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Overview...................................................................................................................................................................... 47
Basic qualifications ..................................................................................................................... 47
Useful links and contacts ....................................................................................................................................... 48
Mining training course providers ......................................................................................... 48
How/Where to Find Job Vacancies .................................................................................................... 49
Using jobs boards ..................................................................................................................................................... 50
Using social media ................................................................................................................................................... 50
LinkedIn .......................................................................................................................................... 50
Facebook ......................................................................................................................................... 51
Twitter ............................................................................................................................................. 52
How social media can hinder your search ......................................................................... 52
Useful links and contacts ....................................................................................................................................... 53
Australian Jobs boards .............................................................................................................. 53
Social media ................................................................................................................................... 54
International & Overseas Applicants................................................................................................ 55
What do you know about Australia?................................................................................................................. 55
Australia a vast country ......................................................................................................... 55
The Australian culture ............................................................................................................... 55
Housing in Australia ................................................................................................................... 56
Making the move to Australia ............................................................................................................................. 56
Family circumstances ................................................................................................................ 56
Obtaining your visa ..................................................................................................................... 57
Managing key dates .................................................................................................................... 57
The costs of relocation............................................................................................................... 57
Cultural issues............................................................................................................................... 58
Practical issues ............................................................................................................................. 58
Are there support services?..................................................................................................... 59
Service providers ..................................................................................................................................................... 59
Useful links and contacts ....................................................................................................................................... 59
Removal, relocation & storage services .............................................................................. 59
Visas for Overseas Applicants ............................................................................................................. 61
Types of Visa .............................................................................................................................................................. 61
Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186) ......................................... 61
Regional Skilled Migration Scheme (RSMS) Visa (Subclass 187) ............................. 62
WESTjobs | The Definitive Guide to Working in Australias Mining Industry
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The high level of competition for mining jobs in Australia, even for entry-level jobs like
cleaners, catering staff and labourers, dictates that you must be thoroughly prepared if you
want to succeed. You should inform yourself of the risks inherent in the industry, you should
understand the recruitment processes and you should be prepared to take advantage of any
opportunity that arises from your efforts to find your ideal job in mining.
Perhaps the most valuable advice we can give you is to avoid the 7 most common mistakes
that people make when attempting to get a job in mining in Australia. These have been
compiled by experts - people with decades of experience in mining recruitment in Australia people who have been at the coal face when reviewing resumes, interviewing applicants and
making recruitment decisions and recommendations to employers.
Importantly, you must avoid these 7 most common mistakes. Any one of them could
stop you getting an interview, let alone a job!
The 7 most common mistakes
These mistakes are often made by people
applying for mining jobs in Australia.
Avoiding them at all costs is a sure way to
get your application noticed and moved to
the top of the pile of the thousands and
thousands of applications received every
week!
They will also dispel some of the common
perceptions about mining jobs right from
the start, so you are fully aware of what is
fact and what is fiction when it comes to
working in the competitive world of
Australian mining. Much of what you have
already heard may not be true and, although
we dont mean to put you off before you
start your search, you do need to be aware
of the facts.
So, read the following carefully and take our advice seriously. Dont let your opportunities or
your career suffer from these 7 very common mistakes
1.
2.
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what type of work you would be prepared to undertake, what pre-existing skills or
experience you have that might be helpful.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Thinking that employers are just waiting to pay you lots of money.
Mining is a competitive and highly-efficient industry, run under very strict safety and
productivity guidelines. So although you may have heard stories about huge salaries for
menial jobs, they are largely myths. However, there is big money to be made if you
approach things in the right way. This includes being prepared to start at the bottom, and
then work your way up.
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for everyone and conditions can be very tough. A laid back, team player attitude and
willingness to give and take, is going to be very important.
2. Do your homework and start networking.
Really inform yourself about the industry. Find out everything you can. Start networking
by contacting relevant recruitment companies and by letting family and friends know you
are looking for mining work, because you never know who they know or to whom theyve
been talking. You may need to cultivate your network for some time but its important to
keep in mind this is one industry where its a lot about who you know, not always what
you know.
3. Have a well-presented mining-focused resume.
Make sure your resume is clear and concise (see our tips on preparing your resume) and
tuned to the role you are applying for, and to the employers needs. Include relevant
written references from previous employers, and try to include both work experience and
personal/character references in your resume.
4. Be willing to compromise on a job level and on shift work.
Be prepared to take a lower level or lower paid job than you were expecting. It wont take
long to work your way up to the job you want if youre diligent and patient. Also be willing
to compromise on the shift you work as well. Some require you to rotate, some require
you to work nights, and some will be day shifts; it will depend on the company and their
labour requirements. Once you have your foot in the door you should be able to negotiate
your way up the ladder.
5. Be realistic about earnings everything comes at a price!
Try not to be too blinded by the promise of huge salaries, and do expect to have to prove
yourself in a dirty, unpleasant, lower-paid job before you move up and start earning really
good money. A salary might be high but if the work doesnt suit you, you wont last long. It
could even cost you money. If salaries are high, its because the work is hard or the hours
are long.
6. Dont jump in and sign up for too many mining qualifications or tickets.
You could waste a lot of money on courses
and qualifications you may never use. Talk to
people already working in mining to find out
what youll need. Also think about waiting for
a job offer to come along, and then discuss
with your new employer what courses,
qualifications or tickets they would prefer
you to obtain.
7. Have clear and achievable goals
Clear, written job and career goals will help
you maintain your motivation during your
job search. Refer to your goals regularly and
make sure that everything you do takes you
one step closer to achieving them. This will
help motivate you during the tough times.
For example, your goal may be to work in a
FIFO job (refer to FIFO section later) for a
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defined time period to enable you to become financially secure. Whatever your
motivations, be clear to yourself about why you have chosen your particular path, and
focus directly on achieving it.
Importantly, never give up! Its very likely that you will have to apply for many jobs before you
are offered an interview, but if you follow the advice in your Guide, you will increase your
chances enormously.
So, lets get started...
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their art, a practice that still continues to this day and which has become an integral part of
the Aboriginal heritage.
When Europeans began arriving in the late 1700s, the search for minerals to sustain their
settlements began in earnest, resulting in the discovery of coal near Newcastle within 10
years of the first settlers arriving. Coal was used for heating and cooking and later for the
production of steam to drive the mechanisation and industrialisation of the rapidly-growing
colony of New South Wales.
With the expansion of settlements eastward into South Australia, further mineral discoveries
were made, with Lead being the first metal to be mined in Australia, at Glen Osmond on the
outskirts of Adelaide. Shortly after, major discoveries of copper were made in the mid-1800s
in South Australias mid-north in Kapunda and Burra. These discoveries were of such a scale
that they were able to support a growing mineral export industry, with copper and lead being
exported to feed the burgeoning industrial revolution that was to change the face of
manufacturing and society throughout Britain and beyond.
Further huge discoveries of copper at nearby Moonta and Kadina soon overshadowed any
previous finds, necessitating the emigration of skilled mine workers from Cornwall in
England, to utilise their skills and technology in the local industry.
Gold! Gold! Gold!
The discovery of gold in Victoria, near Ballarat
and Bendigo, triggered a frenzy of activity not
unlike that seen in the California gold rush of
the 1840s. Previous small finds of gold near
Bathurst in New South Wales in the 1820s had
elicited only a token rush for riches, but the
gold fields of Victoria sent the colony into a
frenzy
of
migration,
relocation
and
exploration, with everybody hoping to find
instant fame and fortune.
The end result was that by the 1850s Australia
was producing almost 40% of the worlds
gold. The resulting huge surge in population
and, in many cases, wealth, spurred other
industries to spring up to support the fastgrowing colony, forcing rapid advances in agricultural and industrial development. These
developments, particularly in sheep and wheat production, were to set Australia up for a
century of growth and prosperity.
Other minerals
Tin was the next major mineral discovery to change the face of Australias young mining
industry, with its discovery at Mt Bischoff in Tasmania in the 1870s.
The spread of regional population centres across Australia led to ongoing exploration and
discoveries, resulting in the commissioning of major mining projects across the continent.
These included:
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makes up more than half of national exports in dollar terms. The resources sector is booming.
However, its success may cause problems elsewhere, such as pushing up the value of the
Australian dollar, which can adversely affect sectors like manufacturing and tourism.
Some facts about Australias mining industry
Here is a snapshot of Australias mining industry and how important it is to the welfare of the
country and its people
Australia is a leading producer of
minerals for the world and produces
some 22 minerals in significant
amounts.
Australia has a large inventory of
resources in key minerals and is one of
the top mineral and commodities
producers in the world.
Australia is the largest producer of
gemstones and industrial diamonds.
Australia has the largest identified
resources of lead, nickel, rutile, silver,
uranium, zinc and zircon.
The minerals industry is Australias
largest export earner with mineral
exports accounting for nearly 50% of
the annual value of total exports of
goods and services.
The value of Australian mineral exports (excluding petroleum, natural gas and
petroleum refinery products) increased from AUD 45.9 billion in 2002-03 to a record
level of AUD 139.4 billion in 2008-09 and is still increasing.
In 2009-10, mining had the highest capital expenditure (AUD 45.6 billion), highest
average wages and salaries per employee (AUD 117,500), highest sales and service
income per person employed (AUD 1.06 million) and profit margin (33.4%).
In the period 2006-07 to 2010-11, the value of exports from the mining industry more
than doubled.
In 2009-10, China was Australias largest market for iron ore and concentrates
accounting for almost 72% of all Australian ore exports.
Australias daily shipments of iron ore exceed 1 million tonnes and the figure is
forecast to climb to 2 million tonnes a day within the next five years.
Approximately 2.2% of Australias workforce is engaged in the mining industry.
Has the Australian mining boom slowed?
There is no doubt that Australias so-called mining boom began slowing in late-2012. Official
figures revealed that projects valued at AUD $150 billion were shelved in 2012/2013.
