FIFO women in mining choosing Gold Coast as home base

She is the fly-in fly-out manager of 600 workers at one of the country’s most significant coal mines, a youthful mum who lives on the Gold Coastline who wants to be BHP manager just one day. 

30-7-12 months-old Lydia Light many thanks her Atherton Tablelands maths trainer for placing her on a skyrocketing job path.

She was flummoxed selecting a college training course and he stated: “You really should be an engineer, you’ve bought the fantastic maths brain for it”.

Now much more than 15 yrs in the field, she is the servicing manager at BHP/BMA Peak Downs mine.

A woman wearing a hard hat and a high viz shirt stands in front of a very big wheel
Challenging times inflating the variety of women in mining.(Provided: BHP)

“Each and every working day is completely various, especially right away when a thing breaks and you have got to ensure that the crew is assembled and completely ready to deal with any condition.”

Like so lots of in North Queensland, her parents ended up migrants who came to work on sugar cane farms.The spouse and children emigrated from Italy.

Lydia Gentle, husband and parents with Qld Governor after receiving Order of Australia award
Mrs Light attending Get of Australia celebrations at Authorities Dwelling in Brisbane.(Supplied: BHP )

Already notching up an outstanding array of awards, Mrs Light is a finalist in the “Fantastic Women in Queensland Means” awards subsequent month.

Has becoming a woman been a barrier in a male-dominated marketplace? 

“I do not know. Feminine and possibly also just remaining new to the market when I was a graduate. You’ve got got to acquire it with a perception of humour,” she reported.

Gold Coastline mining network

Not too long ago returned to Tugun from abroad, the communications director for QEM Confined, Joanne Bergamin, recognized a networking group for girls in the mining and useful resource industries on the Gold Coastline.

Mining media boss Joanne Bergamin in safety gear in front of mining equipment
Communications director for QEM Constrained, Joanne Bergamin.(Supplied: Joanne Bergamin)

“In our organisation by yourself we are 50-for every-cent women so we are doing very very well,” Ms Bergamin claimed.

The tourism glitter strip features a mineral in its name but the town has a lengthy background with the mining industry.

Tania Constable is the first female chief govt officer of the Minerals Council of Australia team.

“Folks have missing sight of the truth that our industry has been a bedrock of many of the regional cities and metropolitan areas like the Gold Coastline,” she stated.

Mining manager in safety gear stands in front of huge dug out mine
Servicing supervisor Lydia Gentle says there have been some troubles alongside the way.(Supplied: BHP)

In 2021, just 18 per cent of the Australian mining workforce were women.

5 of their top 10 executives are ladies.

“Companies like St Barbara and Rio Tinto are champions of modify,” she stated.

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