Last month, BHP Mt Arthur Coal held two Future Jobs Expos at The Melt in Muswellbrook as part of its commitment to preparing its employees for life after the mine closure in 2030.
The expos were an opportunity for employees and contractors to connect with education providers, career consultants and experts in workplace transitioning and it is just one of many steps that BHP is taking to set its people up for a successful future.
Liz Watts, BHP Vice President New South Wales Energy Coal, said BHP is committed to a responsible closure of the mine.
“When we made the announcement [in 2022] about the 2030 closure the reason that timing was so important was to provide a reasonable amount of time to allow the people who would be most impacted by the closure to transition. That includes both our people and the community.
“Part of that transition is people deciding what they want to do in the future and then taking the steps to execute that as an outcome.
“The best outcome for us which is aligned with our vision ‘People, Planet, Prosperity’, is to deliver a positive legacy in the Hunter Valley. What people choose to do after 2030 is a core part of what that legacy will ultimately be.”
Engaging with the workforce is integral to BHP’s plan and the expos at The Melt are part of a series of engagement sessions that aim to help the workforce plan and prepare for the future.
Engagement is only the start.
Through a newly introduced closure workforce support employees can reskill or upskill by choosing to undertake any nationally recognised qualification through organisations such as TAFE and the University of Newcastle. In addition, BHP is working with experts to deliver a platform to help individuals develop their own pathway plans supported by skills assessment, career coaching and financial advice.
Liam Lawford, BHP Mt Arthur Coal Indigenous Engagement Specialist said he had known about the closure even before he started working at the mine.
“At the time all I was thinking about was getting into the workforce. It’s been a couple years since then and I am not certain which direction I’m going to go when we close but I am certain that that direction will be with BHP.
“The opportunities they are creating for us are phenomenal. To retrain, to study, to get career or financial advice. I love working for BHP and who knows where that will take me, Queensland, Western Australia, South America, Canada, who knows!”
Bianca Cousin, BHP Mt Arthur Coal Principal Asset Improvement, is also keen to make the most of the opportunities that are being offered.
“I started at BHP four years ago around the time the conversations were happening around divestment, so I knew there was the possibility of change ahead. Now that we know it will be closing I am really excited about the opportunities that are being presented, not only for those who want to stay around here, but for those moving to other BHP roles or upskilling.
“BHP is the land of opportunity; the problem is I have so many ideas about what I want to do because of all those opportunities!”
At the same time as BHP is planning for the future of its employees, it is also beginning to plan for what legacy the site itself will leave behind.
“What we are currently pursuing is looking at what other alternatives sit out there for what can be done with the land in closure. The current plan that’s part of our current modification is to essentially return the land to agriculture and woodland only,” said Liz.
“Given the amount of infrastructure that we have in place on site and the potential to repurpose that infrastructure for future economic benefit, we believe that there is a better pathway and a better outcome in closure then what the current plan allows.
“The reality is as time goes by mines in this area will close. Putting to use the land and the infrastructure that sits on those mines to support future industries and future jobs will be needed.”