Shelved of course doesnt mean cancelled, but usually indicates that a company has
postponed any further development until the price of the resource recovers enough to make a
project viable again.
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As well as a reduction in the prices being paid for a particular resource, much of the slowdown in employment can also be attributed to major projects transitioning from the
construction phase to the operational phase, when fewer workers are required and capital
spending declines. An official Australian government report has said that the investment
phase of the mining boom peaked in October 2012, when AUD 268.4 billion was committed to
projects.
The value of committed projects - defined as those approved by companies and governments,
or those already commenced - is expected to slow to AUD 256 billion by the end of 2013 and
then fall to AUD 70 billion by the end of 2017, according to a Bureau of Resources and Energy
Economics report.
However this revised outlook was at odds with a recent update from the Reserve Bank of
Australia (RBA), which said in early 2013 that the mining investment peak in Australia was
yet to be reached, and while the number of committed projects fell to 73, their value remained
stable at a near record AUD 268 billion, largely due to cost blowouts.
One of the concerns described in the RBAs report is the pull-back from projects that were
under review; projects that need to proceed if the boom is to continue. Some large projects
that have been shelved include BHP Billiton's AUD 30 billion Olympic Dam development
(uranium mining in South Australia) and Woodside's AUD 36 billion Browse venture
(liquefied natural gas off the north-west coast of Western Australia). However, Woodside says
it still believes the Browse project will be developed despite the shelving of its current plans.
Despite an increase in the number of projects being delayed or cancelled, projects valued at
AUD 403 billion remain in Australias project development pipeline. This augurs well for a
continuing positive employment landscape, particularly for experienced skilled workers.
The top 10 mining trends for 2013
Deloitte has released its annual Tracking the Trends report, which examines the challenges
expected to affect Australias mining and resources industries throughout 2013.
Importantly for job seekers, the report says that the skills shortages in Australias mining
industry will remain at unrelenting levels for some time yet, with a predicted additional
86,000 mining professionals and skilled mine workers needed by 2020, along with the
unskilled workers to support this surge in employment.
The Australian global leader of Deloitte mining practice (and the global lead partner for BHP
Billiton), Philip Hopwood, said, As commodity prices decline and global economic uncertainty
persists, its harder for mining companies to predict future demand patterns, adding that,
Companies are deferring their expansion projects in the face of waning Chinese demand, yet
world demand promises to increase dramatically in the coming years.
1. The increasing costs of doing business
Mining in Australia is becoming more expensive. Costs are being driven up by the high cost of
labour and compliance, and the introduction of the carbon and mining taxes, as well as royalty
hikes. The difference this year, however, is that commodity prices are not expected to support
such high operating costs as they have in the past. While commodity prices remain well above
the 2008 lows, they have shown a pattern of decline in the last year.
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With cost pressure mounting and ongoing skills shortages, companies are now assessing the
viability of a more complex series of project options. Further investment will be necessary to
enable companies to weather coming volatility.
Deloitte suggests that such investments include improvements to operational efficiency,
proactive control of maintenance costs, and investment in cost reducing technologies.
2. Commodity demand uncertainty
There is much debate over commodity demand predictions, while in the short term demand
for resources like iron ore may be tapering, mining companies need to continue to look ahead
to avoid long term supply constraints, Deloitte said.
This danger will grow as companies halt production in the face of capital cost increases and
growing shareholder demands for more immediate returns.
According to the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), real annual GDP growth in China is
forecast to fall to an average of 8.1% between 2013 and 2016. Indications that Chinas
economic growth is slowing, is having a ripple effect on mining companies, particularly those
that have pinned their fortunes on Chinas continued appetite for resources.
Such uncertainty present in the market makes it difficult for mining companies to accurately
predict or plan for future demand.
3. Quality over quantity of projects
Overrun costs and schedule slippage in mining projects not only worries lenders, it also
aggravates shareholders and attracts unwanted media attention. This year Deloitte believes
well see a growing number of miners being forced to determine what projects should be
delivered rather than financing speculative long-term projects.
This is already happening in Australia: in August BHP Billitons AUD 30 billion Olympic Dam
project was put on hold. The company blamed weak commodity prices and rising costs.
However, in announcing the cutback BHP said it was looking at a different plan "involving
new technologies" to make the project cheaper.
According to Deloitte Access Economics, the value of resources as a share of all projects in
Australias planning pipeline fell from more than 56% in June 2011 to 40% in June 2012.
4. The fight for funds: Asian investment and M&A
The battle for funding is predicted to remain competitive in 2013 as debt financing remains
tight across global financial markets and institutional investors continue to turn away from
the mining sector, Deloitte said.
Such a turn of events has forced mining companies to look elsewhere in the search for capital,
leading many companies down a road of joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, and
consolidations in an effort to get projects off the ground.
Asian-based investors are still playing an active role in the resources market, especially as the
Chinese government continues to encourage them to provide development capital and acquire
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resources abroad and its no surprise that growth in China is good news for Australias
resources sector.
5. Resource nationalism will remain
While Australia doesnt have the same unpredictable level of sovereign risk as other mining
nations around the world, Australia does have its own level of resource nationalism in the
form of the mineral resources rent tax (MRRT) and the carbon tax. Both have the potential to
reduce company profits and interfere with project feasibility assessments.
Whether its resource nationalism, special mining taxes or the gradual creep in taxation,
governments are looking for a larger share of mining company profits, Deloitte said.
Former Rio Tinto chief, Tom Albanese, has also spoken out against nationalisation,
encouraging governments to look towards royalty schemes instead.
The growing global threat of resource nationalism was rated as the number one fear for
miners in an Ernest & Young report released in 2012.
6. Combating corruption holding mining companies to higher standards
Although Australia prides itself on having a
relatively low rate of corruption, coming in at
number 7 on Transparency Internationals
Corruption Perception Index behind the likes of
Denmark, Sweden, and Switzerland, it is worth
noting that to maintain such a standard, the
countrys prime industries like mining must
continue to be held to world class standards and
expectations.
Corruption poses a significant risk to businesses
bottom line and corporate reputation, and around
the world, particularly in tougher geopolitical
environments, combating corruption remains a
challenge for the mining sector in 2013.
7. Socially responsible behaviour
Corporate social responsibility today extends beyond what is legally required. It involves
understanding shifting community, government and NGO expectations, and committing to a
higher level of transparency and operational sustainability.
This means mining companies must provide local employment opportunities, infrastructure,
training, education, and healthcare in order to avoid vocal opposition to their presence. Rio
Tinto is the single largest employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in
Australia and has demonstrated a major commitment to indigenous training and employment
through the companys Work Ready programs.
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Mining in Australia
Overview
Australia has mining activity in all of its states and territories. Particularly significant mining
and exploration areas today include the Goldfields, Peel and Pilbara regions of Western
Australia, the Hunter Valley in New South Wales, the Bowen Basin in Queensland, the
Latrobe Valley in Victoria as well as other areas of outback Australia. Places such as
Kalgoorlie, Mount Isa, Mount Morgan, Broken Hill and Coober Pedy are well-known as towns
that rely heavily on mining.
Two examples of major active mines in Australia include:
The Super Pit near Kalgoorlie in Western
Australia; Australias largest open pit gold
mine.
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The conditions attached to getting employment in the mining industry differ in every state of
Australia, with various mandatory requirements ranging from state government certification,
completion of safety or mining induction courses, and recognised qualifications. However the
basics that will ensure you are mine-ready are:
Being physically fit for the job. This is usually determined by a pre-employment
fitness and medical check.
Undertaking and passing a drug and alcohol test. These tests will be ongoing for the
duration of your employment in the mines. With safety a paramount issue, all mining
companies are extremely strict with drug and alcohol testing.
Criminal history check. Although not mandatory, be prepared to provide evidence of
a clean record in some states.
Generic Mining Induction Training. These training courses are mandatory and will
vary from company to company and mine site to mine site.
Where the jobs are
Western Australia (WA)
Western Australia is, quite simply, huge, and is much larger than the US states of Alaska and
Texas combined. India is about the same size, with a population of 700 million, whereas the
whole vast, dry expanse of Western Australia is inhabited by just 2 million people, threequarters of whom live in the capital city, Perth. Being so far from the main Australian
population centres on the east coast, WA conveys a feeling of sheer isolation. Perth is the
worlds most remote capital city and is closer to Bali than it is to Sydney.
Western Australia has approximately 2.4 million people (around 10% of the national total),
the majority of whom (75%) live in the south-west corner of the state in and around Perth.
Mining in Western Australia
Western Australia is often described as the powerhouse of the Australian economy, due to
its huge mineral and ore deposits and the wealth they generate for the country. From gold in
the Kalgoorlie area, to the Pilbaras iron ore, Argyle diamonds, Collies coal, natural gas in the
north-west shelf as well as, nickel, magnesium, aluminium and lead, WA has been blessed with
natural resources.
Western Australia produces 20% of the world's alumina and 15% of its iron ore, is a
significant producer of nickel, natural gas, gold and diamonds, and accounts for more than
40% of Australia's exports by dollar value.
Western Australias mining, oil and gas industries together accounted for almost 90% of the
States total export income in 2008/09. Currently, Western Australia has more than 500
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commercial mineral projects, almost 1,000 mining operations and over 60 operating oil and
gas fields, both onshore and offshore.
Iron ore accounts for almost half of the revenues produced by WAs resources industries. The
petroleum (oil and gas) sector is in second place with around one quarter of revenues
generated, then gold, alumina and nickel, followed by base metals like copper, lead and zinc,
and diamonds and mineral sands.
Employment in Western Australias mining, oil and gas industries more than doubled in the
20 years up to 2011, to over 88,000 employees (7.1% of all WA employees). Over the 10 years
to 2011 the mining industry in WA experienced strong employment growth of 12.5% per
annum (an annual average increase of 5,380 employees).
Within the mining industry, over 60% of workers work in metal ore mining, while a further
18% work in exploration and other mining support services. The average weekly earnings in
the WA mining industry are well above the WA average; AUD 2,314 pw compared to
AUD 1,452 pw. Almost 25% of workers in mining are machine operators and drivers, followed
by technician and trades workers (24%), and professionals (21%).
