Batchfire Cadetship Champions: Q&A with Lachlan

We caught up with Lachlan Davis, one of our Cadetship Champions for 2025, to find out what he has learnt so far on-site as a Cadet Surveyor. 

Thanks for catching up with us for a chat, Lachlan. Firstly, how did you find out about the Batchfire’s Cadetship Program? 

I didn’t know what I was going to do after school, I was bit crossed-up about it to be honest. I was offered the opportunity to do some work experience here at Callide and I really enjoyed surveying. From there the cadetship opened up and I applied for it! 

How’s that for luck! What stood out about surveying during your time on-site as a work experience student? 

Well, I did a couple of work experience stints, not just the one at Callide Mine. Nothing really stood out but the time I spent at Callide doing surveying just stuck. I really enjoyed it. 

Would you encourage other school-leavers to dip their toe in the water with work experience, especially if they aren’t quite sure what they want to do yet? 

Yeah, I’d definitely agree with that advice. The best way is definitely to try a few things and see what you enjoy – absolutely.  

So, you started with Batchfire in January of 2025, what have you learnt so far? 

It’s been a full-on experience; I’ve gotten straight into it which has been good. From here I’m keen to become a bit more independent because at the moment I’m mostly driving around and learning the reigns. I’m eager to start to contribute to the team more! I’m also starting university for a Bachelor of Surveying at CQU, so it’s the best of both worlds really – I get the uni degree to my name, but I’ve also got the real-world experience and get to work with a great team. 

So, speaking of university, does the cadetship ease the financial burden? You’re lucky in that you get to work full-time while studying. 

Yeah, for sure! Obviously, it’s a bit of a financial burden going to uni, so it’s nice to have that peace of mind that I’m pretty much setup while I study and after I finish too. 

Lastly, what advice would you give to students finishing school that may not have considered a career in resources? 

I think mining gets a bit of an unfair stereotype at times. You know, you’re contributing to not only your community but the wider community too. It shouldn’t get a bad rap. It’s also changing so much with technology, particularly surveying, which is exciting. My boss, Tim, said it’s dramatically different to the ‘80s, when it was all done manually. Now it’s all online, it’s digital and we use drones a lot too. 

Great outlook, Lachlan. We are glad to welcome you to Callide Mine and can’t wait to see where your career takes you! 

Batchfire actively encourages and supports new entrants to the resources industry through apprentice, cadetship, traineeship, scholarship, work experience and vacation employment opportunities. 

To find out more about Batchfire you can connect with us on LinkedIn or contact us here.