The Year 9 students rocked the lab coats for three activities, focusing on different phases of mining operations from exploring to engineering and the final stage of extracting resources from the earth.

There was plenty of local knowledge and expertise for the students to refer to with workers from Batchfire Resources joining the STEM Unearthed workshop.

Ian Hillier from Batchfire Resources said they were impressed with the students’ enthusiasm for science and interest in resources.

“Batchfire is a big part of the Biloela community and today was a great chance for us to share some insights about our operations and the diversity of roles needed to operate a site like Callide mine,” said Ian.

“Over 85 per cent of our workforce lives locally and we hope today’s workshop has inspired some of these students to join us in the future.”

The QMEA is the education arm of the Queensland Resources Council (QRC) and Katrina-Lee Jones, QRC Policy Director – Skills, Education and Diversity, said the STEM Unearthed workshop complemented the Australian curriculum and engaged students about Queensland’s resources sector.

“It is a dynamic industry and there is a high demand for professional roles like engineers, metallurgists and geologists,” said Ms Jones.

“In Year 9 the students are starting to consider their study options for senior school and I hope today has excited them about the career options available if they focus on science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects.”

This year the QMEA is celebrating 20 years of inspiring students to follow a trades or science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) study pathway with a focus on the many rewarding career opportunities in the resources sector.

The post QMEA STEM Unearthed a success first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

Tim grew up just outside of Biloela but, despite being a Callide Valley local, a career at the mine wasn’t his first choice after finishing school. 

“When I left school, I went to teachers’ college to be PE teacher,” he explains. 

“I did a year-and-a-half of my teaching degree and realised I didn’t want to be a teacher. 

“So, I went home to the farm for seven months, worked for mum and dad, and then a job came up as a cadet surveyor and I got it!”  

Tim started as a cadet surveyor at Callide Mine on January 7, 1985, and it’s fair to say the rest is history. These days he holds the position of Survey Superintendent and tells us he’s glad he left teachers’ college all those years ago! 

“I enjoy the maths with surveying – it’s a been a great career choice!” he tells us. 

“I’ve always enjoyed numbers and maths, so it’s fitting for me. I love the inside, outside nature of the job.” 

As a Survey Superintendent, Tim and his team are responsible for statutory plans, geospatial information, volumetrics, set out works and reporting. 

“I’m mainly office bound now, which probably suits me as I get older, but I have always liked the field work a bit more than the office work,” he says. 

“It’s a good balance and it’s suited me!” 

After 40 years, Tim says he still finds surveying as interesting as he did in the early days.  

“I like that there is a bit of cerebral thinking to do, you get to use your brain a bit,” he says. 

“Surveying is a geospatial science, so nutting out problems, volumetrics, just number games; I quite enjoy it.”  

Before returning to Callide nine years ago, Tim worked in various other positions during a period of upskilling, including as a coal quality officer, a project supervisor, a project and pits supervisor and even a dragline engineer. 

“It’s good to test a bit of everything, it helps you know what you want and if you get a bit stale doing the same thing it’s good for a bit of change,” he says. 

“I’ve really enjoyed it since I’ve come back, and I keep gravitating back to surveying.”  

Despite working for various other mines during his nine-year up-skilling sabbatical, Tim says Biloela is the best mining town by far. 

“It’s hard to pick a nicer mining town in Queensland than Biloela,” Tim laughs. 

“You get a range of workforces, you’ve got the diversity, so it’s not just a ‘mining town’ which is good. 

“Callide Valley is such a nice place to live because you’re not far off the coast, you’re not far from Rockhampton and you’re not far from Gladstone! 

“Our home too, it’s a lovely spot. We have beautiful view and every time I take the dogs for a run and I look around, I just think ‘wow, I’m pretty lucky really.’”  

Tim’s advice for people thinking about joining the resources industry is to get in where you can.  

“You might have to make hard decisions about working or moving somewhere else, but that’s fine – just get into it however you can,” he urges. 

“Breaking into the industry is the first step bit and then learning the skills will come, so once you’re in you can be mobile.”  

