Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Cassidy Morley, I’m a CHPP Operator at Whitehaven’s Narrabri Mine.

When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?

I joined Whitehaven in 2022 after serving in the Australian Army. I was drawn back to my hometown and made the decision to pursue a career in mining where I started out in Whitehaven’s traineeship program. After completing my traineeship ahead of time, I progressed to become a Level 3 Operator and have recently taken on an Acting Supervisor role.

How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?

I always thought I would follow in my mum’s footsteps and become a nurse, but it turns out I found my calling in mining.

What’s a usual day at work entail?

Every day is different. Work could include train loading, dozer operations, control room operations, cleaning and maintenance, or bobcat and loader operations. It’s a hands-on role, and there’s variety in every shift.

What’s the best thing about your job?

Living in Narrabri means I have a short commute to work which allows me to do the things I love like fishing and camping. I also play rugby league for the Boggabri Kangaroos and local rugby union for the Narrabri Blue Boars, while also continuing to play representative rugby league for both the Australian Army and the Australian Defence Force. It’s great to be able to stay living in the region while also pursuing my career – I get the best of both worlds.

The worst thing?

There’s a lot of hands-on, dirty work involved and sometimes you’re working in the elements so probably the worst thing is trying to keep your gear clean!

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?

I was the first female trainee in the Narrabri CHPP, so it’s really made me understand how important it is to pave the way for others and help shift perceptions about what women can achieve in mining. Recently I was honoured to be recognised as one of the two finalists in the Exceptional Tradeswoman, Operator or Technician category at the NSW Women in Mining Awards. It really inspired me to use my experience to mentor and encourage the next wave of trainees.

What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?

How many opportunities for upskilling and career development that Whitehaven provides. I’m now doing a trainer assessor course as well as completing emergency response training.

What’s your best advice for people entering the industry?

Consider starting through a traineeship program like I did as it provides the perfect opportunity to get your foot in the door, learn on the job and set yourself up for a long and successful career in mining.

The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?

In just a few short years the mining industry has provided me with an incredible career while letting me keep the lifestyle that I love. We’re lucky to have the mining industry so let’s make the most of it.