When the Women in Mining Network (WIMnet) NSW North West Committee set out to create a careers day for girls at Gunnedah High School, the goal wasn’t simply to talk about mining. It was to show students what was possible.
Held to coincide with International Women in Mining Day, the inaugural careers day was delivered by the Women in Mining Network (WIMnet) NSW North West Committee in partnership with the STARS Foundation and Gunnedah High School.
Bringing together women from Whitehaven and Idemitsu working across maintenance, production, environment, training and leadership roles, the event was designed to show students the many opportunities available within the mining industry.
“It’s beyond just driving dump trucks. You can work in HR, health and safety, environment, tech services, accounts payable, recruitment and all different things,” said WIMnet Committee member Jessica Pereira.
“Whether it’s traineeships, apprenticeships, school-based programs or university, it’s really about showing all the different ways into the industry.”
The stories shared throughout the morning were all different, but the message was remarkably similar.
None of the women standing in front of the students had followed a perfectly mapped out career path. Few knew exactly where they would end up when they left school and several admitted they had entered industries, roles and workplaces they had never previously considered. Some had taken apprenticeships, some had completed traineeships and some had attended university. Several had changed direction completely during their careers.
What connected their experiences was a willingness to learn, take opportunities when they appeared and keep moving forward, even when the next step felt uncertain.
Maintenance Planner Gyarn Waugh encouraged students not to be intimidated by what they didn’t know.
“If you already knew everything, you wouldn’t need an apprenticeship,” Gyarn said.
“What employers are looking for is attitude. They want people who are willing to learn, ask questions, work hard and take opportunities when they come along.”
Senior Training Coordinator Maria Strang shared how a one-way ticket to Darwin eventually led to a career in aviation safety before bringing her to mining.
“Say yes to opportunities because that single decision shaped not only my career but also my whole life,” Maria said.
Production Supervisor Rhyannon Patterson challenged the common belief that university is the only pathway to a successful career.
“I’ve learned there’s many pathways to success,” she said.
“The mining industry is full of people who have built careers through apprenticeships, trade qualifications and on-the-job experience.”
Leonie Newton’s career journey took her from a truck driving traineeship to becoming the first female production supervisor at her site and later an Open Cut Examiner.
“Once I started getting into this role, I could see there were so many other avenues that you can go down in mining, not just operating trucks. There was so much room for progression,” Leonie said.
“I wanted to become an Open Cut Examiner. After four long years of applying myself and studying very hard, I achieved the qualification.
“It wasn’t a pathway I ever imagined for myself when I started driving trucks, and it shows there’s room to do anything you want in mining.”
Emma Bulkeley’s career journey was one of the most unexpected. Despite now working as an Environmental Superintendent, she told students she wasn’t interested in science at school and hadn’t even studied it.
“Environmental careers aren’t just about science. They involve law, engineering, technology, data analysis, project management and definitely working with people,” Emma said.
Giving students the chance to see themselves in careers they may never have considered was a big part of what the day was all about, STARS Foundation Program Coordinator Enja Ryan explained.
“It opens up another sort of opportunity and level for these girls to go, ‘Oh, maybe that’s something I can do when I leave school,’” Enja said.
“Why not lean on some of these bigger companies that have the opportunity to give them an apprenticeship and say, ‘This is what you can do if school’s not for you.’”
The event brought together a cross-section of the local industry, with Whitehaven and Idemitsu joined by Morgan Engineering, Programmed, GBP Cranes & Heavy Haulage and Zeal Futures, demonstrating that opportunities exist not only on mine sites but throughout the broader mining supply chain.
WIMnet Committee Chair Megan Martin said the event formed part of the committee’s ongoing efforts to inspire the next generation of women in mining.
“International Women in Mining Day is about celebrating the women who are and who will be working in the mining industry,” Megan said.
“It’s a natural progression of the North West Committee’s engagement in the Gunnedah Basin to promote a career in the industry to our future female leaders at school locally.
“We hope to expand this in 2027 to include more schools and incorporate a visit to an operational site.”
After hearing about the many career opportunities available in mining, students also had the chance to climb into the driver’s seat. Komatsu generously brought along one of its training simulators, with students lining up for the chance to get behind the controls.
Among them was Freya.
“I like mechanic stuff and driving trucks, so I was interested in hearing about those parts of the industry,” she said.
“But I didn’t realise there were different parts of mining, like helping wildlife move so mining can happen in that area.
“Today definitely showed me new opportunities.”
