15 Dec 2021

 

We get it. Sometimes you just wanna close your laptop, throw away those textbooks, and just zone out over a few Overwatch matches. However, did you know that while you’re becoming a pro on the virtual battlefield, you’re also learning some of the most in-demand job skills in Australia?

The mining, resources, and energy sectors need gamers! I know that might sound too good to be true, but Scotty and the ninjas aren’t around to yell “you’ve been pranked by prank patrol”.

It’s true, there are employers that will pay you to put those gaming skills to work. The sector is going through a huge change at the moment, and remote operation technology is being used to make big jobs safer, and more dynamic for the professionals that do them.

Loads of these jobs are now using modified Playstation, Xbox, and other controllers just like them for actual work… which means there’s plenty of opportunity to prove your 'rents wrong about your favourite hobby.

Rock-breakers

Fancy operating machines that crush iron ore rocks from more than 1,000 kms away? If so, the mining industry needs rock-breakers like you to operate crushing stations.  

When big rocks arrive at a crushing station they get sent to the rock-breaker, and engineers use a gaming console that’s similar to the one your mum keeps telling you to get off of to control it from a remote operations centre. 

An ideal rock-breaker is someone that’s into gaming, but it’s open to anyone that’s looking for a rewarding career. Next time, tell your mum to cut you some slack because you’re basically practicing for your career now! 😉

Also, just imagine being able to call yourself a rock-breaker, and tell people you “crush it” for work . The alpha energy is out of control.

Drone Pilots

Drones are used to get a birds-eye view of mining, resource, and energy projects.

These drones allow operators to capture images from the air in minutes that could take days to record on the ground. Drone operators use thermal diagnostic technology to identify problems with equipment from the air, and to create interactive 3D models of landscapes that engineers use to plan construction projects.

What do you need to be a drone pilot? Well, apart from a certification (an engineering degree would also come in handy), you also need to have great hand-eye coordination.

Who has hand-eye coordination? Gamers. Being a drone pilot is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of responsibility. Drone pilots are responsible for getting important data to engineers as quickly as possible. But hey, what’s a video game without some high stakes? 😉

Robotic Process Automations

The mining, resource, and energy sectors use all kinds of bots. Engineers use bots for everything from account finance to equipment maintenance. They even use bots to test oxygen levels, and collect mineral samples.

So, if you like the idea of controlling a robot like you control a video game character, you should really check out robotic process automations!

Remote-Operated Trucks

The first mines in the world to move all their iron ore from a remote operations centre using fully remote-controlled trucks were in Western Australia's Pilbara. Operators were able to control the driverless trucks from 1,200 km away in Perth!

The popularity of these remotely operated trucks is growing quickly with employers. Why? Because they improve productivity, and they are safer. These remotely operated trucks were a bonus during the COVID-19 pandemic because companies didn't need to move people to site - they were operated from Perth.

Sure, you won’t be able to go as fast as you do when you’re on Rainbow Road in MarioKart, but at least no one will be shooting turtle shells at you while you’re driving.

Now, if this all sounds pretty stellar, you’re gonna wanna suss out the Year13 + Australian Minerals and Energy Skills Alliance ‘Resourcefulness’ Academy.

It’s got modules that cover the emerging industries, the new technologies they use, and all the career pathways that are available to you in the resource sector.

It’ll get you equipped with the knowledge you need to navigate these career pathways, and the skills you’ll need to kickstart your professional career!

Learn more about how your gaming knowledge can make you some serious bank here!