09 June 2025
RME named a regional finalist in the 2025 Queensland Training Awards
In recognition of excellence in training and the transformative power of skills, the prestigious Queensland Government Awards have named RME as one of only three finalists in the Large Employer of the Year Category for the Darling Downs South West Region.
RME has been selected as a regional finalist in the Queensland Government’s 2025 Queensland Training Awards. RME is now one of only three finalists in the Large Employer of the Year Category for the Darling Downs South West Region.
The prestigious awards have been shining a spotlight on excellence in training and the transformative power of skills since 1962. The annual program recognises individuals and organisations that strive for and have achieved success, best practice and innovation in vocational education and training (VET). In 2025, 743 nominees have undergone a rigorous selection process—including written submissions and panel interviews—with a smaller group earning finalist status.
This significant achievement reflects the quality and effectiveness of RME’s integrated Learning and Development (L&D) program—which combines technical training, personalised coaching and mentoring, and hands-on experience—that equips our people at all levels of the organisation, from leaders to apprentices, with the skills and support needed to succeed.
The achievement also reflects the dedication and expertise of RME’s L&D and Technical Training cohort, the valuable benefits of our collaboration with TAFE Queensland and the Queensland Department of Trade, Employment and Training, and the commitment of every RME team member who embraces our culture of learning and growth.
Training is also a critical pillar of RME’s customer value proposition, equipping operators of the RME Mill Relining System, and its increasingly automated advanced technologies, with the knowledge and skills necessary to ensure fast, reliable, safe mill relining operations.
The 2025 Queensland Training Award regional winners will be announced at an event in August, before competing as state finalists.
RME’s Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Team member, Geoff Wadsworth congratulated all the finalists and thanked the Queensland Government for the recognition.
“We employ a comprehensive approach to L&D and technical training at RME. It is vital to our success as an innovator, manufacturer and safety leader in the global mineral processing industry.”
“It is also vital to fostering our employees’ growth, and creating a skilled, engaged workforce that reinforces our industry leadership and future readiness.
“A commitment to ongoing learning, continual improvement and growth are core tenets of our culture. They enable us to build our organisational capability, resilience and adaptability.”
Creating rewarding careers
The success of RME’s L&D initiatives and technical training programs is evident in the career growth of our employees and their contributions to our Customers’ success.
An example is Luke Munoz, whose journey at RME embodies the company’s commitment to fostering professional growth and rewarding careers. Luke joined RME in 2020 as an Assembly Technician after completing his Certificate II in Engineering during secondary school. Through dedication and support, he then progressed to become a Mechanical Fitter apprentice in 2024.
Through RME’s multifaceted approach to L&D and technical training—including hands-on experience in equipment builds, vocational training, and on-the-job learning—Luke has built a strong technical foundation and competencies.
These initiatives are also supported by RME’s Learning Management System, which provides employees with accessible, standardised, compliance-based training on a range of policies and procedures, ensuring consistency, efficiency, and ongoing professional development while supporting organisational goals.
Most recently, Luke advanced into a Customer Support Technician (CST) role, supported by four weeks of intensive training and peer mentoring provided by RME’s in-house Technical Training Team.
Luke’s progression—from factory technician to a global customer support role—demonstrates RME’s commitment to career growth through structured L&D.
"The hands-on learning, structured training, coaching, and mentoring gave me the confidence and technical skills to take on the CST role," said Luke.
"Knowing I would step into this role fully prepared and fully supported made a huge difference in my confidence and ability to perform at my best for our Customers."
Training to eliminate fatal risk in mill relining
While RME’s mechanisation of mill relining has significantly improved safety, it remains highest-risk maintenance task associated with mineral concentrators, making training fundamental to upholding safety standards. Ensuring RUSSELL Mill Relining Machine operators are highly skilled, demonstrate safe behaviours, are up-to-date with the latest safety technology, and follow best-practice methods are vital components of mine site safety.
