As the second largest employer in the mining sector, Australia’s gold industry is a thriving and far-reaching sector that offers a diverse range of jobs from exploration and mining through to community and environment. And with gold production estimated to rise over the next three years as more mines come online and others expand, the opportunities for employment in gold have never been better.
Regis Resources General Manager of People and Capability Tim Conversi
AngloGold Ashanti Australia Vice President: People and Capability Nicola Thomson
why work in Australia’s Gold Industry?
Australia is the second largest gold producer in the world, and the industry contributed $23 billion to the economy in 2021, furthering the nation’s economic prosperity, providing for hundreds of thousands of workers and their families, and supporting local communities.
Yet there can sometimes be a misconception that you need to be a miner to work in the gold industry. However, extracting and processing gold is a long and complex process that requires workers from many different backgrounds with a range of skillsets in more than 200 roles. Gold companies are constantly looking to fill vacancies for a range of roles, often in less obvious areas and critical.
Regis Resources General Manager of People and Capability Tim Conversi said he thought a lot of people didn’t understand the breadth of opportunity there was in gold mining.
“Gold mining isn’t just geology, metallurgy and mining. There’s lots and lots of job opportunities in gold mining,” he said.
Mr Conversi said that while there would always be roles available in surveying, geology, and engineering, there was also other roles in gold mining that were less obvious but equally as important, such as in training, human resources, and finance.
“We’ve got people from really diverse backgrounds, really skilled both on mining and in other industries, and they’re really all just willing to roll up their sleeves and have a go,” he said.
As well as boasting a diversity of roles, the gold industry also boasts diversity in experience. Every year, gold companies take on green people who have never worked in the mining industry before.
Anglogold Ashanti Australia Vice President: People and Capability Nicola Thomson said the gold industry was all about people.
“We’re always looking for a variety of skills. We look for a wide variety of people because we have lots of jobs and we have lots of opportunities for people,” she said."
Ramelius Resources Production Engineer Jhobie Verdejo
Engineer
You will find several types of engineers on a gold mining site. Engineers typically perform preliminary surveys of gold deposits to determine the gold present, the feasibility of extracting the reserves, and the design and development of the extraction process.
Ramelius Resources Production Engineer Jhobie Verdejo collaborates with different departments to complete the daily drill and blast plans. Without her, there would be no blasting happening and no gold being extracted.
Jhobie said she never thought she would end up in gold mining, and that it was just “opportunity after opportunity”. She said what she really enjoys about working in gold mining is the supportive team, the training opportunities, and the flexible work arrangements.
“I love coming to work every day. Just working around these good people, everyone
collaborating together,” she said.
Northern Star Resources Truck Operator and Trainer Maritza Potgieter
MOBILE PLANT OPERATOR
Mobile Plant Operators are responsible for operating heavy machinery and vehicles to dig, transfer and load soil, rock, debris, and rubble from one place to another at open pit mine sites as well as underground mines.
Maritza Potgieter was a hairdresser for 16 years before becoming a Truck Operator and Trainer at Northern Star Resources. Maritza is now responsible for hauling millions of tonnes of raw earth each shift, and is enjoying training the new crop of workers just starting out in mining.
“It’s quite daunting at first knowing how big it is, how big the trucks are, how big the loading units are, and just the whole Super Pit, how large it is. It’s pretty impressive,“ she said. “Within a couple of months, it’s like driving your own car.”
St Barbara Underground Mine Surveyor Tari Zador
Surveyor
Mining surveyors plan, direct and conduct work to precisely position the layout of tracts of land and underground works.
St Barbara Underground Mine Surveyor Tari Zador works with the underground miners to assess which direction they should mine. Tari and his team dictate the mines direction, so that the mine is always moving toward the gold deposits. Tari has ambitions to become a senior mine surveyor in the future, and said he would “recommend the gold industry to basically everyone.”
