Student Journal - UWA Student Chapter - Mining Engineering and Commerce Students Vacation Work

Bio
I commenced studying Engineering and Commerce in 2022 and am currently in my penultimate year at the University of Western Australia. Majoring in Mining Engineering and Finance, I am passionate about the mining industry, which offers unique challenges and allows for innovative problem-solving. Post-graduation, I endeavour to combine knowledge from both majors to better the mining industry on an operational scale.

Since joining AusIMM in 2024, I've been actively involved with the AusIMM Student Chapter, starting with a General Committee position, competing in the Mining Games, and now serving as the 2025 Mining Games Coordinator. AusIMM has provided me with incredible networking opportunities and the chance to attend the New Leaders Conference, where I gained insight into the industry's future. Currently, I am working with the AusIMM Student Chapter on the layout and organisation of the Asia Pacific Mining Games Competition, which will be held in 2025.

Through mine site tours offered by the AusIMM Student Chapter, I quickly realised that underground operations provide opportunities to tackle complex challenges in dynamic and ever-changing environments. Currently, I am part of IGO Ltd.'s ventilation team at their Nova Operation, working as a Vacation Student. This role has been an invaluable experience, allowing me to learn on the job and gain exposure to mine site operations.

Outside the mining industry, I currently work as a bar manager, but I have also worked as a tennis coach and a mixologist in Japan.

Article
Working for IGO Ltd as a first-time student has been a rewarding opportunity to understand the mining industry better while studying. Before the role, I had thoughts on what it would be like from discussions with my peers, but it turned out to be a very different experience.

I was assigned to the Ventilation Team. This was an excellent opportunity to gain exposure to technical services and descend underground to see theoretical knowledge learnt from the university applied to an active mine site. I worked very closely with graduate mining engineer James Fox, an excellent mentor who taught me a vast amount about ventilation and general knowledge about working on a mine site. 

After the first three days of working on-site, I knew this was the career I wanted to pursue. My daily routine involved waking up at 3:00 am to attend the gym and at the admin building on-site at around 5:00 am. The working day started with a pre-start meeting with the operators and technical services to discuss the critical tasks of the day. The morning was spent designing work plans for ventilation control devices and defect plans. Furthermore, I would spend the mornings trying to learn as much as possible about ventilation and how it worked, which the rest of the team was pleased to teach and discuss.

The afternoons involved trips underground to survey the airflow in active work areas and the two fresh air intakes into the mine. These trips also involved tasks such as installing signs, fixing leakage points, and checking the status of the active ventilation control devices. The evenings involved activities with colleagues such as pickle ball, cricket, running, or gym.

Along with these daily tasks, I was given numerous projects over the course of my 12-week project - this included drafting a schematic for the underground pump system, finding unventilated headings underground and figuring out where air losses were occurring in the mine. These projects allowed me to work with multiple departments, learning about the specific department and the interconnectedness required in technical services. In addition, I was given the opportunity to undertake courses that allowed me to gain my underground LV ticket and work at heights ticket.

My key learnings and takeaways from this program included:
•    Knowledge of how an underground ventilation circuit works
•    Exposure to both explosive and geotechnical expertise from other departments
•    The importance of 'hazard hunting' underground
•    Communication is a key skill to work in the mining industry
•    The ins and outs of working on a mine site

Finally, I thank IGO Ltd. for the opportunity to work as a Vacation student at their Nova Mine Site and the site personnel for their support and wisdom throughout my 12-week program. I look forward to my next vacation opportunity and to continuing to learn about the mining industry.