Who are you and what do you do?
My name is Clayton Wallwork, and I am the Queensland Service Coordinator for Mine Safety Technical Services (MSTS).
When did you start in the mining industry and what was your first job?
I joined the mining industry in 2012, starting with MSTS (formerly CMTS) as a Technical Officer. Before that, I was a gaming technician servicing the pokies in clubs and pubs so taking on this role was a completely different challenge.
How different is your job now to what you wanted to be when you were a kid?
As a kid I always dreamed of being an Airforce pilot. I quickly realised I didn’t have the intelligence or skills for that, so I did my trade straight out of school and joined the Army as an electronics technician.
What’s a usual day at work entail?
Each day is different for me. Some days I’m out on site, maintaining and completing NATA calibrations on gas detection equipment both on the surface and underground. Other days I’m in the office where most of my time is spent on approving certificates, planning upcoming jobs and responding to emails and phone calls. It definitely keeps things interesting!
What’s the best thing about your job?
I would have to say it’s the interactions with customers. Over the years, you build real relationships and trust with a lot of good people. I love being able to help solve problems and complete work on site with as little disruption to their operations as possible. The personal connections you form along the way are a big part of what makes the job so rewarding.
The worst thing?
The hardest part of my job is the time away from home. My son is now 16, and I’ve missed a lot of milestones. Like many families in the mining industry, most of the day-to-day family responsibilities fall on my partner which can be tough. I’m lucky I have such an understanding wife who keeps everything running while I’m away!
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve had to overcome?
The biggest challenge since joining MSTS has been stepping into a leadership role. When I started there was just one other person working in Queensland. We now have a team of four technicians and an admin, with most coming on board within the last 12 months. I’m still learning how to delegate and hand over responsibilities, but strong support from management and a great team has made it much easier.
What’s something about your job that would surprise people to know?
People are often surprised by the amount of work that goes into training staff, maintaining accreditations, and keeping our quality systems and procedures up to date.
MSTS is NATA-accredited, which ensures all equipment is serviced and calibrated to best practice and meets the highest safety and quality standards.
What’s your best advice for people entering the industry?
The mining industry has its challenges but listen and learn from those around you. Most people genuinely want to help and see you succeed.
And it’s not just working underground. There are many roles across technical, operational, administrative and safety areas, so there’s a path for almost every skill and interest.
The mining industry gets more than its fair share of criticism. What is your view of our industry and the impact it has?
The mining industry is so much more than a commodity. By creating jobs and supporting local services, it helps the people and the places that depend on it.
