Work With Us
Bravus Mining & Resources is committed to local jobs and procurement. Bravus developed, built, and delivered the Carmichael Project – the Carmichael Mine and the Carmichael Rail Network.
Work With Us
Overview
Bravus Mining & Resources is committed to local jobs and procurement.
Bravus developed, built, and delivered the Carmichael Project – the Carmichael Mine and the Carmichael Rail Network.
The three-year construction phase generated more than AUD $1 billion in contracts to regional Queensland businesses and created more than 2,600 direct jobs and around 9,000 indirect jobs.
Now that the Project is in operations, we remain committed to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and engaged workforce of employees and contractors who are empowered and challenged to live our values and contribute to our performance and the wellbeing of our community.
The safety of our workforce is our priority and Bravus provides and maintains the highest health and safety standards for everyone on site and embeds a strong safety culture into its businesses.
Regional focus
Rockhampton and Townsville are the Fly-in, Fly-out (FIFO) ports of origin to the Carmichael Mine and along with the Isaac Regional Council area are the primary hubs for employment, however we encourage and consider applicants from all regional Queensland communities. We also allow our people to Drive-in Drive-out from some destinations close to the mine if it can be done safely to manage fatigue and a journey management plan is approved.
Join us
Operations at Carmichael Mine employ a range of skilled professionals from experienced operators right through to apprentices and new-to-industry cleanskins.
Job seekers looking to work at Carmichael can visit our jobs portal which outlines employment opportunities with Bravus and our contractors.
Apprentice and traineeships
Bravus is committed to developing the workforce of the future, through traineeships and apprenticeships, including a commitment to Traditional Owners that a minimum of 10% of our trainees will be First Nations people.
Apprenticeship and trainee programs are advertised on our jobs portal when they are available, at bravusmining.com.au Our contractors also advertise their apprenticeship or trainee programs on our portal.
For further questions regarding apprenticeships or traineeships please contact our recruitment team at [email protected].
Opening doors for locals
Growing up in cane country around heavy agricultural machinery and with a passion for cars and performance vehicles led Brooke McNee to a career in the mining industry. The Burdekin local was one of the 60 new trainee haul truck drivers to commence work at Carmichael Mine in 2022.
The 60 trainees were employed by Bravus’ mining contractor MacKellar, who received nearly 4,000 applications for the roles – demonstrating strong interest and enthusiasm for work in the mining industry.
Brooke said getting to learn and qualify on Bravus’ fleet of Caterpillar 796AC mining trucks was the “opportunity of a lifetime.”
“I first began applying for mine operator roles in 2019 and wasn’t successful but when I saw this traineeship I knew I had to apply,” she said.
“Not only is this my start in an amazing industry and working with massive, sophisticated machinery, it’s an opportunity that will open doors to other goals like building my first home.”
As part of the program, the trainees undertook a four-week program of desk-based and supervised on-the-job training, including both day and night shifts.
First Nations employment
The vast majority of Traditional Owners support the Carmichael Project and work proactively with Bravus under the guidance of formal agreements and plans, so that we respect the rights, history, future intentions, and requests of First Australians.
Bravus has Indigenous Land Use Agreements and Cultural Heritage Management Plans that guide how areas of significance were preserved during construction and now in operations.
These agreements have been in place since 2014 and are creating multigenerational benefits for these groups through
sustainable employment, skills and training, and other economic and cultural opportunities.
Through our Indigenous Participation Plan we deliver:
- A minimum $7.5 million spend on First Nations education bursaries and pre-employment programs
- A minimum 10% First Nations traineeships
- A minimum 7.5% First Nations employment target
- A minimum spend of $250 million in First Nations contracting and business development.
Creating opportunity
Hal Walsh knows the opportunities that are available for people who are open to the possibility of working in the mining and resources industry.
The Traditional Owner from the Birriah First Nation in North Queensland has worked with Bravus for five years, overseeing cultural heritage management for the Carmichael Project.
“Don’t think that anything is impossible,” Mr Walsh says. “There’s always a possibility of you getting a foot in the door. And even if that means you start at a lower level, you can work your way up.”
Hailing from the First Nations communities of Palm Island and Yarrabah, Mr Walsh started with Bravus as an Indigenous Engagement Officer after a career in academia and working with not-for-profit organisations.
