Effective Repairs. Safe Welders. Simple to Manage. 

Mining Welder Competency

The Mining Welder Competency program provides the resources sector with a means to ensure that Welders have the necessary knowledge and proficiency to safely carry out effective weld repairs of cracking in mining and earthmoving equipment.  

The Mining Welder Competency is an industry based micro-credential for training, upskilling and assessing welders for heavy maintenance welding in the resources sector. It is designed to ensure welders the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out effective weld repairs of cracking, and benchmark their competency at one of 3 levels. This allows for differing levels of skill and experience, as well as providing a balanced work force in terms of competence and capability. 

The MWC Program takes approximately 2 days to complete, with a day for training and a full day for practical assessment. 

It is delivered by local welding experts that are MWC Accredited Providers. MWC ensures the consistency and integrity of MWC Program delivery, with all assessment data processed through the MWC Portal. All certificates and reports are issued directly by MWC, with records freely available via the MWC Portal. 

How to use the MWC for managing site access requirements

Simply specify the Mining Welder Competency in addition to a trade certificate as a requirement for all welders (boilermakers). 

The training and assessment outcomes are superior to most RII course/unit in terms of the quality, integrity and consistency. 

Although it is a microcredential, the MWC meets all VET criteria for management, principles of assessment and rules of evidence. This means that it also meets  the requirements of Recognised Standard 11 in QLD. 

MWC is recognised by Glencore and is an alternate pathway for GCAA Welder Competency

By completing the MWC, welders can be issued with the equivalent GCAA Welder Competency Level. Click below to find out more

Benefits for Mine Sites

Find out more about the benefits

Benefits for Contractors and OEM's

Find out more about the benefits

The MWC Competency Program

Competent - having appropriate experience, knowledge, proficiency and skills

The Mining Welder Competency consists of a combination of theory training to increase a welder's knowledge, and practical assessment whereby the welder must demonstrate their proficiency and safety in using the welding processes, and apply their knowledge and repair welding skills via an assessment coupon. 

Click on the headings below to find out more about the elements of the competency assessment process

Knowledge Click to learn more

Welders need to have understanding of the fundamental principles necessary to apply when carrying out weld repairs

In addition to these fundamental principles, Welder also need to know what methodologies to employ for various Repair Scenarios

Lastly, Welders also need to appreciate the importance of weld quality, and demonstrate ability to self-inspect and objectively assess their welds in order to meet basic Quality Assurance requirements.

Proficiency and Safety Click to learn more

Skills Click to learn more

For effective repairs of cracking, a Welder must have the skill to produce quality welds in the types of joints that are commonly encountered in repair situations. Furthermore, Welders must be able to do welds that have good fatigue properties. 

Perhaps most importantly, a Welder must be able to gouge out a crack and do the right preparation to achieve an effective weld repair. 

Furthermore, Welders also need to know how to "dial in" the correct welding parameters necessary to produce a good weld without needing to refer to a welding procedure or requiring close supervision

How does it work?

3 Competency Levels to cater for varying ability and experience

Fixed Structures

Level 1 is for general light fabrication and maintenance of fixed structures

Heavy Equipment Repairs

Level 2 can do most repairs, but they cannot do single sided open root welds

Heavy Equipment Repairs

Level 3can do open root single sided welds as well as everything that a Level 2 can do

Easy to use for repair management Click to learn more

Minimal welding expertise required to supervise a welding crew.  

Simple basis for determining which welder to assign to a repair 

Each Welder has a unique Welder ID, that also indicates their competency level

The Mining Welder Competency Portal provides a simple way to quickly check a Welder's Competency and skills. 

Easy to administrate and maintain Click to learn more

There is a clearly defined process for gaining the Mining Welder Competency, which does not affect site or contractor operations

Minimal administration time and costs

Select your business type to learn how to get started

Asset managers on mine sites or quarries. 

Welding may be provided by FTE's or contractors

Supplying maintenance welding services to sites/operators


Original Equipment Manufacturers and dealership agencies. 

Equipment maintenance and refurbishment

Major repairs and overhauls of mining and heavy earth moving equipment

Supply  and refurbishment of components and equipment

Supplying boilermaker labour to industry