To celebrate Operations Services (OS) turning five, we’re celebrating the people of OS, get to know Amanda!

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes, You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” – Roald Dahl.

Mid-forties, two fully grown sons, and time to start a new career according to Amanda, who joined BHP’s FutureFit Academy three years ago and has never looked back.

“I never envisioned I would go back to study,” said Amanda. “But when I saw the FutureFit maintenance offerings, I thought I’ve always been around cars, always had drag cars and thought why not? Why not go bigger, and go after that career?” 

She came on board as a heavy diesel apprentice and loved it from the start. “Every day was a highlight”, she said. “I would come to work and work on equipment I never dreamt of.”

“Just being able to walk out to a truck and be able to do a service to change parts or install something”, she said.

“It was so exciting to me, the sheer enormity of it all. I was finally enjoying a career that was fulfilling to myself.”

Now, following her completion of the program at FutureFit, Amanda is a permanent diesel fitter with Operations Services (OS) at Goonyella Riverside mine, a job she describes as a dream come true.

“I can’t wipe the smile off my face each day because I love my job so much, she said. “It’s ridiculous how much I love my job!”

“The people are like my family now, they’re amazing – just so supportive. I absolutely adore my crew, we’re thick as thieves.”

It’s not just the culture keeping Amanda smiling from ear to ear, but the opportunities for her development since she got to site.

“I’ve done so much in my short time. The learning curve has been amazing,” she said.  

“I was on the big stuff straight away, and now I’m doing tray change outs and even working on breakdowns on my own.”

More doors are opening for Amanda, and she is hoping to continue developing her knowledge and skills for her future career.

“I’ve got many years in front of me to learn lot’s more, she said.

She’s been able to inspire others by doing what she’s done, at the age she’s done it – being a self-proclaimed mature age apprentice.

Amanda’s advice to anyone considering steering themselves into a new career with OS is to go for it.

“You just have to give it a go and hook in”, she said.

“If you’ve got a good work ethic and you’re someone who enjoys working with a great team, then this is definitely something that you should go and do.”

We can’t wait to see what you do next, Amanda.