”I would recommend the gold industry to basically everyone. You’ll always have a stable career, you get a good paying job, and I get to live where I want to live and meet a lot of really nice people,” he said.
Gold Fields Environment Superintendent Alex Langley
Environmental Consultant
Environmental Consultants carry out assessments, propose solutions to address environmental impacts, conduct studies, and manage environmental issues such as rehabilitation, revegetation, and the site’s impact on animal and plant life.
As an Environmental Superintendent for Gold Fields, Alex Langley helps the gold mining operation do what it needs to do in an environmentally and socially responsible way. Alex, who started his career as a scientist, said he was drawn to the mining industry because it is where cutting-edge environmental practice happens.
“If there’s anything that you’re interested in environmentally, you can find a pathway for it in mining,” he said.
“Anybody considering work in the gold industry and gold mining in general, give it some serious thought. Don’t just look at the jobs list that’s available,
talk to somebody and find out a little bit more about what happens.
You might be surprised. In fact, you will be surprised at what happens.”
Anglogold Ashanti Australia Manager of Business Intelligence and Analytics Matthew Crouch
BUSINESS Analyst
Business intelligence analysts use data to drive organisational efficiency, and play a key role in optimising the performance, profitability, and experience of the company.
Matthew Crouch is the Manager of Business Intelligence and Analytics at Anglogold Ashanti Australia. It’s Matt’s job to take data from various systems the company uses, transform it, and provide it to managers in ways that they can make effective change. Matt said the scale of the operations meant the gold industry was always at the forefront of technology, which created an environment of learning and improvement.
“Career opportunities are kind of limitless. Because it’s global, there’s so many different functions and areas you can go into. You can take your learnings into whatever career you want and whatever industry you want,” he said.
Regis Resources Trainer Patricia De Almelda
Trainer
Workplace trainers work with employees daily to share their knowledge and skills related to the gold industry. They are vital to ensuring workers are equipped to do their job, and have the skills and resources necessary to advance their careers.
Regis Resources Trainer Patricia De Almelda interacts with workers one-on-one, as well as in group sessions, to facilitate their career growth and personal development. Patricia said the gold industry was growing fast, and there is a variety of roles for people to move into.
“People are constantly moving to new positions. We need to ensure that people perform their jobs safely, as well as preparing them for their career progression. They can also move across to different areas and grow as a leader,” she said.
Ramelius Resources Mine Geologist Mischa Ritschny
Geologist
A geologist’s work on a gold mine site includes conducting surveys of mineral deposits, preparing and supervising the production of laboratory reports and conducting studies of the structure, nature and formation of the earth’s crust.
You can’t mine without knowing where the gold is, and as a Mine Geologist for Ramelius Resources, Mischa Ritschny’s job is to determine where ore and waste lies in the pit. Mischa loves to study rocks, but said a big part of what makes his job so rewarding is the team around him.
“it’s just great to work with all kinds of people from different backgrounds. You’re not just working with people or colleagues, you’re definitely working with friends and family here,” he said.
St Barbara Maintenance Planner Samantha Biddle
Maintenance Technician
Mine sites feature a large amount of fixed plant and equipment. The maintenance of this equipment is vital to ensure the site’s operational uptime and efficiency.
Samantha Biddle is a Maintenance Planner at St Barbara who is responsible for planning and scheduling all the maintenance work that needs to be done. Samantha’s role allows her to meet a lot of different people across all departments, and she said she would recommend anyone thinking about the gold industry to just take a chance.
“What would I say to someone wanting a career in the gold industry? I’d say go for it. Just grasp it and go for it,” she said.
explore your CAREER IN GOLD
The Gold Industry Group’s Gold Jobs website provides a one-stop-shop to explore careers in Australia’s gold industry and lists hundreds of available jobs from various gold companies.
The website also features helpful career tips and industry insights, including profiles of job roles and employers, interviews with gold workers, details on a range of workplace programs, study and training options, scholarships, and the latest news.