Approximately 25,500 people are directly employed in the NSW coal mining sector. Thousands of people are also indirectly employed through local businesses in the coal mining towns. Coal Australia is spreading the message that without mining all of those jobs will be gone.
Bayley Lynch is relatively new to the coal mining industry, landing a job with Whitehaven three years ago as a Shipping Officer in their Newcastle corporate office.
“In my second last semester of university, studying a Bachelor of Business majoring in International Business and Marketing, our lecturer was talking about the different jobs around using our degree. The job with Whitehaven came up and it caught my attention as I’m originally from Tamworth where Whitehaven has a strong presence in the region.”
Bayley started the job in his final semester of university working four days a week and as soon as he graduated he moved into the position full time.
“Every day is different but essentially in my role I have a handful of customers, and I deal with their shipment – I make sure their documents are ready prior to a vessel arriving, look after the vessel while it’s here as well as all the documentation and invoices after the vessel completes.
“I’m talking to customers in Singapore, Japan and India every day.
“The trade finance function of the business has become a big part of my job with our Queensland assets as well,” Bayley explained.
He said he finds a lot of people who aren’t in the industry simply don’t understand how crucial the shipping side of the coal industry is for Newcastle.
“There are so many people in Newcastle who rely on the vessels coming in and out.
“I think people often forget Newcastle’s history and what it has always been, it’s still the world’s largest coal export terminal.
“There are so many people connected to the industry both directly and indirectly. I play in a touch football team and within that team there are workers connected to the industry in maintenance, at other mines, or at the port. There are so many businesses that feed from the coal industry and just about everyone you meet here has a connection to it.”
Bayley is a strong supporter of Coal Australia, particularly the way they are educating people outside the industry about how important coal is.
“People often don’t do enough research before they judge it.
“Honestly, I think the people that don’t know much about it are the ones who would benefit from some research. Those involved in the industry know how important it is. Those who are opposed to it are usually outside the industry.
“Coal Australia is doing a great job of voicing the facts of the industry and how it affects everyone and not just fighting for coal itself.
“People studying at university at the moment are very heavily influenced by social media – I think those people in particularly need to look for the information before they voice their opinion and Coal Australia is a great place for them to start.
“I fear there will be a gap in years to come because the younger generation appear to be hesitant to join the industry. I think they’re scared there won’t be a job for them in 20 years to come, but it’s still a growing industry with so much potential.”
| Bayley’s story isn’t unusual, it’s a story that we hear from so many people living and working in coal mining communities right across Australia. Reach out if you want to share your story or join the coal community and help forge Australia’s future at www.coalaustralia.com |
