Damien Challis: WA Resource Apprentice of the Year


Brett 'Macca' McCormack: runner up in the
‘WA Apprentice of the Year’

Brett McCormack, also known as ‘Macca’, and Damien Challis have a lot in common. Apart from being 22 and having a love of football they are both highly motivated, extremely focused, exceptionally happy – and prize-winners.

At the recent State Training Awards, Macca was runner up in the ‘WA Apprentice of the Year’ while Damien won the ‘WA Resource Apprentice of the Year’ award which means he also won a $7,000 grant from the Chamber of Minerals and Energy.

Previously, Damien had won Pilbara Iron’s Apprentice of the Year award in 2002 and 2003. In 2005 he shared the award with Brett.

Both Macca and Damien are products of the Pilbara Iron Apprenticeship and Training Programme, one of the largest employers of apprentices and trainees in the Pilbara and a forcing ground of accomplishment and talent, its state-of-the-art training workshop overlooking the blue waters of the Dampier Archipelago. Here about a dozen happy, motivated apprentices are learning their trade — and the vital importance of safety.

“The Pilbara Iron Apprentice Programme,” says Ian Randall, Pilbara Iron’s Apprentice Training Superintendent, “has had 5½ years with no lost time through injury. That’s almost unheard of in apprentice training. We put a lot of emphasis on safety.”

A couple of the apprentices in the workshop are female. “Being a girl,” says Ian, “doesn’t mean you get any special breaks. But,” he smiles, “these youngsters are a good mob. They look out for each other.”

Damien, having completed Certificate lll Electrical/Electronics, now works in the Dampier Site Power Station. Recently he was flown to Perth, the capital of Western Australia, to be the ‘face’ of apprentices in the State Government Apprentice Advertising Campaign.

“The opportunities in Rio Tinto, once you’ve completed your apprenticeship are enormous,” Damien says. “I don’t understand how you couldn’t be happy working here.”

Macca, as a mechanical fitter works at Dampier Port as a fixed plant maintainer. “Every day there’s a different machine and a new challenge,” he says. “I just love it… love working outside, love working with my hands. I couldn’t be happier.”