With the workforce at BHP’s Mt Arthur Coal counting down until closure in 2030, hundreds of employees have taken up the opportunity of career coaching and paid study through the site’s Workforce Transition Support policy to help them decide what they’ll do post-closure.
Lead Geologist Jacquie James and Lead Training Execution Emily Ringland are two employees who have taken up these options to help them work out what they should do.
The career coaching sessions have been offered to all employees and they start with a detailed questionnaire to help individuals understand what their strengths, behaviors, motivations and interests are.
After the questionnaire, there are individual consultations where the results from the questionnaire are combined with that person’s career experience and transferable skills to find an individualised career pathway option post-2030.
Jacquie said she took up the opportunity for career coaching to better understand what her options were after 13 years at Mt Arthur.
“The tools provided through the career coaching allowed a lot of reflection both personally and professionally on my career to date and where I’d like to go.
“My coach was fantastic, and we came up with some options I never would have thought of on my own,” she said.
“The sessions have given me food for thought and reframed closure as an opportunity for growth, particularly knowing I am supported by the business.”
And it’s not just future Jacquie who stands to benefit from these sessions. Jacquie said these sessions were already helping her in her current role where she was able to take learnings back to her own team to drive insightful discussions and reflections about work.
“It’s allowed me to better meet the needs of my team, and increase our productivity, culture and teamwork,” she said.
Mt Arthur Coal General Manager Darryl Messenger said another policy they’re equally proud of is their education policy.
“Most operations will offer regular, ongoing training as part of their role but what we’re offering is far beyond that. Any member of our team, if they want to study something as long as it’s through a Registered Training Organisation in Australia, they can.
“There’s an enormous range of options from practical skills training to help set up a little business to tertiary education,” Darryl said.
Emily has taken up the opportunity to explore an entirely new career path, enrolling in a Master of Speech and Language Pathology.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to work for a company that supports women in mining and working parents trying to balance it all,” she said.
Emily said her interest in allied health began when she experienced firsthand the challenges of accessing health services, particularly allied health professionals in the Upper Hunter.
“Our journey navigating the healthcare system sparked a passion in me to pursue a new career that will make a big difference to our community’s wellbeing,” she said.
Emily will complete her degree in 2026 and said she’s feeling confident about the possibility of transitioning into a different industry should she choose to.
“After 2030, I hope Mt Arthur is remembered positively—for how our people were supported through the closure, the opportunities that were provided, and the meaningful contributions we made to the community,” she said.
| For more information on MAC’s closure, head to: www.bhp.com/poweringwhatsnext |
Top image caption: Jacquie James (right) with the Geology team at Mt Arthur Coal.