Want to know more about Mining in WA? Source Wikipedia.
Queensland (Qld)
Queenslands capital, Brisbane, is also the largest city in the state and is Australia's third
largest city. Referred to as the Sunshine State, Queensland is home to 10 of Australia's 30
largest cities and is the nation's third largest economy.
Mining in Queensland
Queensland is richly-endowed with high-quality coal resources, with over 34 billion tonnes
(raw coal in-situ) already identified. The states coal seam gas (CSG) industry has also grown
rapidly over the past 15 years with the annual number of wells drilled increasing from 10 in
the early 1990s to over 720 in 2011-12. Exploration and development activity in the CSG
industry remains strong and continues to be at the forefront of Queenslands petroleum
industry.
The Queensland Government is supporting the growth of the petroleum industry by making
geo-scientific information and company exploration data available and coordinating
approvals for major petroleum projects. Queensland is one of the world's largest producers of
lead, zinc and silver and Australia's leading copper, lead, silver and zinc producer, the secondlargest bauxite producer and the third largest gold producer.
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The North West Queensland Mineral Province dominates base metal production and is a
major gold and phosphate rock producer. North Queensland is also a leading mineral province
and an important producer of bauxite, silica sand, base metals and gold and more recently
tungsten, along with many other Industrial minerals.
New South Wales (NSW)
New South Wales is a state in the east of Australia. It is bordered by
Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and
west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman
Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean.
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With over 1.6 million people, the state comprises less than 8% of the Australian population
and ranks fifth in population among the states and territories. The majority of its people
reside in the state capital, Adelaide, with most of the remainder settled in fertile areas along
the south-eastern coast and the River Murray.
Mining in South Australia
South Australia has plenty of mining activity occurring across the state, with growth set to
continue. Various resources are mined in South Australia including copper, gold, silver,
uranium, coal and iron ore. The state is home to one of the worlds biggest copper, gold and
uranium mines, Olympic Dam, and one of Australias significant new copper-gold mines at
Prominent Hill.
Olympic Dam is a mining centre in South Australia, located some 550 km NNW of Adelaide. It
is the site of an extremely large iron oxide, copper, gold, uranium and silver deposits. The site
hosts an underground mine as well as an integrated metallurgical processing plant. It is the
fourth largest copper deposit and the largest known single deposit of uranium in the world,
though uranium represents only a minority of the mine's total revenue.
Footnote: In August 2012, BHP Billiton announced that the expansion of Olympic Dam was
being postponed indefinitely pending investigation of a "new and cheaper design".
Victoria (Vic)
Victoria is a state in the south-east of Australia. Geographically the
smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales
to the north, the Tasman Sea to the east, the Bass Strait and
Tasmania to the south, and South Australia to the west. It is
Australia's most densely-populated state, most of Victoria's
population is concentrated in the area surrounding Port Phillip,
including the capital and largest city, Melbourne, which is also
Australia's second-largest city overall.
The state of Victoria is the second largest economy in Australia after New South Wales,
accounting for a quarter of the nation's gross domestic product. The 2011 Australian census
reported that Victoria had 5.3 million people resident at the time of the census. The Australian
Bureau of Statistics estimates that the population may well reach 7.2 million by 2050.
Finance, insurance and property services form Victoria's largest income producing sector,
while the community, social and personal services sector is the state's biggest employer.
Mining in Victoria
Mining in Victoria contributes around AUD 3 billion to the gross state product (1%) but
employs less than 1% of workers. The Victorian mining industry is concentrated on energy
producing minerals, with brown coal, petroleum and gas accounting for nearly 90% of local
production. The oil and gas industries are centred off the coast of Gippsland in the state's east,
while brown coal mining and power generation is based in the Latrobe Valley.
In the 2005/2006 financial year, the average gas production was over 700 million cubic feet
(20,000,000 m3) per day and represented 18% of the total national gas sales, with demand
growing at 2% per year.
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In 1985, oil production from the offshore Gippsland Basin peaked to an annual average of
450,000 barrels (72,000 m3) per day. In 20052006, the average daily oil production declined
to 83,000 barrels (13,200 m3) per day, but despite the decline Victoria still produces almost
19.5% of crude oil in Australia.
Brown coal is Victoria's leading mineral, with 66 million tonnes mined each year for
electricity generation in the Latrobe Valley, Gippsland. The region is home to the world's
largest known reserves of brown coal.
Despite being the historic centre of Australia's gold rush, Victoria today contributes a mere
1% of national gold production. Victoria also produces limited amounts of gypsum and kaolin.
Tasmania (TAS)
Tasmania is an island state, part of the Commonwealth of
Australia, located 240 km (150 miles) to the south of the
Australian continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes
the island of Tasmania, the 26th largest island in the world, and the
surrounding 334 islands. The state has a population of 507,626 (as
of June 2010) of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart
precinct. Tasmania's area is 68,401 sq km (26,410 sq m).
Tasmania is promoted as the natural state, owing to its large and
relatively unspoiled natural environment. Almost 45% of Tasmania lies in reserves, national
parks and World Heritage Sites. The state capital and largest city is Hobart.
Mining in Tasmania
Tasmania is extremely rich in minerals. The
State exports ores and concentrates of iron,
copper, lead, zinc, tin, high-grade silica and
tungsten. The total value of mining and
metallurgical production in Tasmania was
estimated as AUD 2.393 billion in 2009/2010.
The mineral extraction and processing sector is
Tasmania's largest export industry, accounting
for 50% of mercantile exports in 2009/2010
worth AUD 1.593 billion.
There are seven substantial operating mines in
Tasmania, including long-term producers
Mount Lyell (copper, gold, silver), Rosebery
(zinc, lead, gold, copper and silver) and Savage
River (magnetite, which is converted into iron
ore pellets at Port Latta). The Henty and Beaconsfield gold mines began producing in the
1990s while the Renison and Mt Bischoff tin mines re-opened during 2008. Beaconsfield mine
was shut in July 2012, due to a widely reported mine collapse.
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drillers at drill holes for oil, natural gas, water, building foundations, minerals
exploration and site investigations.
Career path: Can lead to a job as a Driller.
Survey Assistant: Survey Assistants help surveyors collect information about the
position, shape and elevation of the earth's natural features, and map property
boundaries. They are generally responsible for loading survey equipment into vehicles
for transport to sites, ensuring that all necessary equipment is included and is in
proper working order. When working in the field, survey assistants may be required to
clear vegetation and debris from a site, assemble and dismantle equipment, mark
boundaries using pegs and string, and record measurements.
Career path: Could lead to a job as a surveyor. This will require considerable learning
and a degree qualification through an employer and/or an external educational
provider.
Geologists assistant/Trainee field assistant: A geologists assistant takes minerals,
soil samples and data from samples and inputs the information into computer systems
and assists with the writing of reports. Such activities are usually in preparation for
future mining activities. Once mining in various areas is complete, a geologists
assistant might also work to restore
the area to its previous state.
General labourer: Labourers with
general worksite skills are in
constant demand and are central to
construction,
repair
and
maintenance jobs. Normally a
labourer will be required to operate
power tools, hand tools, equipment
and machinery, and to provide
assistance to other workers. They
may also be required to clean work
areas, repair equipment, deliver and
set-up materials and dismantle
equipment. Good communications
skills and the ability to work well in
a team are preferred.
Trades Assistant: Generally a trades assistant helps out a qualified tradesperson with
operations on a mine site and is often involved in basic repairs and maintenance of
equipment. Experience in a heavy industrial environment would be looked upon
favourably. Trades assistants are often in demand for shutdown operations and shortterm contract work. As with general labourers, good communication and teamwork
skills would be viewed positively.
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Exploration Driller: Assembles, positions, operates and maintains a drilling rig and
related equipment to extract ore for analysis by geologists for future mining
operations.
Jumbo Operator: Responsible for the operation of a single and/or double boom jumbo
drilling rig for underground development mining and the installation of ground
support.
Longwall/Continuous Miner Operator: Underground coal miner operates and
maintains specialist equipment for digging coal out of coal seams.
Mobile Plant Operator/Driver: Operates stationary and mobile cranes, hoists, lifts
and winches to lift, move and place materials in a variety of locations on mine sites.
Mechanical/metal trades jobs
Automotive Mechanic: Services, repairs and maintains the range of powered vehicles
used in mining operations.
Diesel Mechanic: A highly-valued skill in the mining industry. Diesel mechanics
diagnose, overhaul, repair, tune, maintain and test diesel and petrol/gas-powered
vehicles, including trucks, earthmoving equipment and stationary engines.
Heavy Vehicle Mechanic: Repairs, maintains and tests heavy vehicles and equipment.
Boilermaker: A critical skill in the mining industry, to fabricate metal stock to make or
repair heavy gauge metal products used on a mine site.
Maintenance Technician: Responsible for the safe and efficient maintenance of the
specialised equipment and plant used in the mining industry.
Welder: Another valued mine site skill to fabricate and repair metal products using
various welding techniques.
Electrical trades jobs
Electrician: Install and maintain electrical systems. Also responsible for establishing
and ensuring uninterrupted power supplies to mines and mine equipment.
Electrical work on a diverse range of mining related equipment.
Electrical Fitter: Provides electrical maintenance on all machinery.
Maintenance Technician: Usually part of a team for the planning, development and
reviewing of electrical maintenance procedures.
What are the working options?
Full time
Full-time (permanent) roles in the mining industry generally occur at levels above unskilled
and semi-skilled jobs. Primarily, they start at supervisor or mid-management level, upwards.
For example, a mining company that owns but does not operate a mine (i.e. it contracts out
the operations of the mine), will often have full-time employees in management and
administration, usually based in a head office away from the mine, and will often employ a
full-time on-site mine manager to oversee and represent the companys interests.
