BMA Apprenticeships

Out here, the machines are big. The shifts are long. And the learning curve? Even bigger.

But for apprentices like Ryan and Alexandra, that’s exactly the point.

On site, surrounded by draglines, shovels and systems that seem to stretch forever, they’re not just working, they’re building something. Skills, confidence, and a career that, not long ago, felt a long way off.

“Hey, I’m Ryan. I’m a second-year electrical apprentice,” he says, casually, as if working on some of the biggest mining equipment in the country is just another normal day at the office for someone who recently left high school.

Which, to be fair, it kind of is.

Day to day, Ryan and Alexandra are learning the ropes on heavy equipment by maintaining electrical systems, troubleshooting issues, and getting hands-on experience across different parts of the operation.

“My day-to-day involves working on the shovels and draglines… learning the electrical systems and components behind it,” Alexandra, also a second-year electrical apprentice, explains.

But it’s not just about what they’re doing, it’s how much they’re exposed to.

“My favourite part… is getting to learn about a whole lot of different departments,” she says. “I think the exposure… will make me a really good electrician at the end of this.”

Ryan agrees, keeping it simple: “Just learning something new every day and challenging myself.”

And while the scale of the work is impressive, it’s the journey that stands out.

Both apprentices came through local programs funded by BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) like the Youth Advisory Council (YAC), and the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy (QMEA), getting early exposure to the industry before stepping onto site for real.

“It’s a big step… pushing myself out of my comfort zone,” Ryan says. “But it definitely gave me a massive heads up about what the mining industry is about.”

For Alexandra, the shift was almost surreal.

“I found it a bit surreal to go from touring the site to then getting to be a part of how it runs every day,” she says.

It’s a transition that speaks to something bigger, the idea that opportunities don’t just exist in regional Queensland, they grow there.

“Living in regional Queensland is quite special to me because I got to grow into the career that I’ve always wanted… due to opportunities that are only available out here,” Alexandra explains.

And those opportunities are grounded in community.

Out here, towns are tight-knit. People know each other. Work and life overlap in a way that’s hard to replicate elsewhere.

“Everyone’s wanting to help everyone out,” Ryan says.

That sense of connection carries through to the job itself, where starting your career isn’t just about getting in, it’s about where it can take you.

“Starting my career with these guys is big to me,” Alexander says, “because they’re the kind of people I’ll likely be working with in five or ten years as well.”

So what would they say to someone thinking about following the same path?

Ryan doesn’t overcomplicate it: “Try and organise some work experience… come out, see the site. It’s a great place to work.”

Because sometimes, all it takes is getting a foot in the door.

After that, the rest tends to grow. Just like everything else out here.