BHP Apprenticeships and FutureFit Academy

BHP pathways at a glance

BHP’s page for people new to the industry lists these routes in Australia. The descriptions below are BHP’s, in our words.

BHP entry pathways in Australia
Pathway	What BHP says
FutureFit Academy	Accelerated learning at Perth and Mackay training facilities for new to industry roles, traineeships or apprenticeships, combined with hands-on site experience.
Site-based apprenticeships	Four years, full-time paid from day one, nationally recognised Certificate qualifications across a range of skill sets.
Site-based traineeships	Practical on-site training toward a nationally recognised Certificate qualification.
New to industry roles	Training on the job at a site. BHP has previously hired for roles such as underground nippers, truck operators, surface technicians and general service roles.
Graduate and student programs	For university students and recent graduates. Covered further down.

Source: BHP, new to industry pathways in Australia.

FutureFit Academy

BHP’s 29 August 2023 announcement says the FutureFit Academy launched in 2020 with a $300 million commitment, as part of creating 2,500 traineeships and apprenticeships nationally over five years. It offers paid training pathways for people without previous mining experience, and BHP said at that time that more than 1100 people had joined and more than 500 had graduated with qualifications and a guaranteed job with BHP. Those are 2023 figures, not current ones.

There are two academies, one in Western Australia and one in Mackay in Central Queensland, and entrants join BHP in permanent roles upon graduation. The same release says the new Perth academy is in Forrestfield, replacing the earlier Welshpool site, and that it delivers the apprentice program for BHP’s Western Australia Iron Ore and Nickel West operations. Training combines virtual reality technology with workshop learning. The 2020 launch release says the academy was developed with CQUniversity and North Metropolitan TAFE. Read the originals: 2023 announcement and 2020 launch release. Our Mackay town page covers the town.

Apprenticeships and traineeships

BHP says its site-based apprenticeships run four years, that you are a full-time paid employee from the first day, and that all are nationally recognised Certificate qualifications across a range of skill sets. The page shows apprentices working across Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. Traineeships are described as practical site-based training toward a nationally recognised Certificate qualification, where the apprenticeship is the traditional trade route.

BHP’s page also notes that intake for these roles is seasonal and suggests setting up a job alert. One 2023 quote on the FutureFit page describes academy apprenticeships as closer to two years, so the length may differ between the academy and site routes. Confirm the term, the qualification and the pay in the ad for the specific role. For how trade qualifications and pay are set across the industry, including state rules, read our mining apprenticeships guide.

Trades named by BHP

We found two BHP statements about trades. The 2023 release lists the Perth curriculum as high-risk work licensing, maintenance associate, and trade programs in auto electrical, fabrication, mechanical fitting and heavy diesel. The 2020 release said trade apprenticeships began with heavy diesel fitters and mechanical fitters, with more streams added to match business demand, plus a one-year Certificate II maintenance traineeship.

Diesel fitter: see the salary page for general pay information.
Boilermaker and fabrication trades: related pay information.
Mining electrician: related to auto electrical, though the trades are different.
High-risk work licences: see our licence guide.

The lists are from announcements, not a live course catalogue. Which trades are open this year, and where, depends on BHP’s current intake.

How to apply

Go to BHP’s careers portal and search for apprentice, trainee or FutureFit. BHP’s pathways page has saved searches for these.
Set up a job alert, because BHP says intake is seasonal.
Follow BHP’s five-step process: online application, assessment, interview or engagement centre, pre-employment checks, then offer. See the BHP recruitment process. A cover letter is not required. If you add one, BHP says to put it in the same document as your CV.
Read each ad for the qualification, location and requirements. The pathways pages we read do not state age or citizenship rules.

When we looked on 13 October 2026, the BHP portal search for apprentice or trainee showed one result, a component fitter role at the Mackay Repair Centre. That is an observation on that day, not a statement about whether BHP intake is open. Check the portal yourself.