Four decades since Tim started at Callide Mine, he now has his own cadet surveyor and says that he is excited to pass his knowledge on. 

“I’ve only got so many years left in me, so I’d like to see my team member Eddie get registered and the same goes for the Cadet Surveyor, Lachlan – I’d like to see him through finishing his degree,” he says. 

“It’s a fairly long haul, and I’m keen to help him through that!”  

Tim says he likes that Callide mine is on the “smaller side” compared to other mines he’s worked at, highlighting that there is a great culture and sense of friendliness.  

“I’ve worked for other mines, and I prefer the smaller companies. I’d rather be in an environment like this than any other,” he says. 

“I have got a close team and we get along really well. I enjoy the camaraderie when I come to work, it’s a good culture and the people are great – I’ve got so many friends across different departments.”  

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

The post Tim’s Legacy: 40 years in mining…and counting  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

Thanks for sitting down with us to chat about your traineeship so far, Lacey. How did you find out about the training program that Batchfire offers?  

I found out about the program through school, in grade 12. They are very big on advertising potential jobs after school. I also found out about it from ATQLD, because I was looking at a lot of engineering and building paths. I was going for my white card, and it was advertised there as well so I applied online!  

That’s great to hear! What inspired you to pursue a machinery operator role with Batchfire?  

My parents and a lot of my family have worked in mining and they encouraged me, but I also knew it was a really great opportunity. The traineeship that I am doing covers four skills, which is not an easy thing to get nowadays. So, I thought to myself, ‘that’s going to be an awesome job, and I am going to be set up!’ 

In Biloela the mine is definitely a top option. So originally when I was applying for jobs at the end of high school, I went for most of the apprenticeships. I didn’t even know this was an option that you could do! So, with the encouragement of my family and friends I decided I would just apply for the traineeship too and then I got it!  

You were also once a work experience student with us, right? Did that time on-site influence you to pursue a career with Batchfire?  

Yes, it definitely did! I completed work experience in the office with the environment and community team, then I came back again a year later and tried the workshop. It helped because I already knew the mine culture and environment I was going into. I got to have a look at what it’s like and I remember thinking, ‘this place is cool!’  

When I was a kid, I also always thought that I would end up here or at one of the other big industries in town. I would say, “I’m going to work in one of those!” So, the work experience definitely convinced me to work here and that this was the place to be.  

We’re thrilled to hear that you loved your time here as a work experience student. Do you have a favourite memory on-site so far?  

I wouldn’t say there is an exact moment; yet when my trainer was here, she told me that I was done with my training, and that I had excelled so far. She came for a drive around with me and she said that she was proud of me!  

When people acknowledge that I am doing well, I really appreciate that. It’s a very supportive environment here. The positive feedback that I get from not only the supervisors, but the crew members too, is definitely my favourite thing. I’m really glad that I ended up on this crew, because people aren’t afraid to uplift each other which I think is good; I want to give them a big group hug! 

It sounds like you’re having a blast, which we love to hear! What is your favourite part about operating machinery? 

My favourite part is that it’s rewarding, especially being on the grader, which is what I’ve been on lately. Watching a road with soft spots, then being able to grade it up, is very fulfilling. You can see what you’ve done, and you think ‘I’ve just fixed this whole road.’ So, my favourite machine so far is the grader! 

That must be a great feeling so far!  What achievement are you most proud of? 

The achievement so far that I am proud of is getting my skills in the time that I have. Being able to focus, taking what people tell me onboard and applying advice. I’ve really listened to my trainers, even when I first started on trucks. They said to me, “you need to watch what the graders do, you need to watch what the dozers do, you need to watch what everything does because you are going to do that one day.” So just getting my skills as quickly as I have been! 

You’re a superstar, Lacey! Have there been challenges you’ve had to overcome? 

The biggest thing everyone would say to me when I first got here was to ask questions. At first, I didn’t want to because I thought people would think I was dumb. I have realised now that that’s not true at all. I’ll now come in and ask my trainer anything and they will tell me. So, it’s important to always ask the question.  