In that case the contracting company will also have full-time management and administration
employees, again usually in a remote office, but will have a full-time manager on-site, with
perhaps one or more full-time supervisory or specialist staff reporting to him/her, also onsite. Below the supervisory level, many of the workers employed by the contractor will then
be self-employed contractors or casual or part-time workers brought in to carry out specific
tasks of the operational process. These can be task-based, project-based or simply hourly-paid
roles.
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For example:
FIFO work arrangements vary in duration and incorporate compressed work
schedules in which FIFO employees work 10 or 12-hour shifts while on site.
Many employees, such as machinery
and plant operators and their direct
supervisors, are also likely to have
shift work where they work a number
of days of day shift followed by a
number of nights of night shift.
A common pattern is one week of night
shift, one week of day shift followed by
one week at home.
The proportion of time spent at home
and at work depends on the symmetry
of the work roster offered by the
employer.
Common rosters at the time of writing
include two weeks away and one week
at home (2/1), nine days away and five
days home (9/5) and, increasingly,
eight days away and six days home (8/6).
Many employees across the resources industry prefer the shorter rotation lengths such
as 9/5 or 8/6. However, contractor companies have tended to offer the longer
rotations such as 2/1.
It is not uncommon for workers to be flown the 4,000 km from Queensland to Western
Australia, or vice-versa, for their FIFO shifts, although a much more typical arrangement
would be Perth-based workers being flown the 2,000 km to work in the iron ore mines in the
Pilbara region. This is such a common occurrence today that a new terminal has been built at
Perth domestic airport to cater exclusively for FIFO workers.
Bus In-Bus Out (BIBO) also known as DIDO (Drive In-Drive Out)
BIBO/DIDO working is becoming a way of life for many mining employees, where mining
towns/villages are built closer to mine sites, but not at mine-sites. For the mining company,
this reduces start up costs, fast-tracks the setup process and makes short-term mining
projects more financially viable. Given the typically remote location of mine sites, workers
must commute from town to mine site and back again, and this is usually done in companysupplied buses. DIDO workers will commute in their own vehicles or in company vehicles.
If there is a town or settlement nearby the mine site, BIBO/DIDO workers can choose to live in
there and commute to work by bus or car on a roster basis.
What you need to know about working in remote locations
For unskilled or inexperienced people looking to work in the mines, it is recommended that
you carefully consider whether a FIFO job is the best option for you to commence your career
as a mineworker. There are various individual benefits in addition to career opportunities and
good rates of pay, but there are also challenges that can mean that a FIFO work arrangement
is not for everyone.
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The environment
FIFO employees are required to work long hours with inflexible, compressed work schedules.
It can be dirty, dusty, difficult, monotonous and uncomfortable work. An administration
assistant in an office or a laundry assistant will, of course, experience a completely different
work environment.
Communications
Availability of communication to and from home also varies across sites. Larger sites are more
likely to have a mobile phone tower or perhaps land-lines in all rooms whereas smaller or
more remote operations might only have a limited number of satellite lines thus limiting
availability of communication with home. Those more remote mine sites, for example, may
only be able to offer limited satellite communication between home and site, whereas those
sites located close to a large regional centre could have landlines and mobile phone
connections as well as the internet, thus facilitating easy and regular communication between
FIFO employees and their families.
Accommodation/Facilities
During the period you live on-site as a FIFO worker, your employer will likely provide you
with accommodation. The standard of accommodation on a mine site can vary. For example,
rooms can have individual en-suites, shared en-suites or employees may have to use facilities
in external shared ablution blocks. Contractor employees are more likely to be allocated the
lower standard rooms.
Your employer will usually oversee laundry/cleaning, and all food is provided. Living
conditions are rather basic, but most sites have fridges and electricity to rooms and a
communal TV is usually available, so most of the essentials of life are covered. In some
instances the employer charges its employees for these services, with the cost deducted from
salaries. It is essential when applying for work that you carefully check the conditions of your
contract so you are fully aware of the details.
The facilities for FIFO workers are usually excellent (considering their remoteness) and
recreational activities are readily accessed between shifts. Your room or donga will be
cleaned for you so after work youre free to relax. Sport is encouraged and good sporting
facilities are usually on site; some mine sites have gyms, pools or basketball courts, with some
larger mine sites having football fields, bowling greens and even golf driving ranges.
Community
Some FIFO employees value the opportunity to live in a remote location. The remoteness
creates a close community feeling and a friendly environment. There are many opportunities
for a social life with friends on site such as having dinner together in the camp. Living on site
allows you to escape the rat race, and can give you the chance to meet people from places
and cultures that you wouldnt usually meet.
Some workers also find the distance from home gives them the time and opportunity to
undertake study or hobbies with few interruptions.
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ENRYB / PAME
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Safety awareness: This is the most important issue on any mine site. You will need to
be thinking about safety every second of every minute of every hour you are working.
Tolerance of unusual work schedules: Shifts are generally 12 hours long and can
rotate day and night, often away from home.
Adjustment to life in remote locations: Often living and working with diverse people
from different walks of life and without the creature comforts of home.
Zero tolerance towards drugs and alcohol: Non-compliance of this policy results in
immediate dismissal without pay, and removal from the site subject to disciplinary
procedures. You may also be reported to local police.
Acceptance of difficult workplaces: You may be working in extreme temperatures, in
dark, damp and confined environments, which require high standards of health and
fitness.
Willingness to undertake training: Particularly applicable to unskilled workers, and
could include Standard 11 (Mining Induction) Certificate course. You will also be asked
to complete a pre-employment medical check and may need Police Clearance
A mining-specific resume: This is most important, as a mining-specific resume will
give you the best chance of getting past the application stage.
What you need to do
Prepare, prepare, prepare
Before you take you first step towards looking for or applying for a job in Australias mining
industry, there are several important steps you must take. They all involve preparation, which
in this context means, To make ready beforehand for a specific purpose. Your purpose is to
find the best, most suitable job for you in Australias mining industry.
Below weve provided an actual example of someones experiences. James wanted to set
himself up financially, and so he decided to find a good-paying job in the mining industry. Now
read on
A personal account of getting an unskilled job in the mining industry
At 28, James, from Perth, Western Australia, decided he wanted to realise some personal
financial ambitions and, after hearing from friends that working in the mining industry
was lucrative, he started the process of looking for mine site work.
He decided he would try and find a job that allowed him to fly in/fly out for a period of
two to four years, after which he would be financially well-placed to invest in property.
Initially disheartened, James found that as an unskilled/unqualified potential mine site
worker it was basically a waste of time approaching recruitment agencies, as they
werent interested in him due to his lack of specialist skills such as engineering, trades,
drilling experience and so on. Recruiters encouraged him to secure a number of mining
site tickets, which he discovered were going to cost him quite a lot of money, with no
guarantee of a result. Not all recruitment agencies offer this advice, but this was certainly
Jamess experience.
Networking proved to be the key that unlocked the opportunity for James. He made sure
he talked to a lot of people about what its really like to work on a mine site. From what
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he could glean, he thought he could handle it and, being a single man with no children, he
decided he would give it a go. After knocking on doors, talking to different people and
generally building his own network, and persistently sending his resume to various
recruiters and employers, he secured a position as a labourer.
As a labourer on a drill site he was involved in bagging and carrying ore samples from the
drill. It was dirty, dusty, difficult, monotonous and uncomfortable work. And that was just
in winter. James had to wear long sleeve shirts, trousers and a hard hat for protection, so
in the summer heat of northern Western Australia, a region where temperatures
regularly reach 40 degrees or more, it was at times almost unbearable.
However being extremely fit and strong and not scared of hard physical labour, James
had a head start on many of the workers around him.
This type of work definitely doesnt suit everyone. In James own words, Its not just the
physical, routine nature of the work you do. Often youre working in remote locations, in
very difficult conditions, and away from family and friends for extended periods. Theres a
fairly substantial ongoing mental challenge as well as a physical one.
James worked as a labourer for a period of three years, ultimately achieving his financial
goals in the process. He returned to Perth with a good deal of experience, a healthy bank
balance, and new, sought-after skills attained during his time on the mines.
Have you got transferable skills?
It may be stating the obvious, but a good way to get a foot in the door in the mining industry,
is to assess what skills you already have, and see if they could be transferable to a mining job.
Whether that initial job is or isnt the job you are targeting, the most important and most
difficult step is to get a start in the industry, at whatever level. Once inside the industry, you
can work your way across or up the ladder to get the job you want.
There are many skills and qualifications that can be readily transferred from other industries
to mining. For example, mining companies need:
engineers
plumbers
electricians
builders
boilermakers
welders
mechanics
drivers
logistics people
general labourers
So if you fit into one of these categories, whether through qualifications or previous
experience, you've already got a head start!
Mining companies can also employ a wide range of people with non-mining skills such as:
administrative assistants
cooks
caterers
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cleaners
maintenance staff
filing clerks
childcare workers
IT personnel
accountants
bookkeepers
HR managers
nurses
medical staff
And for many of these positions you dont always need to have had previous experience.
So, although it is possible to secure a mining job without possessing any skills, or indeed any
mining skills, you would be well advised to assess all your current skills and experience to see
if they can be transferred to a job in the mining industry.
There are also traineeship jobs available in the mining sector that will offer the opportunity
for on-the-job training, or for securing new or upgraded qualifications.
Have you done your research?
If you have no mining experience and little in the way of industry-relevant training or
qualifications, doing your homework on the types of unskilled mining jobs available, and what
you can seriously see yourself doing, is a great way to steer yourself towards employment in
the mining industry. This Guide should give you most of what you need.
But you must be clear on what you want to achieve - dont adopt a scatter-gun approach.
Mining recruiters get frustrated with applicants who say Ill do anything, as it shows that the
applicant has no real focus or objective to secure a particular job or career. It also means that
the recruiter will have to trawl through your resume to ascertain your suitability for a job.
And in such a competitive environment, that is unlikely to happen. What is likely to happen in
that situation is that your application will go to the bottom of the pile, or even into the
shredder.
