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Try It by Career Calling

Mining Support Worker

LabourersUsually school education or a short period of on-the-job training

What the work is

Performs routine tasks in mining and mineral ore treating operations, such as assembling, operating and dismantling mining equipment, taking ore, rock and dust samples, and mixing ore treating chemicals and catalysts.

Would you enjoy the work?

These are the main tasks in the official description. Mark how each one sounds to you.

  • Assembles and operates mining equipment according to instructions
  • Dismantles mining equipment and ensures proper storage and maintenance
  • Takes ore, rock and dust samples for analysis and testing
  • Mixes ore treating chemicals and catalysts according to specified ratios
  • Assists in the transportation of ore, rock and other materials within the mining site
  • Cleans and maintains work areas and equipment

Try it

A simulation and a case study from this kind of work, set in a night rail maintenance shutdown on a busy suburban line, with track crews and a safety team. They are fictional.

The kind of days you could have

Good days

  • The track is handed back on time and the first train of the morning rolls through smoothly
  • Everyone on the crew goes home at dawn because the safety plan worked
  • A tricky stretch of track is aligned and you can see the difference in the line

Hard days

  • Standing watch in the dark and cold while others get on with the work
  • A crew member wants to rush and you are the one who has to say wait
  • Long shifts at odd hours that make it hard to see family and friends

Written by Career Calling as a general guide. Real roles vary by employer and place.

Work a mission

Step into a simulated workplace in this field, with a brief from your manager.

Description and tasks: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Occupation Standard Classification for Australia, 2024, Version 1.0 (opens another site), occupation 821933, used under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. The skill guide above is our plain English summary.