Mr Walsh started with the company around the time the Adani Group announced the authorisation of signed voluntary Indigenous Land Use Agreements (ILUA) with Birriah Traditional Owners, as well as the Traditional Owners of the Juru, Jangaa and Wangan and Jagalingou First Nations, in 2017.
“Being a Traditional Owner from Collinsville [in North Queensland], I was always interested in the project because the rail goes on to our land, Birriah land, around Collinsville,” Mr Walsh said.
“Since we signed the ILUA with Bravus I just wanted to get involved in the project because I saw the opportunities for our people.”
This has been a critical feature from the start of the Carmichael Mine and Rail Project, given Bravus’ ongoing commitment to creating jobs and opportunities for First Nations communities.
Mr Walsh encourages people from all backgrounds to give the mining industry a go, noting the range of opportunities available.
“The best satisfaction I get is seeing a lot of Indigenous people employed by our contractors, and in every field,” he says. “Operators, mechanics, housekeepers, kitchen staff, bus drivers, there are a lot of Indigenous people here. That’s why I like coming back to work as well, because it’s like another community.”
“I’m not a miner by trade. I thought it wouldn’t suit me when I first started, but I actually enjoy it. There are so many things to do on a mine site. You don’t have to be an operator on a truck, you can be an environmental approvals person, you can be a cultural heritage superintendent, you could work in the kitchen, you can work in the shop. There are so many roles around. Come out and see for yourself what opportunities are there.”
Creating the superstars of the future
Bravus is committed to supporting the future leaders of the resources industry. Our Graduate Program is open to engineering graduates up to two years post-graduation. In 2022, these included mining, civil, and mechanical engineers and geology graduates.
Graduate Program overview
Delivered over 18 months in three, six-month modules, our graduates are placed with senior engineering team members working at Carmichael Mine. On-site work is bolstered with off-site training through our learning partners at Central Queensland University at either the Townsville or Rockhampton campuses.
Key outcomes will see graduates grow into confident and productive professionals, with the capability to drive business results for our exciting operations. Our Graduate Program will use best-practice educational techniques to not only develop the engineering skills of the graduate, but also their interpersonal skills as a future leader of the resources sector.
Program content
Module 1 – Personal Development and Communication
Module 1 sets the scene for ongoing development as a valuable team member. This module is designed to allow the graduate to learn about themselves and their communication style so they can work as an active and successful member of ongoing operations and continuous improvement initiatives. The graduate will learn to identify communication styles, manage their own day-to-day priorities, understand emotional intelligence and be a solid and effective member of the team.
Module 2 – Critical Path
Module 2 addresses the skills required to identify critical path activities and the key elements of project management. The graduate will learn about the steps involved with an internal project, problem solving, identifying risk, contract administration and quality and stakeholder management.
Module 3 – Future Leader
Module 3 identifies and builds on competencies the graduate requires to become a future leader in the business. The module helps the graduate understand how to develop their work abilities and identify new ways of doing things. Thinking outside the square is encouraged and topics of focus include teamwork, innovation, organisational agility and contemporary leadership.
For any further enquiries please contact our recruitment team for the Carmichael Project directly at [email protected].
Employment FAQs
How many operational jobs are there at Carmichael Mine?
Job numbers for operational open cut coal mines of a similar size in Queensland employ up to 1,800 people and support up to 8,000 additional jobs in supporting industries. Carmichael Mine operational role numbers are within this range, dependent on production volumes, geology, rostering patterns, and equipment sizing among other parameters.
Are all roles direct employment roles?
We engage both direct employees and contracting partners.
Will people from overseas be brought to Australia to work at Carmichael Mine?
No, we do not engage people with 457 visas to work at Carmichael Mine.
Will you be automating the mine?
The mine will not be automated. We will use the same conventional coal mining techniques and equipment used in other Queensland coal mines.
Is the mine site a unionised mine site?
The site has been set up with a conventional industrial relations approach and we comply with all legal obligations. In operations we focus on stability through permanent jobs through direct employment with Bravus or with our contracting partners.
Will you operate the mine remotely?
The mine is operated and managed onsite, we have no plans for a remote operating centre.
How do employees get to and from the mine site?
Fly-in and fly-out arrangements are in place from Rockhampton and Townsville. Drive-in drive-out options are also currently available under strict journey management plans.
