Karratha students explore mining opportunities for women

Students from Karratha were given the opportunity to celebrate International Women’s Day at Australia’s largest magnetite mine.

Nine students from Karratha Senior High School and St Luke’s College headed to CITIC Pacific Mining’s Sino Iron to learn more about the mega-project’s mining and processing technology.

The students toured the facility and were treated to lunch and presentations by CPM mining career ambassadors, mine controller Jess Tole, and senior mining engineer Diana Greenup.

St Luke’s College principal Alanna Otway attended the event with four of her students and said access to the 600-tonne haul truck was a highlight of the day.

“The entire experience was a real eye-opener for all students in relation to both mining operations and the role of women in mining,” she said.

St Luke’s Year 11 student Laura Dick, 16, said the womens’ stories were inspiring.

“We had an amazing lunch, followed with a panel discussion from two women who work at the mine speaking about their careers and how they came to work in the mining industry,” she said.

The students were given a taste of what a day working at the Sino Iron project involved when they visited the mine control room, and got to see the open-cut pit, as well as the heavy machinery equipment workshop.

Sino Iron is at Cape Preston, 100km south of Karratha, and has more than 3000 direct employees and contractors.