A group of Mandurah Catholic College (MCC) Year 11 female students recently attended the Alcoa Huntly mine site, to learn about future career paths on offer, as part of International Women’s Day.
An Alcoa Women’s Network spokesperson said the company wanted to demonstrate that it was possible for women to achieve and succeed; even in a male-dominated mining industry.
The students were partnered with a female mentor who gave them an insight into their work at the mine site, in roles as diverse as environmental rehabilitation, human resources, geology and operation planning.
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Former MCC student Stephanie Lyons was one of the mentors who shared her experiences, goals and successes working as an environmental advisor at the site.
MCC student Larissa O’Malley shadowed an environmental scientist and used the opportunity to climb on board a haul truck.
Ms O'Malley said it was an “amazing experience”.
“To see what jobs are available for women in the mining industry was very empowering and showed me that there are many opportunities in a stereotypical male job field,” she said.
“It was really interesting to find out what backgrounds the women came from, their past academic history and how they got into their positions."
Huntly mine manager Affonso Bizon and vice president of operations Mal Briggs joined the young women and their mentors to debrief over lunch.