How Warren swapped hard hats for hard drives

Nicknamed 'The Copper City', the outback township of Mount Isa is built around one of the world’s largest mining complexes. It dominates both the landscape and the local job market, meaning career choices can be narrow.

So when Warren Minniecon left school in the late 2000s, the future seemed pre-determined. If he wanted stable work, he went into the mines. He began as a trade assistant, later working alongside mechanics to keep heavy machinery running deep underground.

While mining was a way of life, Warren’s real passion laid elsewhere. At home, he was the family’s go-to tech guy, always the one fixing computers, troubleshooting software, and solving tech issues.

“My supervisor knew technology had always been my passion,” said Warren. “So instead of keeping me in the workshop, he gave me the chance to start ordering parts on the computer. Then I began to do planning and scheduling work.”

This initial exposure to technology sparked a desire to learn more, and Warren found himself spending extra hours at home exploring new skills. “I was drawn deeper into technology, such as learning to write macros in Excel. I taught myself, often staying up very late, before going to work at 5.00am the next morning,” he said.

A ticket to a new career

Then during a Christmas visit to Cairns, Warren came across a newspaper advertisement for a First Nations Digital Careers Program delivered in collaboration with Goanna Education, Queensland Government and Microsoft.

The program offered a 12-week bootcamp, an 18-24 month paid traineeship and a Certificate III in IT or Certificate IV in IT.

The program's focus on Indigenous participants and its emphasis on hands-on experience resonated with Warren, who felt it could be his ticket to a new career.

“You can be employed and study at the same time, so it was ideal for me,” said Warren, who was placed with Energy Queensland, Australia’s largest, wholly government-owned electricity company.

The program provided Warren with the opportunity to work in a dynamic IT environment, applying his skills in real-world scenarios. He rotated through three different IT roles to gain a variety of hands-on experience.

He started at the service desk, handling entry-level support tasks like password resets and troubleshooting. From there, he moved to desktop support, where he tackled more complex technical challenges. Finally, he worked with ServiceNow, a platform that helps automate and streamline IT processes. With each rotation, Warren gained deeper insights into IT operations and built his confidence as a professional in the field.

And while he found balancing work and study a challenge, the program’s structure helped.

Dedicated class time on Fridays allowed Warren to focus on coursework, while supportive tutors and mentors, both in the workplace and through Goanna, encouraged him to ask questions, take initiative, and trust his abilities. He also took inspiration from other Indigenous participants in the program.

“By the end of the traineeship, I secured a full-time role at Energy Queensland in desktop support, something I once thought was out of reach. I now work remotely from Mount Isa, collaborate with team members across different locations, and continue to grow my skills. Next, I am eager to explore coding and deepen my technical expertise.”

From passion to profession

Melanie Redding, CEO of 18fifty3 Training, emphasised the importance of the program and its potential, “The Earn While You Learn (EWYL) pathway is truly transformative, offering students the unique opportunity to gain industry experience and qualification all whilst earning an income. This model not only addresses the financial barriers often faced by students, ensuring that training is accessible, but also provides them with a real-world learning environment; wrap around support and ensuring they are job-ready upon completion.

“Programs like the First Nations Digital Careers Program bridge the gap between passion and profession, enabling individuals to embark on fulfilling careers in tech, regardless of their background or location. The ability to earn whilst learning empowers participants to build a future for themselves and their communities.”

Reflecting on his journey, Warren says without the option of the earn-while-you-learn approach he would not have been able to transition across to IT. This model not only changed his career path but also provided a sustainable income during the transition, which was crucial for supporting his family.

“My story shows how important it is to have access to alternative pathways to jobs and why a positive attitude to lifelong learning is essential. By providing structured support, mentorship, and hands-on experience, such programs change lives and contribute to building a more inclusive and skilled workforce. 

“It also highlights the need for programs that address the specific challenges faced by individuals in regional areas, where traditional industries often dominate the job market. Even in a place where mining seemed like the only option, the course helped me find a way to turn my passion into a profession,” he added.

*The First Nations Digital Careers Program achieved an 85% Completion rate. National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)stated recently that the national average of completion rates is 47.3%. 50%+ of the cohort were women, there was 75% post program employment in the digital space and 15 host employer companies. This success demonstrates the program's effectiveness in providing an alternative pathway to employment and addressing skill shortages in the IT sector.

*Goanna Education (RTO code: 45707) was acquired by 18fifty3 Group, an Indigenous and veteran-owned company, in November 2024 and renamed 18fifty3 Training.

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