I was grateful to have good trainers; they set you up for success. Even now there’s still things I will need to ask them. So, I’ll come onto crib and I’ll sit with them if they are there and will draw pictures about the certain challenge that I am facing and ask how I can fix what I have done. They will then help me resolve the problem by stepping through the solution with me. It is really good that I can come and talk to them. Even after I have done my training on something everyone is still very approachable and happy to answer my questions. 

It’s always better to ask the question – you’re right! What advice would you give to people considering entering the resources industry, or even people wanting to operate machinery?  

I think they should definitely do it! I can’t speak for the other crews, but our crew is excellent for training, and everyone is optimistic and lifts each other up. My supervisor has really pushed my training which has been good, and I have really enjoyed it. I would recommend applying for a job if there’re any future openings, because it’s a really great opportunity and you can set yourself up for life in resources in the span of a two-year traineeship.  

The long shifts usually get to some people, but once you start out and you get a good crew, it’s not that hard anymore, because you’re working with people you can talk to and get along with, and then it’s like hanging out with your friends for 12 hours.  

That’s great advice Lacey! Thank you so much for sitting down with us today. We can’t wait to see where your career at Batchfire Resources takes you. 

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

The post Trainee Success: Q&A with Lacey Davis  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

Our apprentice and trainee intakes evolve in line with Callide Mine, which in 2024 achieved an incredible 10-million-ROM-tonne coal mined result.  

This means sustainable jobs for the Callide region, as a proud employer of choice for trade careers in the resources sector, already supporting around 1,250 local families and enabling work-life balance for our workforce.  

At Batchfire Resources, we believe our employees should go home to their family each and every day. We adopt a local-first approach and offer a lifestyle roster that allows our workforce to spend quality time with family and friends. 

“To see such a strong lineup of apprentices and trainees, welcoming nine to Callide Mine, is a sign of great things in 2025. Apprentices are a huge focus for us at Batchfire and our partnership with ATQLD continues to deliver the top young talent. ” Batchfire Resources Manager of Engineering & Maintenance, Clayton Tarry said.   

This year we also welcomed two cadets into the Technical Services department at Batchfire.  

“Supporting young, local talent is a key priority of Batchfire” said Ramiro Goenaga – Manager Technical Services.  

“This new program for Cadets commenced this year and Batchfire will fund and support them to complete a university degree, whilst working and receiving practical experience in their chosen careers.”  

Batchfire has recognised the skill shortages in the industry and has programs in place to assist with local employment and we are committed to creating a strong and diverse organisation into the future.  

Let’s welcome the eight talented aspiring tradespeople, as well as two cadets and a trainee, as they embark on promising careers within the resources industry. 

Congratulations to the following new starters: 

• Brody McNamara, Apprentice Diesel Fitter  
• Dean Zahnleiter, Apprentice Diesel Fitter  
• Frankie, Latimore, Apprentice Boilermaker  
• Jake Ryall, Apprentice Diesel Fitter  
• Kurt Zahnleiter, Apprentice Auto Electrician  
• Lachlan Fitzgerald, Apprentice Electrician  
• Patrick McGuirk, Apprentice Electrician  
• Peter Stephenson, Apprentice Diesel Fitter  
• Rylee Hadwen, Telecommunications Trainee 
• Lachlan Davis, Cadet Surveyor 
• Mackinlay Marxsen, Cadet Mining Engineer  

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

The post Batchfire welcomes apprentices, trainees and cadets to Callide for 2025   first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

The course involved a number of desk-based modules, covering injury prevention, fire response, communications and equipment, maintenance and testing of equipment, and WH&S policies and procedures in forest and product operations.  

Following the theory modules, a two-day training course was provided on-site that involved practical application of skills and a controlled burn near Trap Gully at Callide Mine.  

The course provided our on-site teams with the skills and knowledge to safely comply with requirements under the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services Act S.67, which states that the occupier of land must extinguish or control fire (on land they occupy), regardless of who lit the fire (or which land area the fire came from). 

