Thread: Mining Traineeship?

Diesel mech's generally earn a reasonably good wage, plus if it goes pear shaped you can get a job anywhere.

I am currently studying Mining Engineering at UQ and have done quite a bit of holiday work. I also took a year off uni and worked in a coal mine west of Mackay. In that time I drove the trucks, worked as a surveyor and worked as an engineer. Driving the trucks was great and I am really happy I got to experience it but at the same time I only did this for 3 months and I know a lot of people who can't handle doing basically the same thing everyday. The roster worked was 5 days on and 5 off alternating day/night shift. This would be the hardest part for me as it stuffs up your body clock. The workshop staff were also the same roster so had the same problem.

When it comes to getting a job it is not as easy as the press and others make out. You really need to know someone or have some previous experience to get much of a look. The best way that I know of people getting a job in the mines is to go through a labour hire style company first. The other problem at the moment is with all the people who were made redundant around Christmas and later are going to be looking for jobs and if they have experience they will probably get in.

While on the trucks I used to do a 12 hour shift and that was it but when I worked in the office as a surveyor and engineer my shifts ranged from 10hrs on a good day to 14hrs on a bad day. This was also a standard Monday to Friday week so I did a lot of hours.

Don't let me put you off though as I absolutely love the work and would probably still do it even if they cut the pay in half. Where else do you get to play with big tonka trucks and diggers and get paid to do it.

Yes the thought of 5 days working all night would kill me, but the pay for those shifts must be through the roof.

And i have thought it would be brain numbing doing the same thing over and over. But most work is like that...I guess at the same time its brain numbing because its not exactly hard work!? (not trying to offend! and am open to contradicting opinions as i am only just new to the field)

As you say most jobs can be very brain numbing but it is what you make of it. If you start out on the trucks and stick with it you will get put on a grader and then a dozer and you can work your way up to the excavators or even a dragline if you are lucky and good enough. This keeps the job interesting and gives you something to aim for.

sad fact of the mining game in CQ is if you live locally, you stand virtually no chance at getting a job in the mines unless you have qualifications and experience, which is why the non mine working locals treat the outsiders like unwelcome filth

much easier to get traineeships if you live on the coast

I have heard from many the idea that it can invlove a lot of travel of be mind numbing. Yet i know someone who has a very important position at the mine just round the corner from me... so maybe i will try get some work there?

A mate of mine is doing a traineeship at the moment at the Boddington Bauxite mine,HE LOVES IT.
Although he dosnt post on here,try sending him a PM,user name is Albi (if he is still registered as a user)
Andrew

Grover,the mine around the corner from you isn't at thornton is it?.Like the others have said it's not all wine and roses.I was in the mining game for 7 years and I could not get a start when I first started,I was already a tradesman but was treated like a lepper,I didn't know anyone so was no one.The money is good but I now get more working as a fixed plant fitter on day shift than in the pit,the conditions and general BS is really tiresome,it gets very frustrating having to deal with the mentality of miners as they are ''different'' especially getting things done.I found that after a few years that home life was better than work,it's no good earning money and buying toys if then you can't use them because shift work clash's with the outings,meetings.IMHO I would steer people away from the mines when it comes to doing a trade as you won't learn how things work or how to repair parts,mine workshops do servicing and change-outs and nothing more,start in a shop that works on road trucks and see if you like it first or drive a truck and see that side of it.Going up and down a haul road carrying dirt gets very old very quickly. Pat