Report Writing for Mining
Intake commences 16 March 2026
20 PD hours
100% online
✅Apply industry-relevant tools and techniques immediately
✅Communicate technical insight with clarity and confidence
AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
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World-class
faculty -
Made by industry,
for industry -
Flexible
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Earn digital
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Gain PD
hours -
Peer-to-peer
learning
 Duration |
 Delivery |
 Course Type |
 2026 intakes |
 PD Hours |
 Language |
20 hours
|
100% online |
Associate Certificate |
16 March 2026
|
Up to 20 |
English |
Course Overview
Turn technical insights into clear, credible, and actionable reports.
This practical, mining-focused course helps professionals at all levels improve their technical writing skills to produce high-quality reports that meet industry standards and support sound decision-making.
Over 5 weeks, you’ll learn how to structure, write, and refine mining reports that are accurate, concise, and fit for purpose – through expert-led modules, examples, and real-world applications.
- No advanced writing skills required
- Flexible online delivery
- Digital certificate on completion
Who should enrol?
This course is ideal for mining professionals looking to improve their technical writing skills, including:
- Mining and exploration geologists
- Engineers and technical professionals
- Environmental and social practitioners
- Graduate and early-career professionals
- Project managers and consultants
- Anyone responsible for contributing to or reviewing mining reports
What You'll Learn
Master the foundations of clear, effective technical reporting:
- Best-practice report structures for mining contexts
- Clarity and conciseness in technical communication
- Strategies for tailoring content to different audiences
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
- Practical tips for editing and proofreading
Career Outcomes
- Enhance your professional credibility through better communication
- Increase promotability with improved writing and communication skills
- Confidently contribute to technical reports, proposals, and submissions
Course Modules
Module 1
Explore report writing in the mining sector
In the first module, you will learn:
- The importance of effective report-writing to your work and career
- Key expectations of report writing in the mining sector
- Common report types in the mining industry
This includes:
- Benefits of good report-writing for companies, consultancies and individuals
- Different report types and their structure
- Report and communication structures and when to use each
- Specialist mining reports, such as feasibility studies and public reports, their purpose, goals, and prescribed content
- For each report type, how to structure, sequence information and ensure technical completeness
Module 2
Meet your audience’s needs
In the second module, you will learn how to meet your audience’s needs by:
- Choosing the level of detail that is appropriate for your intended audience
- Structuring your argument logically at every level of the document
- Ordering information to ensure it is effectively communicated
This includes:
- The importance of selecting the correct level of detail, structure and order of information
- Understanding the essential components of a technical report and their order
- Establishing the purpose, objectives, and key messages
- Creating an outline
- Checking and addressing logic gaps
- Ensuring the purpose and objectives are met
- Ordering information in topics, paragraphs, and sentences
Module 3
Make your report effective and impactful
In the third module, you will learn how to clearly communicate your argument by selecting and using textual and visual elements.
This includes:
- Importance of using textual and visual elements to communicate clearly
- Choosing the most effective language (formal vs informal, jargon, idioms, accessibility, avoiding bias)
- Eliminating basic errors that distract the reader
- Using hyphens and capitalisation to make your meaning clear
- Accepted conventions for formatting reports, such as numbers, measurements, citations and references.
- Using visual elements to illustrate your ideas, including charts, tables, and other graphical elements
- Why punctuation and grammar are important
- How to address common causes of ambiguity and misreading
- Eliminating wordiness
Module 4
Put it into practice
In the final module, you will learn how to plan and apply an effective writing and editing process.
This includes:
- The value of developing and using an effective writing process
- The overall process, from planning, through writing, to review and quality control
- The writing processm, use of writing tools, and effective use of AI
- The editing process and tools, peer review, QA, and proofreading
- How to bring these together into a final, professional document
- Avoiding common traps and errors
- Using your report-writing skills to advance your career
Course Pricing
- Exclusive discounts
- Access to digital library
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
- Networking opportunities
- Professional development
- Industry insights
Enrolments now open
Intake commences 16 March 2026
AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
Learning Objectives
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Explore the key features and expectations of report writing in the mining sector.
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Tailor reports to meet the unique needs of different audiences.
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Plan and structure reports effectively, considering purpose, audience, and content.
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Communicate information clearly and persuasively using appropriate language and visual aids.
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Leverage project management techniques for efficient report production.
- Utilise a variety of writing tools to enhance report quality and efficiency.
Course Structure
The five-week online course will take learners approximately 20 hours to complete.
Course content includes:
- Live virtual classrooms (with replay available)
- Self-paced modules
- Learning activities such as short quiz questions
- Online access to the Doxical Manual of Style (DMOS)*
* Participants of the course are granted free access to the Doxical Manual of Style (DMOS) for 12 months. DMOS is an easy-to-search knowledge base that covers structuring, writing, and formatting reports, emails, proposals, and other technical communications.Participants may choose to continue via a paid subscription after the free trial period ends.
