Flexible study options pave the road to a new career

To help our workforce prepare for our 2030 closure, Mt Arthur Coal (MAC) is offering all employees free financial advice, career coaching and study.

One teammate taking up this offer is Production Operator Brett whose role is primarily focused on maintaining haul roads to bolster site safety, compliance and productivity.

When MAC closes, Brett will be in his early 50s, so he said he still wanted to be doing something.

“I was thinking about opening a small, local business, like a café; but I’ve been in mining for almost 20 years, so what do I know about running a small business,” he laughed.

It was this perspective that got Brett thinking about the paid study options.

After a friend recommended the College for Adult Learning, Brett searched their courses and found one on entrepreneurship which is designed to help people learn a range of skills to start up a new business.

Brett enrolled in the course in January 2026 and plans to complete the course in the back half of 2027.

“It’s very thorough, so I’m learning a lot; probably more than I need for my plans, but that’s ok because it’s well presented and easy to understand,” Brett said.

By doing an online course, Brett has the convenience and flexibility of learning where and when he chooses which allows him to learn at his own pace and balance his study with work and family commitments.

Brett also took up the option for free financial advice.

“You get to a stage in your life when you wonder have I done enough to set myself up; will I be comfortable when I retire?” Brett said.

“The financial advice tells you what you need to do to set yourself up, and this gives you the peace of mind of knowing you’re on the right track,” he said.

Brett said the free services for the workforce had been a big help.

“We’ve had a lot of notice to prepare for closure and the support is appreciated,” he said.