Every cloud has a silver lining. [Posted 21 Sep 2014, 123 views, 4 likes, 2 comments]

Returning geologists & miners provide an opportunity for the Indonesian professional associations to source some new industry leaders.

The downturn in the minerals & coal industry, plus Indonesian government policy has impacted heavily on the unemployment of geologists and miners in Indonesia and elsewhere.

The AusIMM media release [ www.ausimm.com/survey2014 ] – 11 Sep 2014 called upon the Australian Government to remove geologists, miners and related professions from the Australian 457 visa. This is in response to the high unemployment amongst geoscientists in Australia. The survey shows about 15.5% of AusIMM members live outside Australia / New Zealand, and the outlook of these AusIMM members was not shown separately.

In the late 1980’s and 90”s the Indonesian gold exploration boom was manned largely by Australian & Philippines geologists, due to the scarcity of experienced Indonesian geologists. At this period the international exploration companies were lead by world class geologists that introduced not only state of the art geological skills, but also a strong emphases on professional ethics, safety etc. Some of these geologists are now leaders in their Indonesian geology fields and are active in the various professional associations, IAGI, PERHAPI, IMA, EMD etc. They are actively contributing to government policy, professional ethics, and reporting codes etc, whereupon the Geology profession is achieving world professional parity. This professionalism underlies the acceptance of Indonesian geologists into other countries, including Australia, Mongolia and the Middle East etc, and thus providing wider opportunities for Indonesian geologists.

With the world wide downturn of the exploration and mining industry, we are seeing young Indonesian geologists returning home, and the proposal of the AusIMM to cease Australian 457 temporary work visa’s will increase this trend of returning geologists. Many of these returning geologists have been working alongside leading international geologists, and shall bring with them a wealth of international experience, plus a heightened awareness of professionalism etc. This is an opportunity for the Indonesian geological associations to attract the next generation of industry leaders from top geologists with international and local experience.

Despite this apparent opportunity for Indonesian professionalism to grow, I would invite all AusIMM members in Indonesia (estimated to be 250) to write to the AusIMM expressing your concern, and perhaps show support for keeping the 457 visa open for international geologists & miners.