So you must research the industry, the working environment, the company, the companys
operations, their future plans, etc and, armed with that knowledge and information, you
should be able to make an informed judgement about just what type of employees the
company will be requiring and what roles they will need to fill.
Leaving your current job, your friends and family, and your home, to work on a distant mine
site is not as simple as getting a new job in another place; it requires a level of sacrifice and
commitment that is certainly not for everyone. So its important that you also spend time
researching the lifestyle, the risks and the rewards to be sure you know what to expect if and
when you do secure that job in Australias mining industry.
Creating your mining-focused resume
Definition: A brief account of one's professional or work experience and qualifications,
often submitted with an employment application.
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Even if you have no mining experience or specific mining related training, it is still extremely
worthwhile preparing a polished resume for your targeted mining position.
The key is to relate non-mining work experience to the mining position youre targeting. For
example, if you were targeting a dump truck position and you have experience as a freight
courier or truck driver, you really need to sell your experience and expertise of previous work
experience into the position and role that you are targeting. If youre new to mining, your
resume should be no longer than 2-3 pages.
Your resume should list:
Your contact details
Introductory statement
Your skills
Your certificates, licences and training
Your work experience
Your contact details
Many people forget to include their contact details on their resume.
If you cant be contacted, you wont get the job!
You should include:
1.
Your home/mobile numbers
2.
Your email address
3.
Your current location
Preparing your introductory statement
The more specific you can be about wanting to move into mining, the stronger your resume
will be. By introducing yourself with a couple of sentences about wanting to move into mining,
you make it clear that a career in mining is your goal.
Detailing your skills
You should list your trade skills and any other skills that could be useful to you in a mining
job. Examples of skills:
Formwork carpentry
Stainless/carbon steel and aluminium fabrication
Pressure vessel fabrication
MIG, TIG, GAS, FLUX-CORE experience
Your certificates, licences and training
You should also list your certificates, licences and training courses, for example:
Engineering Certificate III (Boilermaker)
Qualified as Welding Supervisor under Australian standards
Riggers Licence
Your work experience
You should list your work experience, starting with the job youre in now. If youre not
currently employed, start with your most recent job.
Things to include:
1.
Name of job
2.
Name of company
3.
Location
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4.
5.
6.
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to be successful, shows a lack of care and detail. It also demonstrates that you may not
have read the job ad thoroughly and are just sending out blind, scatter-gun
applications.
5. Not addressing your application to anyone. Unaddressed applications are simply
begging to be ignored. Apart from reducing the chances of your application ending up
with the right person, its likely that if they do receive an unaddressed application, they
will ignore it. If theres no obvious recipient, research the company and who you
should be addressing your application to.
By purchasing this Guide, you have already demonstrated that you are prepared to invest in
your future career and success. Dont waste that investment by not investing further time and
effort in ensuring you are a stand-out applicant.
Always assume you are in competition with hundreds of other applicants (because in many
cases you will be), and always invest time and effort in submitting a strong, targeted
application.
Section contributor:
Michelle is an award winning, Certified Advanced Resume
Writer with over 15 years experience across multiple
industry sectors. With a background in HR and recruiting,
combined with her resume writing credentials, Michelle is
well positioned to help jobseekers land interviews, change
career and overcome job hunting obstacles.
Section contributor:
Miriam Cha a Director of Metro Resumes who specialise in
offering professional help with your mining resume and
cover letter.
One2OneResumes
metroresumes.com.au
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Police Security Clearance: Some mine sites require a Police Security Clearance and, in
some cases, special security clearances are also required. While a Police Security
Clearance may not be required for all mine sites, on the majority of mining operations
police checks are mandatory.
Some employers may also require the following:
HR (Heavy Rigid) Vehicle License: If you are contemplating a position as a dump
truck or heavy vehicle driver, you will need an Australian-recognised heavy vehicle
drivers licence, and preferably have some experience with heavy vehicles.
The Useful Links section later in this guide will direct you to valuable information on which
courses or qualifications you might need, and which course providers can help you.
Useful links and contacts
Mining training course providers
Once you have decided which area you want to work in, or which particular role you want to
apply for, your next step is to investigate what training or qualifications you will need, so
youll have the best opportunity to be considered for the mining role you have chosen to
target. Below you will find links to mining training providers from around Australia.
MARCSTA
Richards Mining Services
Aus-Com
Eyes on Safety
Challenger Institute of Technology
Central Institute of Technology
Aveling
Mining Training Directory
iMINCO
Industry Pathways
Mining Qualifications & Competence
Sharp Training
Safety Risk Training
Mine Machine Training
TESA Mining
OHSA
IFAP
RPM Global
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said has a majority of users who are employed as professionals, there is the worlds #1 social
media site, Facebook. At the end of 2012, Facebook had over 1 billion active users, so its a fair
bet that a researcher will find something about you on one of these sites. And remember, its
very likely the real you that is on display to the world, and the real you is probably not what
youd want a prospective employer or recruiter to see when you are trying to secure an
interview for a new job.
One issue with Facebook is that they regularly change their privacy settings, giving you
options about what can appear and where. If youre looking for a job, you must keep on top of
these, as you dont want to be posting things youd rather keep amongst your friends.
A good test to carry out is to log out of your Facebook profile every now and again, then
Google your name to see what comes up publicly. You should also view your profile as
someone else sees it, not just as you see it. If youre serious about looking for a job, you need
to put yourself in the shoes of an employer or recruiter, and think and act like them to see
what they see.
Twitter
Twitter is a great little networking and profile management tool. Like LinkedIn it can help you
come up high in Google searches associated with your name.
When youre looking for a new job, or looking to attract attention to your search, the following
tips might be helpful when managing your Twitter profile:
Choose a professional-looking photo. You might want to use the same one that you
use for LinkedIn as personal branding is all about consistency. People are visual.
Theyll remember a face more so than a written name.
Make sure your bio is informative. You only have 160 characters, so keep it short
and to the point. Twitter is more informal than LinkedIn so you can inject a little
humour.
Make sure you include a link to your LinkedIn profile, website or blog. That way
people can find you and connect with you, if they like what youre tweeting.
Include location data. This helps you to be found in external directories such as
Twellow.
Search hash tags and join relevant conversations. This allows others to connect
with what you are saying and follow you.
Set up lists. Twitter is rapid-fire. If you decide to follow recruiters, coaches or
employers, this tool allows you to more easily sort and access tweets.
Share other peoples stuff more so than your own. Unless you are a celebrity,
nobody likes an over-sharer or a shouter. Share other peoples tweets and many of
them will thank you and follow you.
How social media can hinder your search
What youve posted on social media can impact heavily on your employment prospects. You
need to be extremely mindful of how you will be perceived online, and you must ensure that
there is nothing online that a recruiter or employer will find that would reflect poorly or
negatively on you.
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So its probably time to review the information you have posted on these sites, viewed from
the perspective of a potential mining company employer or recruiter. For example, they wont
want to see:
Drinking, or boasting about drinking. Employers have zero tolerance
Blatant promiscuity or sexualised behaviour. Employers have zero tolerance
Fighting or displaying an aggressive attitude. Employers have zero tolerance
Disrespect for authority or property. Employers have zero tolerance
Disrespect for your own or other peoples safety. Employers have zero tolerance
The good news is that social media can be a very powerful tool for good; it can be used to
enhance your personal brand as well as your professional network, to put the word out
that you are looking for a career change, or to simply network up with like-minded people and
businesses.
However the most important rule in all of this is:
Profile yourself exactly as you would want a prospective employer to see you.
Section contributor:
Karalyn Brown is the Founder of InterviewIQ a blog dedicated to
helping you find a job. She is a former HR and recruitment
consultant and careers journalist and is the most connected
Australian woman on LinkedIn.
interviewiq.com.au
Section contributor:
Phillipa Kiripatea is a professional Social Media Speaker and runs
seminars and workshops through her company Social Divas.
socialdivas.com.au
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However Australians also have a reputation for hard work in sometimes difficult
environments, which may be why mining has been, and continues to be, such a successful and
growing contributor to Australias business, employment and economic environments.
Housing in Australia
Australian cities and towns offer a wide range of housing options. From a single house on a
block of land in the suburb of a city, to a one-bedroom flat in a high-rise block in an inner city
area, to a house on acreage in a rural area, Australia offers some of the worlds most diverse
living options. Typically, the Australian dream is to own a home on a block of land close to
schools, workplaces and other facilities. To achieve this, many will opt to rent before they can
qualify financially to buy their home, or before they have decided where they want to live.
The price of housing varies a lot between cities and towns, and then again within each city or
town. Proximity to services such as workplaces, city centres, schools, transport and shopping
will impact enormously on the price of housing. With 90% of Australias population
concentrated in the major capital cities, all of which themselves are located on the coast of the
continent, Australias population is widely dispersed.
For example, Perth, the capital of Western Australia, is the most remote capital city in the
world, with its nearest neighbour, Adelaide (the capital of South Australia), being 2,700 km
away, or more than two days driving, by road. Most people live in the suburbs of the state
capital cities. They like to live close to where they work, go to school, access community
facilities and use leisure areas.
Country towns and regional cities are smaller and widely separated. Life in a country town is
more relaxed and less expensive than in a big city. Home ownership is usually more
achievable for people who choose to work and live in towns away from the capital cities.
Making the move to Australia
Moving internationally can be an
overwhelming,
yet
life-changing,
experience. There is an added layer of
complexity when moving overseas and
it is important to obtain the correct
information
before
making
any
decisions.
We have summarised below some of the
key considerations when contemplating
an international move to Australia.
Family circumstances
There are many benefits to family life in
Australia. You need to consider whether
your family members will be joining you permanently from the beginning or later on, once
you are more settled. If you will be working in a very remote location consider what impact
your absence might have and how to minimise the disruption. It is important to also prepare
children for the move and their new life so they are more likely to settle quickly.