“The reason for this training is that there is a risk to infrastructure during wildfire season, and it’s also just good land stewardship to help manage grasses and overgrown areas,” said Batchfire Resources Environment and Community Advisor, Natasha Hutchings. 

“There was a big focus on active fire management, and learning how to do proper backburns, which is a real skill. Anyone can light a fire and control it, but doing it properly involves a lot more than that and the team was thankful on the day to learn how to do it more precisely.” 

While Batchfire Resources has crew members on-site that are trained to handle structural fires, Natasha explains that active fire management in grassland and bushland is another area of expertise entirely and offers an array of benefits. 

“The team already knew how to work the fire gear, because they’re trained for structural fires, but to do active fire management involves actually lighting the fire yourself,” she said. 

“We learnt how to create a control zone for a fire, and how backburning can improve the native environment. There’s a lot of native grasses for example, which handle a nice gentle burn a lot better than the grazing grasses. So done in the correct way, controlled burns help the environment as well.” 

Backburning, or controlled burning, plays an important role in biodiversity, while also protecting our staff members, neighbours and the wider community from bushfires by reducing dry debris and plants (fuel).  

One of the reasons that controlled, low-intensity fires help the native habitat is that they reduce weed populations, allowing the local plant species to thrive –as the seeds and nutrients in soil are not harmed. 

“This forms part of our land management, because we obviously have tenure over a very large area, and the wildfire skills are now one of the tools in our toolkit,” Natasha said. 

Batchfire Resources is proud to work with many neighbours and other stakeholders to resource and prepare for the management of wildfire risk. 

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

The post Batchfire levels up with Wildfire Response Training  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

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.   

The post Batchfire Cadetship Champions: Q&A with Lachlan first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

Thanks for taking time out of your day for a chat, Mackinlay. How did you hear about the Batchfire’s Cadetship Program? 

So, I decided I wanted to do something in the engineering space at high school. I was getting it all organised with university, doing my preferences. Then the surveying cadetship opened up and it went down to me and one other applicant. Because I had the engineering interest, they basically created an engineering cadetship for me! 

That’s fantastic. We bet you’re glad you applied, then? 

Absolutely. I was very lucky. It started with work experience, so that allowed me to introduce myself, be open and friendly with everyone and they’re all so great here that it was pretty easy to do! I’m extremely happy because engineering was what I was originally interested in, so to be given this engineering cadetship is such a blessing. I thought I didn’t have anything, but then it was even better than what I originally applied for! 

You’re about a month into the role, so what have you been working on so far? 

The first week was just getting to know everyone, seeing the sort of general routine of the engineers and so on. This week I’ve been sent out with the production side of the department. I was out with the dragline supervisor, looking at the dragline and dozers. The plan is to get me around and give me experience in every area of the mine before university starts. 

You’re about to commence your studies at university, you must be excited! 

I’m really looking forward to digging into the engineering role once I’ve looked around at the different parts of production. Then I’ve also got the uni that will be starting at same time, so it’ll be a very busy time. I’m looking forward to the challenge and learning the foundations to what I’m doing on-site. 

The Cadetship obviously eases the financial burden of studying too, right? 

Yeah, it’s a really awesome opportunity, just because you don’t really have to worry about the cost of all the units and the classes, and then you get to work full-time and get paid full-time. It’s just such a better outcome for me than going straight into uni, getting through that, then having my HECS debt to deal with. Basically, I’ll pay for the units every semester and then when I pass them Batchfire will reimburse me for the units I complete. It’s a pretty fair deal! 

Before we let you get back to work, what advice would you give to other students considering a career at Batchfire? 

Well, I’ll just say that so far my experience has been really awesome. Everyone here just gets along really well, and everyone’s communication is good, so you know they’re keeping you safe. From my time here, it seems like pretty good place to be, it’s just a great community. In terms of getting an opportunity like this, I’d say that young people should be doing some kind of leadership or public speaking, learning to meet new people so they can transition into the workplace. You will use those skills, so I think it’s very important to try and put yourself out there and get uncomfortable. 

