Rio Tinto Weipa Apprenticeship Opportunities
- Gain on the job experience and knowledge in a recognised trade qualification
- Ongoing training and development in a lucrative industrial sector
- Our friendly teams look after each other because your safety and wellbeing are always our priority
About the role
Finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs.
We are looking for Apprentices to join Rio Tinto’s Operations in Weipa, where you will work across a variety of areas and gain exceptional knowledge and skills. The roles will commence in early 2026 with opportunities in the following areas:
- Auto Electrical Apprentice - to work in the LV workshop / HEQ
- Electrical Apprentice - to work in the Electrical team
- Mechanical (Fitter & Turner) Apprentices to work in the Main workshop
These roles are a great opportunity for hands on, self-starters who are looking to commence their career in heavy industry. You will be:
- Learning and developing trade knowledge and skills relating to plant maintenance, machinery, processes and systems deployed across the site.
- Working towards completing an apprenticeship in conjunction with a nationally recognised training plan through internal and external training (i.e. TAFE).
- Working as part of a team to ensure safe, continuous and environmentally responsible operations.
- Gaining experience from a range of qualified trade experts whilst being supported by onsite apprentice mentors.
What you’ll bring
To be successfully considered for this role, you will have:
- The desire and willingness to learn with a self-motivated ‘can do’ attitude.
- Strong work ethics with a commitment to health, safety and environmental work practices.
- Experience working as part of a team and strong verbal and written communication skills.
Applicants must meet the specific site eligibility criteria:
- Live locally in Weipa or surrounding regions
- Minimum education requirement is applicants have completed or are currently completing year 12.
What we offer
Be recognised for your contribution, your thinking and your hard work, and go home knowing you’ve helped the world progress.
- Full on the job training
- A work environment where safety is always the number one priority
- A fixed term position working directly for Rio Tinto
- A competitive base salary with annual incentive program
- Comprehensive medical benefits including subsidised private health insurance for employees and immediate family
- Attractive share ownership plan
- Extensive salary sacrifice & salary packaging options
- Career development & education assistance to further your technical or leadership ambitions
- Ongoing access to family-friendly health and medical wellbeing support
- Leave for all of life’s reasons (vacation/annual, paid parental, sick leave)
- Exclusive employee discounts (banking, accommodation, cars, retail and more)
Where you’ll be working
Our Weipa Operations includes two bauxite mines, processing facilities, ship loaders, an export wharf, two ports, power stations, a rail network and ferry terminals. Located on the Western Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland, each year the operation produces more than 35 million tonnes of bauxite.
Our operations are supported by a 1,900-strong workforce - including 30 per cent who are women and 32 per cent Indigenous employees. Activities include mine operations, maintenance, asset management, ports, cultural heritage management, and processing facility management.
The development of Amrun mine, which was completed in 2018, will extend the life of our Weipa bauxite operations by decades to come and significantly build on our 55-year history on the Western Cape.
Applications close on Friday 29th August 2025
About Rio Tinto
Rio Tinto is a leading global mining and materials company. We operate in 35 countries where we produce iron ore, copper, aluminium, critical minerals, and other materials needed for the global energy transition and for people, communities, and nations to thrive.
We have been mining for 150 years and operate with knowledge built up across generations and continents. Our purpose is finding better ways to provide the materials the world needs – striving for innovation and continuous improvement to produce materials with low emissions and to the right environmental, social and governance standards. But we can’t do it on our own, so we’re focused on creating partnerships to solve problems, create win-win situations and meet opportunities.
Every Voice Matters
At Rio Tinto, we particularly welcome and encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, the LGBTI+ community, mature workers, people with disabilities and people from different cultural backgrounds.
We are committed to an inclusive environment where people feel comfortable to be themselves. We want our people to feel that all voices are heard, all cultures respected and that a variety of perspectives are not only welcome – they are essential to our success. We treat each other fairly and with dignity regardless of race, gender, nationality, ethnic origin, religion, age, sexual orientation or anything else that makes us different.