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Cultural issues
Moving to a new country will result in cultural changes even if you speak the same language.
In fact, individuals with English as their native languages often underestimate the differences
they will experience and can be surprised to find themselves with culture shock. The local
slang and tone of voice being used can easily be misinterpreted causing confusion or anger.
Language barriers are only one of the
challenges new arrivals may face. Australian
workplaces have their own unique culture and
ways of working which can take some time to
understand. Australians can be quite abrupt in
their manner and also have a less hierarchal
relationship with their managers, which can be
unusual for some foreigners.
Social etiquette also takes time to comprehend.
The Australian lifestyle is fairly laid back
compared to many other countries. However,
there are still social customs and expectations
that you will need to be aware of in order to fit
in.
Practical issues
There are literally hundreds of decisions to be made when moving such as:
Which household items to ship
What type of accommodation will you be living in?
Will the weather affect delicate items?
What temporary arrangements can be made until furniture arrives?
Can pets be relocated?
Will the pets health impact your decision?
How well will they cope with such a major transition?
How important is it that they stay with your family?
Where will I live?
Which is your preferred location?
What type of accommodation do you need?
What costs are involved?
How do I choose schools?
Will public or private education be better?
What are the school terms in Australia?
How long is the waiting list for childcare and schools?
What health cover should I have?
Will you need private health insurance?
What is and is not covered?
What waiting periods will there be for treatment?
The list is long and the right answers will depend on each persons specific circumstances.
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moving2plan.com.au
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Reliable Relocations
Relocation Services Australia
Transglobal Shipping & Storage
Intlmovers
King & Wilson Moving and Storage
Britannia Movers International
PSS International Removals
1st Move International Removals
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Your application must reflect the information provided in your Expression of Interest, and be
supported by relevant evidence, or your application could be rejected.
Entitlements
This visa allows you and your accompanying family members to:
Live and work permanently in Australia
Study in Australia
Enrol in Medicare (Australia's scheme covering health-related care and expenses)
Access certain social security payments after waiting periods
Apply for Australian citizenship (subject to residency criteria)
Sponsor family members for permanent residence
Skilled Sponsored Visa (Subclass 190)
This points-based visa is for skilled workers who are nominated by a State or Territory or
sponsored by an eligible relative living in a designated area in Australia. The visa is valid for
four years, and a visa holder must live and work in a specified regional area. Additionally,
eligible family members can be included in the application.
The Skilled Nominated or Sponsored (Provisional) Subclass 489 visa replaces both the
offshore Skilled - Regional Sponsored Subclass 475 visa and the onshore Subclass 487 visa.
To be able to submit a valid application for this visa you need to first submit an Expression of
Interest (EOI) through the SkillSelect system. You can do this from outside Australia, or once
in Australia.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this visa, you must be nominated by a state or territory government, or be
sponsored by an eligible relative.
There are basic requirements you must meet to be eligible to apply for this visa. For example
you must:
Be between 18 and 50 years of age when the invitation is issued;
Nominate an occupation that matches your skills and qualifications and is on the
relevant skilled occupation list;
Have your skills assessed by the relevant assessing authority as suitable for your
nominated occupation;
Have at least competent English;
Score at least 60 on the points test; and
Meet the health and character requirements.
If you are invited to apply for this visa, you will then have 60 days in which to submit your
online application. Your invitation letter will explain the process you should follow.
Invitations are based on claims made in your Expression of Interest at the time you are invited
to apply. Your application must reflect the information provided in your Expression of
Interest, and be supported by relevant evidence.
Entitlements
This visa allows you and your dependents to:
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However, you can only be granted a maximum of two provisional skilled visas, meaning if
you've held any of the subclass 495, 496, 475 or 487 visas more than once, you cannot apply
for a subclass 489 visa.
Skilled Regional Sponsored Visa (Subclass 489)
The requirements for this visa incorporate all those needed for the Skilled Sponsored Visa, but
with four additional conditions:
1. Applicants must agree to work for at least one year and live for two years in a Specified
Regional Area of Australia. These areas are:
New South Wales except Sydney, the Central Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong,
Northern Territory, Queensland, (except the Gold Coast and the Greater
Brisbane area), Tasmania, Victoria (except the Melbourne metropolitan area),
Western Australia (except Perth metropolitan area).
2. The relative acting as a sponsor must live in the Specified Regional Area in which the
applicant wishes to work.
3. Like all 457 visas, this is valid for three years only, but it provides a pathway to
permanent residence.
4. The applicant must be able to demonstrate specialised skills in an area of need.
How do I find a 457 employer/sponsor in Australia?
This is currently the single most asked question from potential migrants to Australia.
There are several crucial steps you can take to significantly increase your chances of finding
an employer/sponsor in Australia. They are:
Do your research: There is plenty of information across the internet with industry and skillsassessing organisations, expat and migration
forums, job surveys, the DIAC website, jobs
boards and on the useful websites (ref Useful
Links at the end of this section).
Engage a reputable registered migration
agent: You are likely to have many questions
about the migration and employment
processes, so we strongly recommend that
you engage a professional migration agent. If
your long-term objective is to obtain
permanent residency in Australia, there are
many factors to consider (e.g. which
occupation will you nominate; which States
could sponsor your occupation, etc?). Also,
once you have engaged a migration agent,
you can refer any questions directly to your
agent, smoothing the pathway for your
prospective employer to agree to sponsorship.
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare: Ideally your resume should be prepared by a professional
resume writer. This is your introduction (from a distance) to your prospective employer, and
so is your key marketing tool. Always include all your certificates, references etc. If you
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require skills assessments, professional registration or licensing, IELTS tests or even a new
passport, these are best obtained before you send your resume to any employer. Prepare
yourself properly and thoroughly for interviews, including possible video interviews (eg via
Skype).
Browse jobs boards: Search all the major jobs boards in Australia to get an idea of which
employers are hiring and where they are hiring. Read all the mining job ads carefully, even if
youre not going to apply, as this will familiarise you with the terminology, locations of jobs,
salary expectations and so on. The best jobs boards to browse are the job ad aggregators such
as WESTjobs and Jobsearch. Other sites like CareerOne, MyCareer and Seek have hundreds of
Australian jobs online, as do many of the niche jobs boards.
If possible, visit Australia: If possible, after doing your research, you should visit Australia to
research locations and prospective employers (Note: Dont forget that a holiday visa is for
holidaying and not for job-searching!). Be prepared to expand your search focus, as there are
many more job and employer sponsorship opportunities in regional areas of Australia.
Enquire about securing a visa that will allow you to attend job interviews.
Contact Employers: Many jobs are never advertised. Try to make contact with prospective
employers directly (see More Useful Links/Contacts at the end of this Guide).
Contact Recruiters: There are recruiters who specialise in mining jobs (see Useful
Links/Contacts at the end of this section).
Be persistent, be patient, and dont give up!: As a matter of course you will receive many
rejections, as the vast majority of positions advertised in Australia will be filled by locals and
so will not help you in your search for an employer/sponsor.
If you want to get to Australia in a hurry, then a 457 Visa is the way to go, if you can find an
employer/sponsor for your skills. At the same time, dont ignore your longer-term strategy if
ultimately you intend to apply for a permanent visa. Importantly, dont leave this until your
457 has almost expired!
If you are serious about obtaining employer sponsorship then do your research and your
homework, have a well-prepared strategy and stick to it.
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www.konnecting.com
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people from overseas. However there are many pitfalls waiting for the unsuspecting migrant
to Australia and it is critical that you read and digest all the information on the websites listed
below:
Konnecting: Skilled Migration & Recruitment Consultants
Department of Immigration and Citizenship
DIAC Skilled Migration Blog
Western Australia Skilled Migration Portal
Visas to Work and Live in Australia
AMMA Migration Services
Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Approved Migration Agents
Skilled Regional Sponsored Visas
Job Outlook
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women, including truck drivers and drillers offsiders. Dump truck driving is quite well-suited
to women as their steady approach tends to cause less wear and tear on machinery.
Apart from filling labour gaps, enhancing the gender balance is also helping to bring about
improvements in mine site culture, a real plus for the industry.
Some positive changes for women in mining
Working in the mining industry is usually characterised by issues such as FIFO rosters, long
shifts, huge commuting distances, remote locations and demanding physical labour. These
unfriendly perceptions have, until quite recently, served to discourage women from
entering the industry, particularly if they come from a family environment. However, as
employers have to meet labour demand they have had to redress those perceptions and make
mining a much more women-friendly prospect.
Some of the changes being made to attract women to the industry are:
More flexible, parent-friendly work schedules
More comfortable and gender-inclusive workplaces
Improved pay rates for women (addressing gender pay gaps)
Improved maternity leave and child-care services
Family-friendly accommodation
Challenges for women in mining
Notwithstanding these improved and continually improving working conditions for women,
before making the decision to find a mining job, its important to be aware of the challenges of
working at a mine site. These challenges are not just for women - they are universal - and we
discuss them in other sections of this manual, but for the benefit of this section below are
some of the factors to consider:
Living Away From Home Being away from friends and family can put pressure on
relationships. Long hours and irregular shift rosters are often not conducive to a
functional family life, especially for mothers working away from home who will return
home to their second shift.
However, for single women with few family responsibilities and for women who are
prepared to tolerate such conditions, or for wives and mothers with supportive families
who are prepared to cope with the unusual work/life balance, the benefits of high
earnings, as well as the work flexibility on offer, can offset such challenges.
Long Working Days Almost no one works a traditional 40 hour week on the mines.
Most do 12 hour days, 7 days a week. This can be repetitive and exhausting if youre not
used to it. However, if you have a FIFO arrangement, the benefit can be regular weeks off
to be spent with friends and family.
Uncomfortable Conditions Mines are usually in remote, hot areas and working
conditions involve dirt, heat and flies which can become irritating and intense. The high
temperatures can be intolerable for some people.
Monotonous Work Each day can be the same with little variety. If you are a routine
person this may suit you but if you are someone who is easily bored this may not work for
you. Also, early shifts can mean starting at 4am followed by a long working day and 7pm
bedtimes.
