Available Presentations

Bendigo Mining’s Education Officer has been visiting schools in Central Victoria since 1998. Based at the mine site, the Officer is able to give students a first hand glimpse of the day to day workings of a local gold mine and offer insights into modern mining, local geology, environmental impacts and processing. Bendigo Mining classes and presentations can be selected from the standard sessions listed below or teachers may prefer to have a lesson tailored to suit their needs. All levels from kindergarten to university are catered for. Bendigo Mining can also attend careers nights and can assist with resources and information for special events.

Presentation 1: Rock Into Minerals

Why are rocks so important to us? Is a chair or a pipe made from part of a rock? In these presentations students discover how we use minerals in everyday life, see and touch common ores and learn about precious resources. Suitable for CSF 1-5. This is a great way to introduce any “Earth” theme.

Presentation 2: Gold

The focus of this presentation is the Science of Gold. Suitable for CSF 2-5. The amazing properties of gold are conveyed in a manner that is sure to be remembered. The presentation is an absolute must for those students who have studied gold from an historical viewpoint and are now looking for a more scientific perspective.

Presentation 3. Mind The Environment

A hands on introductory session that will create discussion, inform and entertain. Mind The Environment will focus student attention on how the mining industry deals with environmental issues and sustainable development. This presentation has a local focus which makes it a must for all students in Central Victoria.

Presentation 4: An Overview Of Bendigo Mining

This presentation covers mining in Bendigo from the environmental and safety perspectives to the technical and geological aspects. Why doesn’t the mine cave in? How do you get the water out? What happens when you blast and how do you find the gold? All these questions and more are answered and discussed in this presentation.

Presentation 5: The Issues

This presentation focuses on the important issues surrounding mining in an urban environment and how they are managed. Background materials, speakers and site visits are available. Suitable for secondary and university students.

Contact Us

Please contact us to arrange your free in-school presentation or to enquire about the possibility of site visits.

Site visits are possible to the Carshalton mine site at Kangaroo Flat, and the water disposal facility at Woodvale. A tour of these sites would allow students to focus their investigation of environmental management matters. Students have the chance to observe the various management strategies currently in place at each site, as well as the opportunity to discuss environmental issues as they relate to mine management.

For more information please contact:

Education Officer – Bendigo Mining Limited
Telephone: (03) 5444 9232 during office hours.
Email: info@bendigomining.com.au

Useful Links

Further resources on mining, environmental management, government bodies and the relevant legislation may be found at:

Victorian Minerals and Energy Council
Information on the Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) and Victorian Minerals and Energy Council (formally known as the Victorian Chamber of Mines). This site has a teacher section which includes an extensive resource list.
Minerals Council of Australia (www.minerals.org.au)
Contact the office for educational support. Includes detail on the Australian Mineral Industry Code for Environmental Management, as well as related environmental health issues.
Australian Mining (www.miningaustralia.com.au)
Includes various up to date reports on mining issues in Australia.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (www.dse.vic.gov.au)
Included in the ‘Planning’ section is material on ‘Environmental Assessment’ which has details on the Environmental Effects Statement process and current EES proposals.
Department of Primary Industries (www.dpi.vic.gov.au)
The ‘Minerals and Petroleum’ section of this website includes information on legislation, mining and the environment (including the relevant Acts, like the Mineral Resources (Sustainability Development) Act 1990).
www.minerals.org.au/enduringvalue
Gives explanations, summaries and implementation ideas for the Enduring Value framework of sustainability.