Visit to SIMEC iron ore mines and Whyalla Steelworks
10 July 2024
Tahmoor Coking Coal graduates recently completed their first visit to Whyalla in South Australia to participate in the Graduate Professional Development Program.
Tahmoor’s graduates – Kayleb Byrnes, Sandesh Patel, Joseph Lambert, and Tamara Robertson – spent three days in the steel city to see the GFG Alliance operations and compete against each other in an experiential leadership workshop.
The visits are aimed at professional growth and enabling industry starters to network with graduate colleagues in other GFG Alliance Australian operations.
It was valuable getting to meet others from the business and comparing our experiences in different aspects of the industry
Sandesh Patel
The leadership workshop teaches the graduates about their personality and leadership styles according to the B.E.S.T. (Behavioral Emotional Social Traits) test, as well as engaging them in activities and problem-solving games that highlight the necessity of good teamwork.
Electrical engineer graduate Joseph was on the purple team, which held the lead for part of the two days.
“We were all in different teams, so it was fun trying to beat each other at each exercise and it was a close game,” Joseph said.
“I feel like I left having learnt something about myself and where I fit within a leadership role.”
The program involved other graduates from around the LIBERTY Primary Metals Australia group including engineers, environmental officers, finance officers and other vocations.
Mechanical engineering graduate Sandesh said the workshops were a great experience.
“It was valuable getting to meet others from the business and comparing our experiences in different aspects of the industry,” he said.
The graduates also had the opportunity to visit the SIMEC Mining Iron Ore magnetite and hematite open-cut mine in the Middleback Ranges, a forty-five-minute drive from Whyalla.
The differences between coal and iron-ore mining were vast, providing the young engineers with valuable insight into various mining techniques.
I feel like I left having learnt something about myself and where I fit within a leadership role
Joseph Lambert
Kayleb, a mining engineering graduate, said he appreciated the opportunity to experience a different style of mining.
“The difference between our coal mine and the magnetite and Hematite mine was really interesting to see,” he said,
“We had the opportunity to speak with engineers there, so it was a great learning opportunity that also showed me how unique Tahmoor is.”
Images: Kayleb Byrnes, Tamara Robertson, Joseph Lambert and Sandesh Patel at the SIMEC Mining Iron Ore operation at the South Middleback Ranges.
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