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Remote Locations Often theres not another town in site for kilometres so theres
nowhere to go to get a break or a change of scenery. This can lead to a sense of cabin fever
for some people.
Alcohol Monitoring Shifts often begin with a safety brief or pre-start meeting, which
can include alcohol breath testing. Although there might be a bar or tavern on site,
workers must limit their alcohol intake in order to be fit for work according to health and
safety standards.
What mining jobs are available for women?
There are various roles across the industry that are available and occupied by women
including skilled and unskilled jobs such as
driving dump trucks and road trains, working
on drilling rigs, working as diesel mechanics
together with more traditional female
dominated roles such as cleaning and
catering/food preparation.
Mining training courses are non genderspecific and women are now much more likely
to be found undergoing training in preparation
for what have traditionally been maledominated roles.
There are also plenty of opportunities for
unskilled women to work in the mining
industry.
Skilled jobs for women in mining
Undergoing training and securing qualifications can often be the first step, especially for
women with no previous industry experience. These qualifications can include:
Science qualifications
Women with science degrees are in very high demand. Degrees in geology, geo-science,
surveying, engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, environment
management and social science are all highly desirable.
Business qualifications
A business degree, particularly in management, project management, accounting, HR or
occupational health and safety are all in demand.
IT qualifications
Tertiary or higher qualifications in database management, systems engineering, systems
support or software programming are in demand.
Trade-based qualifications
Electricians, welders, boilermakers and carpenters are all in demand.
Hard-hat qualifications
Women are now occupying more hard-hat roles than ever before, working as truck drivers,
dump truck operators, drillers, plant operators (loaders, bobcats, bulldozers, excavators,
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graders, scrapers and forklifts). Tertiary qualifications may not be required but appropriate
training and certification is essential.
Other qualifications
There are numerous mining jobs in WA that are open to people with qualifications in nonmining areas such as chefs, cleaners, medical staff, health and fitness and general office
support and administration.
Unskilled jobs for women in the mining industry
There are opportunities for unskilled women to secure mining jobs with no experience in the
mining industry. Those without skills may be required to undergo some general or specific
pre-employment training which could include safety inductions, first aid courses, general
health and safety training together with familiarisation of office and workplace protocols.
However, generally speaking, positions do not require specific education or training.
Some of these jobs are found in the areas of:
General Office Administration (reception, filing, word processing, data entry, office
support)
Catering and Food Preparation (cook, chefs assistant, table service, kitchen
assistant, counter-hand)
Cleaning Jobs (cleaning buildings, kitchens, garbage processing, floor polishing,
janitor, valet)
Transport & Driving Jobs (field work, data gathering)
Entry-level roles such as these are good stepping stones and starting points for careers in the
mining industry. Coupled with appropriate extra-curricular mining training and education,
women (and men for that matter) can often go on to secure senior, well-paid and long-term
mining jobs.
In short, there are plenty of opportunities for women in the mining industry as jobs are in
large supply. If you are female and interested, investigate job prospects as the industry more
than likely needs you. Its not work that suits everyone however, and there are certain
conditions to be aware of. If you have a family it can be a successful working arrangement
with the right support in place around you.
Regardless of your own situation, mining companies are constantly finding new ways to
attract women to their workforce as well as developing strategies to better attract and engage
women.
Useful links and contacts
Women in mining
Women play a very important role in the Australian mining, hydrocarbons, energy and
construction industries. With just 15% of workers in Australian mining being women, there
are plenty of opportunities for career-minded women to make an increasingly valuable
contribution to the industry. Familiarise yourself with the information below to give yourself
the best chance of success in your mining career:
Australian Women in Resources Alliance
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not often visible. The same vigour and effort that has always been dedicated to the pursuit
and management of safety hazards is now being devoted to managing health hazards in
mining.
For example, in Queensland, the Mining Health Improvement and Awareness Committee
(HIAC) focuses its efforts on health hazards in the mining industry. They provide a forum to
monitor emerging health issues and to discuss those that are not always clearly understood.
Equally, in New South Wales, the Health Management Advisory Committee has begun to
provide advice on the regulation of health issues in the NSW mining industry.
The identified health risks that are high priority exposures and related disorders are:
Noise causing noise-induced hearing loss
Vibration causing musculoskeletal disorders
Diesel exhaust fumes leading to respiratory disease
Hazardous substance exposure causing dermatitis
Ergonomic stressors causing musculoskeletal conditions
Ergonomic stressors causing back disorders
Ergonomic stressors causing fatigue and related disorders
Psychosocial hazards causing mental disorders
Ultraviolet radiation and skin disease.
Dust
Drugs & alcohol
Most mining companies have zero tolerance approach to alcohol and drugs in the
workplace, which is usually contained in the alcohol and drugs policy document as part of
your work contract. This document sets out how to address safety and health risks arising
from people impaired by alcohol and drugs to help reduce the risks to all people involved.
These policies are usually adopted as part of a strategy, to reflect the safety and health needs
of each workplace.
A range of factors, both at the workplace and in people's personal lives impact on the ability to
work safely. The use of alcohol and/or other drugs is one of them.
Alcohol and drug usage in the mining industry becomes a serious occupational safety and
health issue if a worker's ability to exercise judgment, coordination, motor control,
concentration and alertness at the workplace is impaired, leading to increased risk of injury
or incidents to themselves or others.
Co-workers too may be placed in difficult situations, perhaps expected to cover unsafe work
practices or having to report a co-worker. In such situations, workers must take all reasonable
steps to protect their own safety and health and not endanger the safety and health of others
at the workplace. The consumption of alcohol and drugs while at work is unacceptable, except
in relation to any authorised and responsible use of alcohol at workplace social functions.
Workers should always present themselves for work capable of performing their work duties
safely.
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For employers, alcohol and other drugs can cause a range of problems. In some cases, their
use may lead to injury, loss of life or damage to plant or equipment. Employers have a legal
duty of care obligation to ensure that, as far as practicable, workers are not exposed to
hazards and risks that could arise from workers being impaired by alcohol and/or other drugs
and, where they may arise, address them through a systematic risk management process.
The strategy adopted by a workplace must ensure workplace hazards and risks associated
with the use of alcohol and other drugs are eliminated or reduced, as far as practicable. This
may include a range of initiatives to deal with the particular hazards and risks specific to a
mine site.
Useful links and contacts
Safety in Australias mining industry
Mining companies take safety extremely seriously. Every day, managers and teams meet to
discuss safety. Safety controls and activity adopted by most of the miners adheres to the
mining work health and safety regulations of the Australian states within which they operate.
Each Australian state can have different rules and regulations, so its best to be familiar with
them before you start out:
Safe Work Australia
Risk Management Mining Course
Top 5 Safety Risks in Mining
Mining Safety & Health Western Australia
Mine Safety New South Wales
Mine Safety - Queensland
Mine Safety South Australia
Mine Safety Northern Territory
Mine Safety - Tasmania
Mine Safety Institute of Australia
National Mine Safety Framework
Australasian Mine Safety Journal
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CARBON-IN-LEACH (CIL) - A method of recovering gold and silver from fine ground ore by
simultaneous dissolution and adsorption of the precious metals onto fine carbon in an
agitated tank of ore solids/solution slurry. The carbon flows counter currently to the head of
the leaching circuit.
CARBON-IN-PULP (CIP) - A method of recovering gold and silver from fine ground ore by
adsorption of the precious metals onto fine carbon in an agitated tank of ore solids/solution
slurry. This recovery step in the process follows the leaching process, which is done in
similarly agitated tanks, but without contained carbon.
CATHODE - A rectangular plate of metal produced by electrolytic refining, which is melted
into commercial shapes such as ingots.
CHANGE HOUSE - A building or room where miners change into working clothes; also known
as a dry house.
CHUTE - An inclined opening usually made of timber and equipped with a gate, through which
ore is drawn from a stope into mine cars.
CLEANSKINS Employees who have not yet worked on a mine-site
COLLAR - The term applied to the timbering or concrete around the mouth of a shaft; also
used to describe the top of a drill hole.
COMPLEX ORE - An ore containing a number of minerals of economic value. The term implies
that there may be metallurgical difficulties in liberating and separating the valuable minerals.
CONCENTRATE - A product containing the valuable metal and from which most of the waste
material in the ore has been removed.
CORE - The long cylinder of rock, 2-3cm or more in diameter that is recovered by drilling.
CORE BARREL - That part of a string of tools in diamond drilling in which the core specimen
collects.
COWS A safety acronym - Can you hear me; Open your eyes; Whats your name; Squeeze my
hand
CRIB ROOM - The room where miners eat (from the word cribbage when miners would
often play the card game cribbage)
CROSSCUT - A horizontal opening driven across the course of a vein or structure, or in
general across the strike of the rock formation; a connection from a shaft to an ore structure
CRUSHER - A machine for crushing rock, such as gyratory crusher, jaw crusher, stamp mill,
etc.
CYANIDATION - A method of extracting exposed gold or silver grains from crushed or ground
ore by dissolving it in a weak cyanide solution. This may be carried out in agitated tanks in a
mill or on ore heaps outside.
DEWATERING - The process of separating solids from solution by sedimentation in tanks
called thickeners or by filtering the solution through filter cloth in filters
DIAMOND DRILL - A rotary type of rock drill in which the cutting is done by abrasion rather
than percussion
DIGGER An Excavator
DILUTION - Waste low-grade rock which has been removed along with the ore in the mining
process
DIP - The angle at which a vein, structure or rock bed is inclined from the horizontal
DIP NEEDLE - A compass whose needle is mounted so as to swing in a vertical plane, used for
determining the magnetic attraction of rocks
DONGA A standalone building used as living quarters for miners
DRAG FOLD - Rock that has been folded or bent back on itself
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DRIFT (DRIVE) - A horizontal passage underground that follows along the length of a vein or
rock formation as opposed to a crosscut which crosses the rock formation.
