Who are you and what do you do?

Hi, I’m Emily. I work for Thiess at Lake Vermont as a Health & Safety Advisor.

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

I started in the mining industry in 2023 as a Health & Safety Graduate.

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

As a kid I never knew what I wanted to do when I grew up. I went to university and graduated with a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy – you would usually find an Occupational Therapist working in a hospital or community environment. I never imagined working or making a difference in the mining industry.

What’s a usual day at work entail?

Everyday on site is different and my job role is diverse and fast paced.

Work can involve incident investigations, injury/health management, procedural/systems reviews, presentations/interactions with the workforce.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The people – I am fortunate to work in a great team and have great mentors within the industry. My role involves interaction with all parts of the mine, allowing me to build solid relationships both at work and outside of work – I am proud to say that I have made lifelong friends working in mining.

The community – working in a small town has provided me with opportunities for community involvement including school visits, community days and charity events. Involvement in these days is always fun, a chance to give back and hopefully encourage people to consider the mining industry as a career.

The worst thing?

Days can be long and can sometimes feel overwhelming when there is a lot going on, however as a team we always get through it and find time for a laugh.

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

Learning to stop getting in my own way and have the confidence to say yes to new or challenging opportunities. Just because you are new or less experienced in the industry does not mean you do not have anything to offer or are less deserving if you have put in the hard work.

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

How much diversity is in the health & safety role.

What’s your best advice for people about to enter the industry?

Be prepared to put in the hard work and be willing to learn. Work on getting to know people and building relationships. Say yes to every opportunity offered to you and you will have amazing experiences.

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, like all industries, is not perfect however it provides valuable resources, jobs and contributions to small communities.