Fantastic advice, Mackinlay. We have no doubt you’ll do great things at Callide Mine! 

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.   

The post Batchfire Cadetship Champions: Q&A with Mackinlay  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

Deb started at Callide Mine on January 23, 1984, paving the way for future generations as the first woman to work on a mine site in Queensland – shattering the glass ceiling and kicking off a successful career that would span more than four decades. 

So momentous was the occasion, back in ‘84, that the Central Telegraph posted the achievement as Deb was welcomed to the mine by Deputy General Manager CSR Coal Division, Stan Honey. 

While mine sites around Queensland today represent a diverse and inclusive working environment, back in the 1980s Deb took a bold step, joining an industry that was male dominated. 

“I started at Callide as the first female Trainee Plant Operator, which was a two-year apprenticeship,” Deb said. 

“It involved training on loaders, dozers, graders, scrapers, service trucks, backhoe, forklift, mobile cranes, overhead cranes and even some time on the 1350 dragline.” 

This training set the foundation for Deb’s long career as an operator, with her first eight years spent at Boundary Hill where she attained her 395 B-Rope Shovel qualifications. 

Deb has worked on many noteworthy projects at Callide Mine, but she recalls a few of her proudest achievements in the ‘90s. 

“In 1990, I worked with Tech Services Manager, Warren Seib and fifth-year Mining Engineering Student, Mandi Nelson, on a high wall mining project that involved multiple pass auguring,” she said. 

“This involved the drilling of several sets of holes, each 1.3 m wide, parallel to the coal seam, with a pillar of coal left between each hole to support the wall.” 

Deb’s career continued to progress, moving on to operate the RH-200 face shovel, where she spent a further eight years operating the machine until it was parked up. 

“After that I was mainly shuffled from the dozers to the loaders, until 2010 when I was appointed into the Training Department as Head Trainer,” she said. 

“I started all the New to Industry workers in group-based training and made up training packages to name a few tasks. I did this job for three years.” 

After a successful stint as Head Trainer, Deb was drawn back to the machinery as an operator – getting back to her roots operating the EX 8000 face shovel. 

“I did that until the machine was parked up several years later,” she said. 

“After that, I was mainly on the Cat 994K loader, loading coal on the ROM, or floating machinery across sites on the low loader.” 

In 2024, Deb was celebrated at Batchfire’s Annual Awards Dinner, for 40 years of loyal service at Callide Mine – putting her among a small group of longstanding employees that have cracked the 40-year milestone. 

This year, Deb made the call to retire, hanging up the boots after an incredibly successful career in mining. She paved the way for women in mining, and for that we would like to acknowledge her as a true pioneer. 

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

The post QLD’s first woman in mining: Deb Fisher retires after 41 years  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

As a Senior Mining Engineer, Jeffery assists with mining activities across Trap Gully and Dunn Creek, delivering road designs, interim pit designs and dump designs.

Jeffery also plays a hand in ensuring Callide Mine operations are safe, identifying risks and providing strategic and technical support to optimise operational efficiencies on-site.

Jeffery’s interest in the mining industry began in his hometown of Arawa in the Autonomous Region of Bougainville, in Papua New Guinea.

“Growing up in a mining town, with my dad who was a civil engineer, and got converted to a mining engineer, it inspired me to pursue mine engineering,” he said.

After working for Porgera Joint Venture and Ok Tedi in Papua New Guinea earlier in his career, Jeffery relocated to Mount Isa in 2006 with his family.

“I was in Mount Isa until 2007 and then I moved to Western Australia and was there until 2020,” he said.

During the COVID-19 era, Jeffery and his family decided to make the move back to Queensland and chose the small town of Biloela.

“I was originally working at Dawson and living in Biloela, so I heard a lot about Batchfire and its involvement in the community,” Jeffery said.

