Rio Tinto has pledged nearly A$60 million to accelerate the development of automation skills for mining workers in Western Australia. As the mining industry expands its adoption of advanced technologies, automation qualifications are considered "key skills" by Rio Tinto. The mining giant will pledge to provide $2 million to fund the state's automation course, which was developed with help last year and is part of the first batch of nationally recognized automation qualifications.

Western Australia’s Minister of Education and Training, Sue Ellery, said that the state’s automation courses originated from the state government. Southern Metropolitan TAFE and Rio Tinto were a resource industry cooperation last year. Ellery said: "These courses are the first courses offered in Australia. I am very happy to see Rio Tinto partnering with BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance, Queensland TAFE and CQ University to plan to expand to Queensland." “WA’s cutting-edge automation courses have captured the imagination of the industry and are a good example of the industry’s cooperation with TAFE to ensure that employees master the skills for new jobs created through technological innovation.”

The mining company plans to recruit 150 employees in 2021, including graduates, apprentices, interns and holiday students from Western Australia. Rio Tinto's vice president of human resources-iron ore Scott Brown (Richard Tinto) said the company hopes that these changes will bring positive changes to many Australians. He said: "Australian industry is a global leader in innovation, thanks to the ingenuity, skills, diversity and capabilities of its workforce."

"When Rio Tinto and the Western Australian Government collaborated with TAFE in Southern Metropolis to develop automation qualifications, we had ambitions and hoped that they would be recognized throughout Australia and not only used to enhance the capabilities of our existing employees, but their jobs are increasing. The more technically supported environment, the wider the Australian workforce across sectors." By 2021, Rio Tinto will provide more than US$10 million in further investment in Western Australia’s external training program. Rio Tinto recently hired 30 people as part of the second round of its 2020 apprentice intake, which included five who lost their apprenticeships due to COVID-19. More than of the 30 apprentices hired are Indigenous, and one-third are female.