

To do this, you will need to register with MIGAS and complete a short online application that includes uploading your resume and cover letter.

Yes, you can.

To be considered for multiple roles you must apply for each position separately. Each trade is very different and requires different strengths and interests.

We suggest you develop a tailored cover letter for each role you are applying for, highlighting your strengths in the different apprenticeships offered.

Apprentices receive:

• Above Award wages
• Your own fully equipped Sidchrome toolbox in your first year (value $7,000)
• Up to $10,000 in bonus incentives throughout the four years of the apprenticeship
• 3-month mining skills workshop at Muswellbrook TAFE (value $16,000)
• Opportunity for additional income through overtime shifts
• Workcover tickets including Dogman, Forklift and Elevated Work Platform Licences
• Opportunity for community engagement/involvement for events and activities sponsored by Bengalla
• TAFE fees and associated costs covered by Bengalla/MIGAS
• Offsite training aligned to your apprenticeship program
• Extensive experience on CAT, Hitachi, Komatsu Heavy Mining Equipment and P&H Dragline
• Experience offered in mine maintenance, mining and CHPP departments
• Opportunity to undertake additional TAFE courses within relevant trades
• Yearly project work for nearby charity/schools or other beneficiaries
• Various rosters based on department and business needs

You will have all of your uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) supplied, as well as being paid to attend TAFE to complete your off-the-job training.

MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees is a Group Training Organisation that works with businesses like Bengalla Mining Company to match candidates with trade apprenticeships and traineeships.

If you successfully obtain a Bengalla Apprenticeship, you will be employed by MIGAS and placed with Bengalla Mining Company as your host organisation.

MIGAS will look after your weekly pay, provide mentoring and support by a local Field Officer, and be with you every step of the way during your apprenticeship.

A place in the Bengalla Apprenticeship Program is highly competitive and the selection process takes a number of weeks. You must participate in each stage to be considered for an apprenticeship or position.

The full selection process will involve:

Step 1: Applications Open | June 2023

Prepare your resume and cover letter and apply online.

Step 2: Screening | June 2023

The MIGAS Recruitment Team conducts phone screening, and candidates complete online aptitude testing.

Step 3: Video Submission | July 2023

Candidates submit a short video highlighting their suitability for the role.

Step 4: Group Assessment & Panel Interviews | Early August 2023

Shortlisted candidates are invited to a full-day group assessment centre and participate in face-to-face interviews with MIGAS and Bengalla.

Step 5: Pre-Employment Medical | August 2023

Selected candidates are required to complete a medical assessment before final offers are made. Reference checking is carried out by MIGAS.

An assessment centre is conducted in a group setting where you and other applicants in the running for the apprenticeship intake will be assessed on your practical ability, teamwork, communication skills, and ability to problem solve and adapt to different situations. You will be involved in a number of individual, group and practical activities that will be relevant to the position for which you are applying.

Our assessment centres generally start with an introduction and overview of the day followed by an ice breaker to help everyone feel relaxed. Then we move on to the individual and group exercises where you will be assessed by our team throughout the day. Once the group activities have concluded you will then prepare for your one-on-one interview with Bengalla, this is your opportunity to sell yourself.

You can prepare by simply being yourself and, on the day, ensure you’re interacting with the group and contributing to the activities.

Candidates will be advised if they have progressed through each stage of the selection process. We encourage you to keep an eye on your phone and emails during the course of the selection process.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by either phone or email to confirm their progression to the next stage of the process.

If you are successful, you will receive a phone call with a verbal offer of employment. This will be followed up by a copy of your employment contract and all other documents regarding your employment with MIGAS Apprentices & Trainees. Once you have verbally accepted the role, you will then be booked into the next available pre-employment medical.

From here you will have direct communication with your appointed MIGAS Field Officer regarding your MIGAS and Bengalla inductions and your commencement with Bengalla. 

Even if you are unsuccessful for the role, you will still receive a phone call from MIGAS providing you feedback from your Bengalla interview and how you proceeded on the day.

We encourage everyone who is unsuccessful to apply again in the following year.

You will commence onsite in November 2023, and in February 2024 start the 6 months TAFE Mining Skills Program where you will learn a number of varied trade and life skills before returning to site for the remainder of your apprenticeship to become an outstanding tradesperson.