“So, when a job opportunity arose, I decided to apply and then I started at Batchfire in August 2023. Callide is only 15 km from home and the people I work and interact with are great, which makes it a very positive environment for work.”

Jeffery works in the Technical Services department based from the Callide Admin building and says that his job still excites him.

“My favourite part of the job is working with our tech services team and production team, by contributing and discussing ideas to provide solutions to operational issues,” he said.

“It makes work interesting and when you find a solution to an issue, or achieve what you have planned or designed, it gives everyone involved great satisfaction.”

Beyond his role at Batchfire, Jeffery loves to spend time with his family and enjoys getting to spend the holidays with them.

“I’ve never worked in a mine that closes on Christmas day before I moved to Biloela,” he said.

“I hope this never stops. It’s great for people who work here at Batchfire to spend time with their families on Christmas, which helps them reset and go again in the new year. It is a very inclusive community here at Batchfire and it’s one of the best working environments I have ever been in.”

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

The post Across the Strait: Jeffery’s journey to Callide first appeared on Batchfire Resources.

WorkPac is one of Australia’s leading workforce solutions businesses, with more than 25 years of experience in industries like mining, construction and engineering, making them a great partner for us at Batchfire. 

While we employ a large portion of our workforce directly, the team at WorkPac plays an important role in assisting us with our new-to-industry, ex-defence and skilled operator recruitment. 

Jaimee looks after the recruitment activity for WorkPac at Batchfire, recently moving to an on-site office to further assist with placements into the future. We sat down with her to find out more about how her role at WorkPac positively impacts Batchfire.  

Thanks for catching up, Jaimee. How long have you been with WorkPac and how did you end up working with Batchfire?  

I’ve been with WorkPac for five years, based out of the Biloela office. I began my career as the office receptionist before transitioning into the Site Manager role in May 2022, which I’ve been doing for just over two-and-a-half years. 

Since then, I’ve been managing operations for WorkPac at Batchfire’s Boundary Hill and Callide (Southern) mining areas. I have also been a part of WorkPac’s Mobilisation and Recruitment teams, which has given me great knowledge to be able to succeed in this role. 

That’s great to hear! What do you enjoy most about the role and what achievement are you most proud of? 

What I enjoy most about my role is the opportunity to interact with the operators on site. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them take pride in their work and excel at what they love doing every day.  

The achievement I’m most proud of is being named Site Manager of the Year in 2023 at WorkPac’s Annual awards. That year was our largest recruitment effort on site, where we successfully employed seven intakes, bringing on around 50 new-to-industry (NTI) candidates and 239 skilled operators. 

I strive to be someone my employees can trust and rely on to ensure their employment is as smooth as possible. There are many challenging days within this role, although I have always said the ‘good outweighs the bad’ and that’s because of the people I work with daily! 

Those are some impressive numbers. How does it feel to have placed so many people at Callide Mine over the years? 

It feels surreal when I reflect on the time and effort invested in each candidate. It’s incredibly fulfilling to see them succeed after going through our rigorous intake process and knowing that they are contributing to the success of the Callide Mine is very rewarding. 

Given your experience in this sector, what advice would you give to people considering a career in mining? 

A career in mining can be incredibly rewarding, yet it requires hard work, resilience, sacrifice and a commitment to safety. No two days are the same.  

My advice would be to remain open-minded and take the time to learn as much as possible – whether it’s from the people you work with, the training opportunities available, or the experience you gain on the job. 

That’s great advice and you’re certainly right about no two days being the same! How do you see 2025 panning out and what is your focus for the year? 

Well, 2025 is shaping up to be a significant year for local new-to-industry candidates, with plans to recruit six intakes, totalling 48 new employees across the year.  

While recruitment has slowed slightly, due to WorkPac successfully meeting Batchfire’s manning requirements, our focus remains on continuing to ensure the safety, culture and wellbeing of all employees on site. 

It was great chatting, Jaimee. Keep on kicking goals for Workpac and Batchfire! 

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

The post WorkPac Wonder: Q&A with Jaimee McKinley  first appeared on Batchfire Resources.