Course Schedule
| Course dates |
Virtual classrooms |
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Course commences: 16 March 2026 Course closes: 19 April 2026 |
Module 1: No virtual classroom Module 2: Tuesday 24 March, 11.30–12.30 AEDT Module 3: Thursday 2 April, 11.30–12.30 AEDT Module 4: Thursday 9 April, 11.30–12.30 AEST |
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Note: The virtual classrooms listed above are the only scheduled activities for this course but they are not the only activities. All other course work (eg readings, activities, knowledge checks, etc) can be completed at your own pace on the learning platform within the course duration. All activities must be completed before the course close date. The virtual classrooms will be recorded and made available within 24 hours for those participants unable to attend the scheduled sessions. |
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Course Facilitators
All programs have been developed in consultation with leading organisations in the mining industry, subject matter experts and community leaders to ensure you gain the latest knowledge and develop relevant skills to accelerate your career.
Tim McAuley
Tim specialises in the production of technical reports for large mining studies. "My job as report editor," Tim says, "is to take the contributions of 20 or more authors, each with their own individual writing style, and create a consistently professional final product that clearly conveys the key messages, while reading as if it were written by a single, accomplished author."
Prior to becoming a professional writer, Tim worked as a mining engineer on ore reserves, geotechnical, mine design, mine production, and long-term planning studies for both open-pit and underground mines in Australia, South Africa, North America, and South America producing precious metals, diamonds, copper, lead-zinc, bauxite, coal, and limestone.
Download the course brochure
Report Writing for Mining
Digital credentials
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Enrolments now open
Intake commences 16 March 2026
AusIMM courses rated 4.9/5 (4.5k+ reviews)
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Frequently asked questions
What are the technical requirements to participate in the course? i.e. do I need a webcam, microphone, etc?
The course will be run entirely online via a cloud-based Learning Management System (LMS) which can be accessed via computer, tablet or phone. Participants will simply need to have a working Internet connection and a computer, tablet or phone with sound to access the course.
Please note that the virtual classroom recordings are hosted on Vimeo. Participants in regions where Vimeo is blocked may need to use a VPN to access these materials.
How long will the course take?
The full course is estimated to take about 20 hours of learning. Participants will have access to the course platform for five weeks to complete all modules.
How often will the courses be run?
We aim to run two intakes each year.
Do I have to attend the live sessions?
No, all virtual classrooms are recorded and made available on the learning platform for participants who are unable to attend the live session.
Will the course be delivered in other languages?
At the moment, no, but we will be looking at delivering the course in other languages in the near future.
How many PD hours do I receive for undertaking the course?
Participants can earn professional development (PD) hours for undertaking the course. One contact hour of technical content is equivalent to one PD hour.
How much time does the Report Writing for Mining course take each week?
The Report Writing for Mining Associate Certificate requires approximately 20 hours of total study over five weeks. Delivered fully online, the course combines self‑paced learning with live virtual sessions, allowing participants to spread their weekly study time flexibly around work and personal commitments.
Are there assessments, assignments, or a final exam?
This online mining report writing course does not include a traditional final exam. Instead, participants complete practical learning activities, including reflective tasks, peer discussion activities, and short knowledge checks designed to reinforce real‑world application of report writing skills.
Is this course suitable if English is an additional language or I’m not a strong writer?
Yes. No advanced writing skills are required. The course is designed for mining professionals of all backgrounds and focuses on practical techniques to improve clarity, structure, and fit‑for‑purpose reporting, rather than academic or literary writing.
What types of mining reports does the course cover (e.g. JORC, VALMIN, ASX)?
The course covers common and specialist mining report types, including reports used for studies, approvals, and stakeholder communication. This includes references to ASX announcements and specialist reporting contexts such as JORC and VALMIN, helping participants understand expectations across the mining sector.
Does the course teach charts, tables, and visuals for technical mining reports?
Yes. Participants learn how to use charts, tables, and other visual elements to communicate technical information clearly and effectively. The course also covers accepted conventions for numbers, measurements, citations, and references used in professional mining reports.
Does the course cover editing, proofreading, and common report writing mistakes?
Yes. The course includes practical guidance on editing and proofreading, with a focus on avoiding common report writing issues such as ambiguity, misinterpretation, and unnecessary wordiness key risks in technical mining documentation.
Will I learn how to tailor mining reports for different audiences?
Yes. A core focus of the course is learning how to tailor reports for different audiences, including executives, regulators, investors, and technical teams. Participants learn how to select appropriate levels of detail and structure content to meet specific audience needs.
Do participants get access to any writing resources or style guides?
Yes. Participants receive free online access to the Doxical Manual of Style (DMOS) for 12 months as part of the course. After the complimentary access period, participants may choose to continue with a paid subscription if desired.
How is this course different from a generic technical writing course?
Unlike generic technical writing programs, this course is designed specifically for the mining industry. It focuses on mining‑specific report types, regulatory and stakeholder expectations, and real‑world reporting contexts such as mining studies and ASX announcements, ensuring immediate workplace relevance.
What are the career benefits of completing a report writing course for mining?
Completing this course helps mining professionals strengthen their professional credibility, improve communication of technical insights, and increase promotability. Participants gain the confidence to contribute effectively to technical reports, proposals, and submissions that support informed decision‑making and stakeholder confidence.
Is this course useful for organisations and teams, not just individuals?
Yes. Organisations benefit from more consistent, high‑quality reporting, reduced rework, clearer communication, and improved stakeholder confidence. The course is suitable for team enrolments, with group discounts available for three or more participants from the same organisation.