DRIFTER - A rock drill used for boring horizontal holes for blasting
DRY HOUSE - A building where miners change their working clothes
DUMP - A pile or heap of rock or ore on the surface
ERT Emergency Response Team
EXPLORATION - The prospecting, diamond drilling and other work involved in searching for
ore
FACE - As applied to a drift, crosscut or stope, is the end in which work is progressing
FIFO Fly In/Fly Out getting workers to and from a mine site
FILTER PRESS - A pressure filter used to remove solids from a fine solids feed slurry. The
solids sludge collected is periodically removed from the filter by opening the filter plates,
scraping off the solids and replacing the plates with new filter material
FISSURE - An extensive crack, break or fracture in rocks
FLOTATION - A milling process where some mineral particles are induced to become
attached to bubbles and float, while others sink. This separates valuable minerals from
worthless ones
FLOWSHEET - The step-by-step sequence of operations by which ore is treated in a milling,
concentrated, or smelting process
FOOTWALL - The wall or rock on the underside of a vein or ore structure
FREE MILLING - Ores of gold or silver from which the precious metals can be recovered by
concentrating methods without resort to roasting or chemical treatment
GANGUE - The worthless minerals associated with valuable minerals in ore deposit
GEOLOGY - The science concerned with the study of the rocks, which compose the earth
GROUTING - The process of sealing off a water flow in rocks by forcing thin cement slurry, or
other chemicals into the crevices; usually done through a diamond drill hole
GRUBSTAKE - Finances or supplies of food, etc, supplied to a prospector on promise of a
share in any discoveries he makes.
GUIDES - The timber along the sides of a shaft for the purpose of steadying, or guiding, the
cage or conveyance
HANGING WALL- The wall or rock on the upper or topside of vein or ore deposit
HEAP LEACH - A mineral processing method involving the crushing and stacking of ore on an
impermeable liner upon which leach solutions are sprayed to dissolve metals such as gold and
copper
HIGH GRADE - Selective mining of the best ore in a deposit (Rich ore)
HIGH WALL - The high side of a mine or pit
HOIST - The machine used for raising and lowering the cage or other conveyance in a shaft
HOST ROCK - The rock containing an ore deposit
HYDRAULIC - A common method of mining in which water under pressure is used to cut
away banks of gold-bearing gravels or overburden.
JAW CRUSHER - A machine in which the rock is broken by the action of moving steel plates or
jaws
JHA - Job Hazard Assessment
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JIG - An apparatus used in milling to concentrate ore on a screen submerged in water, either
by a reciprocating motion of the screen or by the pulsation of water through it
JSA - Job Safety Analysis
JSEA Job Safety & Environment Analysis
LAGGING - Planks or small timbers placed along the roof of a stope or drift to prevent rocks
from falling, rather than to support the main weight of the overlying rocks
LAUNDER - A chute or trough for conveying pulp, water or powered ore in the milling process
LODE - A mineral deposit in solid rock
LV Light vehicle
MILL - A plant in which ore is treated to recover valuable metals, or a revolving drum for the
fine grinding of ores in preparation for treatment
MILL HEADS - The average grade of ore fed into a mill
MILLING ORE - Ore that contains sufficient valuable mineral to be treated by milling process
MINES INSPECTORATE - The government body in charge of mining.
MONITOR - An apparatus fitted with a nozzle and used to direct water under high pressure in
order to remove overburden or to break down gold-bearing gravels in order to sluice them.
MOPS Mine Operating Procedures
MOTHERLODE - The starting place or origin of a metal. A vein containing the original metal.
MSDS Material Safety Data Sheet
NATIVE METAL - A metal occurring in nature in pure form, not combined with other
elements
NUGGET - A significant piece of precious metal
ORE - A mixture of ore minerals and gangue from which at least one of the metals can be
extracted at a profit
ORE-BEARING - Rock that has some type of ore present in its composition
OVERBURDEN - The rock or soil that lies above an ore body and is removed during mining
PAN - To wash gravel or rock that has been ground in a pan to separate gold
PEBBLE MILL - A grinding mill similar in construction and action to a ball mill, but in which
the charge is made up of hard pebbles in place of the more conventional steel balls
PLACER - An alluvial deposit of sand and gravel containing valuable minerals such as gold
PLANT - A group of buildings with equipment in which a process or function is carried out.
Can include warehouses, milling equipment, hoisting equipment, compressors, repair shops
and offices
PORTAL - The surface entrance to a tunnel or adit
POCKETS - These are cavities in the earth, filled with ore, or a rich deposit or gold
PROSPECT - A mining property, the value of which has not been proved by exploration
PULP - A name for gold in the mining process
PYRITE - Hard, heavy, shiny, yellow mineral, being a sulphide of iron. Sometimes called fools
gold.
RAISE - A vertical or inclined underground working that has been excavated from the bottom
upward
RAKE - The trend or an ore body along the direction of its strike
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REAMING SHELL - A string of rods used in drilling, set with diamonds, and placed between
the bit and the core barrel to maintain the gauge of the hole
ROCKBOLTING - The act of consolidating roof strata by means of anchoring and tensioning
steel bolts in holes especially drilled for the purpose
ROCK BURST - The sudden failure of walls or pillars in a mine caused by the weight of
pressure of the surrounding rocks, and accompanied by a violent release of energy
ROD MILL - A rotating cylindrical mill, which employs steel rods as a grinding medium
SAMPLE - A small portion of rock or mineral deposit, usually taken for the purpose of being
assayed to determine possible content of valuable elements
SHAFT - A vertical or inclined excavation for the purpose of opening and servicing a mine. It is
usually equipped with a hoist at the top, which lowers and raises a conveyance for handling
men and material
SHAKER SCREEN - A screen for filtering out impurities in milling of gold
SKIP - A self-dumping type of bucket used in a shaft for hoisting ore or rock
SQUARE SET - A set of timbers used for support in underground mining, consisting of cap, girt
and post
SLAM A safety acronym - Stop, Look, Assess and Manage
SMELTING FURNACE - A furnace used to melt concentrated valuable metals and minerals and
upgrade them by slagging off gangue (worthless) minerals
STATION - An enlargement of a shaft made of the level horizon used primarily for the storage
and handling of equipment
STOCKPILE - Broken ore accumulated in a heap on the surface, pending treatment or
shipment
STOPE - An excavation in a mine from which ore is being or has been extracted
SUMP - An excavation underground for the purpose of catching or storing water; the bottom
of a shaft is commonly used for this purpose
TAILINGS - Material rejected from a mill after the recoverable valuable minerals have been
extracted
TOE The bottom of the high wall
TRAM An engine to haul cars of ore or waste inside a mine
TUBE MILL - A piece of milling equipment consisting of a revolving cylinder with steel rods or
balls into which crushed ore is fed for fine grinding
TUNNEL - A horizontal underground passage that is open at both ends; the term is loosely
applied in many cases to an adit, which is open at only one end
VEIN - A fissure, fault or crack in a rock filled by minerals that have travelled upwards from
some deep source
WASTE - Barren rock or mineralised material that is too low in grade to be economically
processed
WEDGE - Placing a wedge at some point in a drill hole to deflect a diamond bit in another
direction
ZINC DUST - Fine zinc metal used to precipitate gold and silver from a solution
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companies, their operations and their cultures, will certainly help you in your quest for a job
in Australias mining industry.
Alliance Resources Limited
Anglo Coal Australia Pty Ltd
AngloGold Ashanti Australia Limited
Astron Limited
Barrick Gold Of Australia Limited
Bendigo Mining Limited
BHP Billiton Limited
Castlemaine Goldfields Limited
Dart Mining NL
Downer EDI Mining Pty Ltd
Exxaro Australia Sands Pty Ltd
Freeport McMoRan Copper and Gold Inc
GBM Resources Limited
Goldstar Resources NL
Indophil Resources NL
International Power Hazelwood
Lihir Gold Limited
Loy Yang Power Management Pty Ltd
Minara Resources Ltd
Newcrest Mining Limited
Newmont Australia Limited
Northgate Australian Ventures Pty Ltd
OZ Minerals
Paladin Resources Ltd
Peabody Energy
Range River Gold Ltd
Reedy Lagoon Corporation Ltd
Rio Tinto
St Barbara Limited
Thiess Pty Ltd
TRUenergy Yallourn Pty Ltd
Xstrata Plc
Zeehan Zinc Limited
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General links
These general links have been included to provide you with some supplementary information
that may be of interest to you in your search for a job in Australias mining industry.
Mining in Australia - Wikipedia
The Australian Mining Story
Australian Mining Industry News
Australian Mines Atlas
Mining & Resources Investment Opportunities
The Kalgoorlie SuperPit
Australian Mine Sites A-Z
Mining Monthly Magazine
Minerals Council of Australia
Mining Reference
Now, your future is in your hands!
Good luck with your mining career
Youve now come to the end of your Guide but hopefully to the beginning of your new mining
career. We trust that you now have a much clearer picture of what is involved in finding a job
and working in Australias mining industry.
WESTjobs objective in putting your Guide together was simply this to give you every
opportunity to know as much as possible about how Australias mining industry works, and to
find out just what it takes to find a job and then to work in that industry.
Weve done our part now the rest is up to you!
Good luck from the WESTjobs Team.
WESTjobs.com.au
Please note: WESTjobs is not a registered recruiter, nor an employer, and so cannot directly assist
you to directly find a job in the Australian mining industry. "The Definitive Guide to Working in
Australia's Mining Industry" has been prepared to provide you with advice, tips, information and
contacts to help you reach your goals and increase your chances of finding work in the Australian
mining industry. Once you have read your Guide, you will need to apply what you have learnt in
your personal search for work. WESTjobs cannot assist you further to find a job in the Australian
mining industry other than by searching on our website.
This document contains a lot of links and at time of publication they were accurate, but we cannot
guarantee that the content we link to will always work or has not been changed by 3 rd party
providers. We are happy to update if notified.
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