Maddie, 24, Workshop Administrator, Queensland

Maddie is our first ever Share Your Story! She shares her journey from small town kitchenhand, to workshop administrator at an open cut coal mine in central Queensland.

How did you get into mining?

Hi there! I’m Maddie, and I’m 24 years old from Queensland. Thanks for sharing my story!

I never really planned on a mining career, even though it was always pretty common for people in our town to work at the mines (there are so many not too far from where I live), and I knew a tonne of people who did. After highschool I worked in cafes and restaurants, which I did enjoy, then worked in administration. University wasn’t for me, and I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do with my life. A friend suggested mining and I thought, heck, I’m open to try something new!

I applied for a lot of roles through a few different recruitment agencies. I got a call for a phone interview, and they offered me this casual contracting role. I was so excited! It was similar work to what I was doing already in town, but it was more hours and paid more, so I was pretty happy about that.

What’s it like working as a workshop administrator?

The work itself can be pretty simple, but the days always fly by. I only work days, no nightshift, and it’s BIBO (bus in bus out) of town, Mondays to Fridays. There’s a lot of data entry, purchase orders, receipting, scanning and filing. Sometimes I head out for a walk through the workshop and check out what’s going on. We always have to wear hardhats and safety glasses when we leave the office, stick to the footpaths, and our distance from restricted areas like hot works or suspended loads. Safety is very important! I’ve really enjoyed learning about mechanics in the workshop, and also found the idea of working in the warehouse quite intriguing. My favourite days are when they blast in the pit, and I also get a lot of random stuff left on my desk (like huge lumps of coal). I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of seeing how huge the trucks are up close!

What are some challenges you’ve faced?

One of the biggest challenges was learning how to juggle multiple tasks at once. There’s always so much going on and even when you have 12 hours a day to get through, it keeps piling up! Sometimes I feel overwhelmed when everybody wants my help with something, but that’s my job and I need to make sure I get everything done. Also, figuring out how to communicate on the two-way radio. Honestly, talking on the radio still makes me a bit nervous. Working out how to get enough time for sleep, eating, gym and talking to friends is still tough. Even though I’m not that far from home, I still feel isolated from everyone and miss out on things with friends. The heat is unbearable some days, even though I get to work in an air-conditioned office. I hate leaving to go outside, so I have so much respect for those working outside in the heat. I don’t even bother wearing makeup because it’s just going to melt off! Plus, the bugs can be quite annoying!

What are you grateful for?

I’ve learned so much about mining and mechanics, and had no idea how interesting it all was. I have made so many friends and love nights at camp hanging out and chatting, or heading into town for a feed at the pub every now and then. The frogs outside my room at night are so cute! And we get to see heaps of other animals like wild pigs and their babies. Having good people around is really good on days when you’re a bit down and need a distraction. There are so many things that I could try so I don’t think I’ll ever get bored. I also really like the uniforms, they’re so comfy and I like not having to think about what to wear every morning.

What advice would you give to newcomers to the mining industry?

Listen to people’s advice, ask plenty of questions, and don’t worry about what others might think of you. While some people can be a bit mean and there’s so many rumours going around site, most of the folks I’ve met have been supportive. Don’t get caught up in the drama. If you build a reputation of putting your head down and getting your work done before everything else, people will respect you and eventually invite you be part of some pretty cool stuff.

If you’re thinking about getting into mining, just give it a go. Overall I find it really rewarding and it’s great if you’re unsure about what to do, because there’s so much you could do. Don’t pigeonhole yourself and be open to trying anything, you never know if you’ll love it or it might be a great way to get into something else.

There’s so much more to learn about mining than you might expect, and I wish I had MYNR when I started! I’m really happy I could share my story, and I hope it’s helped others.