Edmond Busch is a finalist in the 5th Annual Australian Mining Prospect Awards.
Busch is currently in his second year of an apprenticeship in certificate III electro technology data communications at Zinifex Century Mine, Lawn Hill.
He was first employed at Zinifex Century Mine as a store person in the Warehouse and held this position for nine years.
During this period he noticed that other Indigenous people were taking up apprenticeships and traineeships that enabled them to establish solid, well paid careers.
Busch decided that he wanted to develop himself as an employee and access better opportunities for higher paid work.
Busch applied, and was granted a place in the Zinifex Apprenticeship Program to become a mature aged apprentice and began his trade in Electro technology Data Communications.
Busch has demonstrated determination and persistence when faced with challenges in his course.
As it had been several years since he had completed any type of formal study, Busch found the first few TAFE modules of training difficult.
However, rather than give up, Busch enlisted the assistance of an on-site literacy and numeracy tutor to improve his skills so that he could manage the level of mathematics required in his training module.
Busch quickly became a valuable member of the on site communications team and is quick to point out their patience in teaching him new skills.
Busch has demonstrated that local Indigenous people can stand as equals alongside their non-Indigenous counterparts and can achieve any goals they might set for themselves.