RME’s Site Service and Optimisation Training Supervisor, Benjamin Waters, oversees this critical training. He manages RME’s TAFE-accredited operator training courses for Customers, as well as the training of RME’s own Customer Support Technicians (CSTs)—the specialists who support and service RME’s mill relining equipment in the field.
“Inadequate training and supervision have been shown to escalate risks in mining. The same is true for mill relining,” said Benjamin.
"Adequately trained personnel are not merely a functional box to tick, but are an investment in lives, livelihoods, and communities. Furthermore, preventing incidents that can shatter families aligns with RME’s core commitment to responsible mining.
“Delivering comprehensive operator training is more than just a safety measure; it is a pillar of our mission and business."
RME’s Certified Training equips reline crews with the expertise to operate mill relining equipment competently, efficiently, and—most importantly—safely. Developed in collaboration with industry and informed by user feedback, these courses are certified with TAFE Queensland as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and endorsed by the Australian Government's Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
Delivered by RME Certified Trainers in multiple languages, this accredited operator training has, to date, upskilled more than 2,200 mill relining professionals across 36 countries, demonstrating RME’s commitment to global safety standards and best practises.
“I take a learner-centred approach when training. Every learner brings their own experiences and strengths, and I see my role as not just a deliverer of information but as somebody who can unlock their potential,” added Benjamin. “Everybody has their own experiences and distinct learning style.”
This philosophy extends to the training of RME’s CSTs who provide technical support to Customers globally. These modules are delivered in multiple languages by 22 RME Training and Assessment-qualified personnel across RME’s regional offices in Australia and world-wide.
In 2024, RME's Customer Engagement Survey returned a strong Net Promoter Score (NPS) validating the quality of our CST training program and its effectiveness in equipping our people to deliver expert onsite support for RME equipment.
Excelling through a global learning framework
RME’s global L&D strategy drives excellence, innovation and adaptability through a universal learning framework built on four pillars—compliance, safety, technical skills and leadership growth. This foundation equips its workforce to meet evolving demands, continually strengthening RME’s leadership in safety and as an Original Equipment Manufacturer.
The company’s diverse learning and development initiatives support engineering, manufacturing, leadership and customer experience competencies, ensuring excellence across all disciplines. This is further enriched by regionally tailored training and mentorship, fostering a consistent, ongoing, and ‘always-on’ knowledge transfer environment.
RME’s highly specialised and technically complex product portfolio also necessitates targeted skills and innovative training approaches, such as bridging knowledge across mechanical, electrical, and hydraulic engineering domains. Looking ahead, L&D will collaborate with the engineering team to expand competency in software control and robotics, as the company accelerates the development and delivery of its world-first 'RME Advanced Technology Mill Relining System', which is setting new industry safety benchmarks.
Recent L&D achievements highlight RME’s commitment, with programs such as a Product Lifecycle Management Learning Path, an Engineering Competency Framework, and a progressive Standard Operating Procedure Program that staggers learning for more successful outcomes for new starters and team leaders alike. RME’s leadership programs have also empowered more than 60 of our leaders globally.
“We are especially proud of the work we have undertaken over the past year to deliver more personalised support, especially for our apprentice programs, tailoring them to accommodate diverse learning styles, personalities and skill levels of each apprentice. We have also strengthened our focus on coaching and mentoring. This has significantly improved our apprentices’ proficiency, skill retention and safety."
“By fostering positive relationships between apprentices, supervisors, team leaders and subject matter experts, we’ve not only improved apprentice integration and support, but also achieved more successful outcomes across the entire team."
“This has had a broader impact too. What began as an initiative to develop and train our apprentices, very quickly, proved transformative. As a result, we have also broadened our focus on coaching and mentoring, and embedded these practices across the entire organisation, reinforcing a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.”
Work with us
Join our global team of diverse and inclusive people engineering innovative solutions to improve the human condition through responsible access to metals at lower cost.
You can view RME’s current job opportunities on the careers page of our website.
To submit an expression of interest, please send your resume and cover letter to careers@rmeglobal.com.
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