Student Journal - Southern Queensland Student Chapter - Civil and Mining Engineering Students Vacation Work

Just over two years ago, I decided to pursue a career in mining.

This summer, I had the privilege of gaining my first hands-on experience in the resources industry as a Mine Planning Intern at BHP's Goonyella Riverside Mine. Working alongside talented and supportive engineers, operators, and other site professionals, I contributed to dragline walk and cable plans, developed proficiency in Deswik and ArcGIS, and strengthened my problem-solving, design, and communication skills. I also shadowed various teams across the site and led a reconciliation project, identifying gaps between design inputs and operational data to improve design tracking and reporting for future dragline plans.

One of the highlights of my time at Goonyella Riverside this summer was the opportunity to engage directly with dragline supervisors, head out into the pit, and observe operators at work from onboard the draglines. Seeing my team's designs come to life was incredibly rewarding and showcased the dynamic, fast-paced nature of short-term mining planning - an area I’m excited to continue exploring.
Beyond technical growth, I learned the value of collaboration - consulting with teams across pre-strip, haulage, cables and more to deliver designs that work for everyone. I particularly enjoyed speaking to draglines during weekly meetings, ensuring alignment across processes.

I’m incredibly grateful to the team for their guidance, especially Ella Matic, Wesley Ragan, and Charles Pearce, for taking time out of their days to build my capability and help me achieve my goals during this experience.

I look forward to further developing my mine planning skills, exploring how AI and automation can enhance operational efficiency and safety - drawing inspiration from GRM's autonomous haulage fleet - and contributing to building a better world from Queensland.