I've been part of the mining industry all my life. Dad was working at Greenbushes Tin when I was born in Bunbury. Growing up, I lived in some interesting mining locations; King Island and Eneabba to name a couple.
I’ve been part of the mining industry all my life. Dad was working at Greenbushes Tin when I was born in Bunbury. Growing up, I lived in some interesting mining locations; King Island and Eneabba to name a couple.
After school I started a Business degree, which I soon found wasn’t for me, and after struggling along for 18 months, I started my first job on a mine. Horseshoe Lights on a 2/1 FIFO as a Maintenance TA. I had the time of my life learning about living in a camp and standing on your own two feet.
Twenty years on I still keep in contact with the Maintenance foreman from that first job!
After another attempt at Uni some time later, I found myself working at a bank, but the lure of an overseas trip was calling and I needed money, so it was back to mining again, starting at the very bottom, working for a mining contractor on a Manganese plant in Shay Gap. (This job was the start of a seven year association with this contractor – a company I owe a great deal to). Back in the early 90’s this group had a fantastic management team and by doing the right thing by them, they looked after you in return.
After 12 months at Shay Gap and Parabardoo I spent the next two years travelling Europe and South America before arriving back in Perth with only a few clothes and a credit card bill. In my mid 20’s I moved to Newman where I worked at Ore Body 23/25 for the next five years. This site also had a great management team and awesome people and I worked in the Processing plant and Drill and Blast, along the way getting a Shot Firer’s ticket and Restricted Quarry Manager’s ticket.
After five years my wife and I decided to make a life in Perth, so we packed up the VL Commodore and headed to the big smoke.
I had no idea what I might do but had thought recruiting might be interesting, although I didn’t think anyone would employ someone with zero recruitment experience. I gave myself two months to find a job in Perth, or I was returning to mining but this time, FIFO from Perth.
I responded to an advertisement by MPi, who were looking for a Recruitment Administrator and after several interviews, was offered the job!
Now, 13 years MPi has provided me with awesome opportunities. I’ve travelled to mine sites across Australia, lived in Brisbane for two and a half years to help clients recruit for entire project teams around Australia, completed my MBA and had three great kids along the way. Every step has been supported by the fantastic Management and staff at MPi.
As a company, we understand what family really means and that yes, we need to work hard but we also need to take holidays, attend school carnivals, leave work to help sort out kid’s broken arms and many other things that fill our daily lives.
Brad Thorp Manager – Recruitment Operations Mining People International