Harriet

Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, University of Queensland

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I’m from Brisbane but have lived in Canada and Zimbabwe as my dad works in mining. I’m starting my second year of a double degree in Mechanical Engineering and Economics at the University of Queensland. I’ve just completed a vacation program at Maules Creek where I was part of the technical services team, but also worked with the autonomous haulage team and maintenance.

How did you choose to what to study?

I’ve always liked doing maths and physics, building things and understanding how they work, so I knew I wanted to study some sort of engineering. I did economics in high school and to my surprise really enjoyed it, so have continued that at university. It’s all about understanding why people make the decisions they do.

Why did you choose to do a vacation program with Whitehaven?

I learned about the program at a career fair at uni – where I got into a good conversation about the autonomous haulage project at Maules Creek. It’s the first coal mine on the east coast implementing an autonomous haulage system and I wanted to get involved in it as it’s the first.

Describe a typical day:

I didn’t really have a typical day, but I’d wake up at about 5.00am, catch the bus to site in time for the pre-start at 6.30am. I’d then head out to the pit and do a pit inspection with a mining engineer, where we looked to see what had been done after night shift and how it was progressing against the weekly mine plan. Then I’d go back to the office and work on projects or do drill data logging, then I’d normally go out with the autonomous haulage team to learn about the trucks and the testing that they were doing. I’d usually finish at 4.30pm and get back to camp at 5 or 5.15pm.

How did you find the long days?

It was difficult at the start, but I eventually got into a routine of working full time. I enjoyed it because every day I was working on something I was interested in, and my projects were having an impact at site.

What was the most challenging?

Being in male-dominated environment was a bit of a shock at the start – I wasn’t treated differently at all, but I’m used to seeing more females around, especially having gone to a girl’s high school! My parents live overseas and at first it was hard not to be able to talk to them at any time I wanted, because I was working full time.

What was the biggest surprise?

The sheer scale of a mine site, the mine itself and even the amount of dirt and coal that’s moved. I’d been told you come half way up the wheel of a haul truck, but you can’t really picture the scale it until you see it.

What was the best thing about the program?

I learned so much about being an engineer, because everyone got me so involved in their work and taught me so much about the industry. They took care in teaching me and answering all my questions to help me learn – but I also appreciated that I could make a real contribution to the mine through my work. Having that experience also means that now that I’m back at uni, I have a better idea of how things I learn actually apply to real life situations. For my next vacation program, I’d like to see if I can solve problems based on what I learned at uni.

Do you have any advice for people still in school who might be thinking about what to do next?

Take every opportunity you have even if it seems daunting at first – don’t be scared of the challenge! After the vacation program, now I know that if I can do it in Boggabri I can do it in Brisbane!

Hannah

Environmental Science and Management, University of Newcastle

Tell us a bit about yourself:

I grew up on a sheep and cattle farm near Burren Junction in NSW. I spent most of my childhood helping out on the farm, and playing outside. I went to high school in Armidale, and when I graduated I joined the Whitehaven Cadetship program. I have just completed a Bachelor of Environmental Science and Management at the University of Newcastle, and I will complete an Honours year in 2021.

How did you choose what to study?

Growing up on a farm I have always been interested in the environment, and working outdoors, and environmental science was the perfect combination of the two. The degree is also very broad, and has allowed me to learn about everything from soil, to marine biology, to ecology. Environmental science is such an important degree, and I am passionate about finding solutions to environmental issues, especially in rural areas.

Why did you pick a cadetship with Whitehaven?

When I finished high school and started to apply to uni, the drought was severely impacting my parents’ farm, and I knew that I would have to support myself through uni. My dad told me about the Whitehaven cadetship when he saw an ad for it in the local Wee Waa paper. At that point I had never considered working in the mines, however I knew that experience gained during vacation work, and a graduate position would give me an amazing start in my career. The cadetship has given me so much industry exposure, while only being an hour and a half away from home.

Describe your typical day at Whitehaven:

Each day at Whitehaven is different. I usually start my day at Narrabri Underground at 7am. As a vacation student I get to spend time with the various contractors on site, which allows me to experience everything from water sampling to flora surveys. I also get to spend time in the office, learning from the other environmental officers about the processes behind the environmental legislation Whitehaven follows. I also get exposure to different departments at Whitehaven, which has given me a general knowledge about the mining process.

What have you enjoyed most about your cadetship & Whitehaven?

I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with different environmental and mining professionals, and learn about their careers. I also like how close Whitehaven is to home. There aren’t many opportunities for Environmental Scientists in the area, so having a rewarding job, that still allows me to visit home on weekends is amazing.

What would your advice be to someone considering doing an cadetship?

Make the most of the opportunities presented to you during the cadetship, ask lots of questions and be willing to learn!

How has Whitehaven supported you throughout your studies?

Whitehaven has assisted me financially, which has allowed me to go to university and study a degree I am passionate about. The practical experience I have gained from doing vacation work has helped me in my studies, as I have been able to apply theories I have learnt. Whitehaven has also recently offered me the opportunity of an extra year of study so I can complete an Honours year before I start the graduate program.

Is there anything that has surprised you to learn about the mining industry?

Growing up I thought mines could do anything to the land they mined, so I was surprised to learn about the amount of environmental legislation and restrictions the mine has to follow to ensure minimal impact.

What are your future plans once you graduate?

Once I graduate I will aim to begin the two year Environmental Graduate Program at Whitehaven. Beyond that, I would like to stay working in rural areas in the environmental sector.