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Ernest Henry attracts women truck drivers

The introduction of a permanent part-time shift at Ernest Henry copper mine in north Queensland has improved equipment utilisation at the mine and created family-friendly job opportunities for women in Cloncurry.

The shift operates between 9am and 3pm and was introduced to cut the amount of time haul trucks were standing idle due to breaks and shift changes. The new day shift was marketed to local mothers who were likely to have children in school or day care and who were looking for work that blended in with their family responsibilities.

Eight of the nine part-timers driving haul trucks are women, most with children at home, and the mine provides a bus to transport the part-timers from the town each day.

Superintendent Employee Services, Administration and Community Relations Andrew Upfill said it was a win-win situation.

"The permanent part-time shift has certainly been a success for us. It has kept our trucks working and material movements up. Instead of parking trucks up to have breaks, we keep them operating," he said. "This has been reflected in the percentage increases in equipment utilisation.

"One of the main challenges faced in introducing permanent part-time drivers was getting the workforce to adapt to a day shift of drivers - something that was new for everyone concerned. Over time the workforce has seen the benefits of improved utilisation of equipment on a daily basis and the value of having relief drivers has become better understood. The other main challenge was ensuring that the new trainees were safely integrated into the mine operation."

Andrew said new recruits received three weeks of intensive training before they were allowed to drive alone.

Colleen Power is one of the part-time haul truck operators. She and her husband Peter have three children - Kris (14), Adelaide (8) and Rhiley (6). She said she was looking for a change from sales and cleaning jobs and the family-friendly shifts made the job attractive.

Colleen hauls waste and ore in a 200-tonne truck that is about 14 metres long, almost seven metres high and can weigh more than 400 tonnes when fully loaded.

"I'm qualified to operate Komatsu 830E, Caterpillar 785 and Caterpillar 793 trucks, and I hope to acquire more skills. I would not shy away from working in other areas of mining as my children get older. Right now the permanent part-time work is great for me and my family."

Women comprise 30% of Ernest Henry's workforce, with several working as full-time mining technicians and 14 employed in administrative roles.