A Production Operator for Downers at BMA Blackwater Mine.

Q: Where are you based?

A:  I currently live in Gympie but travel to Blackwater for work.

Q: Can you explain what your role entails?

A: I am a Truck Operator.

Q: What sparked your interest to work in the resources sector?

A: I was always interested in the industry due to growing up in Moranbah a mining town in Central QLD and my dad working in the local mine.

Q: Was there someone/something that inspired you to pursue your current career?

A: After being in the industry approx 7 years now and starting as a cleaner on-site I always saw other career opportunities and went for them from cleaner to trainee operator to pumpie to IROC mine controller and currently back to site as an operator. Therefore I would say the opportunities are endless in the resource industry.

Q: Can you explain the pathway you took to your current job?

A: I was successful in gaining an Indigenous Traineeship at BMA Blackwater, this is where my mining operator career started.

Q: What challenges do you face in your job?

A: All jobs have different challenges one of mine personally is making time for work and family as I have two children so work/home life balance is an everyday challenge which I have now mastered.

Q: What do you enjoy about your job?

A: I enjoy being on site hence the reason I am going back to being an operator at Blackwater mine and have just resigned from being a Mine Controller for BHP in Brisbane.

Q: What has been your experience being a female employed in the resources sector?

A: I have always had good experiences being female in our industry, the culture has definitely changed and is still changing in leaps and bounds and I am very proud to be an indigenous woman helping to make those changes happen.

Q: If there was one key message that you would leave with students considering a career in the resources sector, what would it be?

A: Don’t let the unknown scare you, go for it and give it 110% and be proud of yourself!!!!