When it launched the academy in 2020, BHP said sign-up went through Australian Apprenticeship Support Network providers. That may have changed, so use the process in the current ad. Apply only through BHP’s official site. MiningReady does not take applications.

If you are already working toward a site, your tickets and induction matter too. Tickets come from registered training providers and each site runs its own inductions. See our Mine Ready Plan and the BHP induction guide, which covers the contractor profile and learning system rather than employee recruitment.

Graduate and student programs

BHP’s Australian graduate page describes a 24-month graduate program for those graduating this year or within the last two years, with rotations through two to four teams and permanent employment. The internship runs 10 to 12 weeks over summer for students between their second and penultimate years. Fields listed are engineering, technology, science, health sciences and business. Roles can be FIFO or residential across Western Australia, the Bowen Basin in Queensland and South Australia, with offices in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. When we read the page, it said applications were not open and that they open at different times by location and discipline. See the BHP graduate and student programs page.

What we could not confirm

Apprentice or trainee pay: no figures on the BHP pages we read.
Intake dates: BHP says only that intake is seasonal.
Age, citizenship and education requirements: not stated on those pages.
Current FutureFit trades and sites: the lists come from 2020 and 2023 announcements.

Ask BHP or the provider named in the ad. If you want a broader view of options, see how to get into mining and FIFO jobs.

Frequently asked questions

Does BHP offer apprenticeships?

Yes. BHP says it offers site-based four-year apprenticeships, where you are a full-time paid employee from the first day and work toward a nationally recognised Certificate qualification. It also runs the FutureFit Academy in Perth and Mackay. BHP's page says intake for these roles is seasonal and suggests setting up a job alert to know when applications are open.

What is the BHP FutureFit Academy?

BHP describes it as accelerated learning at its Perth and Mackay training facilities for new to industry roles, traineeships or apprenticeships, combined with hands-on experience at a site. BHP's 2023 announcement says it launched in 2020 and that entrants join BHP in permanent roles upon graduation.

Which trades does BHP train apprentices in?

BHP's 2023 announcement lists the Perth academy curriculum as high-risk work licensing, maintenance associate, and trade programs in auto electrical, fabrication, mechanical fitting and heavy diesel. The 2020 launch release named heavy diesel fitters and mechanical fitters first. The mix can change with business demand, so check the current ad.

Is there an age or citizenship requirement?

The BHP pathways pages we read do not state one, so we do not either. Check the requirements in the actual job ad and with the application provider. Many roles also need a pre-employment medical and checks, which BHP lists as part of its recruitment process.

When do BHP apprenticeship applications open?

BHP says only that intake is seasonal. We found no published dates, so we do not give any. Set a job alert on the BHP careers site and check back. BHP's graduate page also notes that applications open at different times depending on location and discipline.

How much does a BHP apprentice earn?

We found no pay figures on the BHP pages, so we do not quote any. BHP says apprentices are full-time paid employees. Check the figure in the ad or offer. Our mining apprenticeships guide explains how apprentice pay is set in general.

Is a BHP traineeship different from an apprenticeship?

BHP describes traineeships as practical site-based training toward a nationally recognised Certificate qualification, as opposed to a traditional trade qualification. When it launched the academy in 2020, BHP described a one-year Certificate II maintenance traineeship. Details may have changed, so read the current ad.

Is MiningReady affiliated with BHP?

No. MiningReady is independent and BHP does not endorse this page. We link to BHP's own pages because they are the source for the program details above, which we read on 13 October 2026. Apply only through BHP's official careers site.

Sources

Last updated 13 October 2026. Facts on this page come from the sources below.

Everything about BHP programs comes from BHP’s own pages, read on 13 October 2026. The trade list is from 2020 and 2023 announcements and may have changed. We quote no pay, intake dates or eligibility rules because the BHP pages we read do not state them. MiningReady is independent and not affiliated with BHP. Always confirm details with BHP.

BHP Apprenticeships, Traineeships and FutureFit Academy