Whitehaven Coal is proud to be the leading Australian coal producer.
We operate six mines (five open-cut and one large underground mine) in the Gunnedah Coal Basin of NSW and Bowen Basin of QLD. Our operating assets are complemented by two high-quality, near-term and large-scale development assets being Vickery, near Gunnedah, and Winchester South, near Moranbah.
These operations are supported by offices in Sydney, Newcastle, Gunnedah, Brisbane and Tokyo.
Over more than two decades, we have developed a reputation for excellence in project delivery, safe operation, and targeted investment in the local economy and community.
We are proud of our people at Whitehaven, and we work hard to support and reward them throughout their career.
In NSW, around 75% of our 2,750-strong workforce lives in the local communities around our mine sites, ensuring benefits flowing from our operations are seen and felt locally.
Our workforce of more than 2,100 in QLD is predominantly FIFO and DIDO from across regional QLD.
Graduate Program
Our Graduate Program is a two-year development program intended to grow and develop our future leaders, giving you an opportunity to gain practical skills and training from both on-the-job learning experiences and formal development sessions.
You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to the success of a range of our sites and offices through the rotation program. These rotations, for New South Wales are residentially based at our mine sites across region. For Queensland, these are FIFO except for some functional rotations which are based in our Gunnedah, Brisbane, Sydney or Newcastle offices.
Mentoring is a strong focus of the program. Within your first weeks with us, you will be paired with one of our senior leaders, who will provide you with coaching and guidance as you move through your rotations and into your post-program role.
We are looking for graduates who are adaptable, keen to learn, resilient and who want to build a rewarding career in mining. It is essential that you resonate with our core values of safety, teamwork, respect, integrity, value and excellence.
We are seeking graduates across our four streams:
Engineering Stream: Disciplines we are seeking in the Engineering space include: Mining, Mechatronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Process, Mine Geotechnical, Civil, Metallurgy / Minerals Processing.
Health, Safety & Environment Stream: Disciplines for the Health & Safety Stream include but are not limited to: Safety, Health, Occupational Hygiene, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, and Environmental Engineering.
Business Stream: Disciplines include but are not limited to: Business, Commerce, Finance, Accounting, Supply Chain & Logistics
Data Science Stream: Disciplines include but are not limited to: Data Science, Statistics, Information Technology
Graduates at Whitehaven Coal
Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Shena | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Aaron | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Xavier | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Nathan | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Tom | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Cadetship Program
The cadetship program seeks to support students through their studies. The program commences as a financial scholarship provided to the students to assist them with their degrees. We then offer the opportunity to join us over the summer break for vacation work. To be eligible for the program, you need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
Local students from the Gunnedah/ Narrabri region
Female students
Indigenous students
Students planning to study Mining Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
Applicants should have aspirations to pursue an Undergraduate Degree in either Engineering, Geology, or Environmental Science.
Applications open in August 2023.
Vacation Student Program
Our Vacation Program is a great opportunity to gain some degree-specific paid work experience.
As you put your best foot forward during your time with Whitehaven Coal, successful vacationers will have the opportunity to be considered for a full-time graduate role upon completion of the vacation program and university studies.
The cadetship program seeks to support students through their studies. The program commences as a financial scholarship provided to the students to assist them with their degrees. We then offer the opportunity to join us over the summer break for vacation work. To be eligible for the program, you need to meet at least one of the following criteria:
Local students from the Gunnedah/ Narrabri region
Female students
Indigenous students
Students planning to study Mining Engineering, Geotechnical Engineering and Environmental Sciences.
Applicants should have aspirations to pursue an Undergraduate Degree in either Engineering, Geology, or Environmental Science
Whitehaven offers vacation students the opportunity to join our team in a paid role for up to 12-weeks during summer holidays and 2-4 weeks during winter holidays.
Vacation program roles are available at our mine sites across Queensland and New South Wales, with a few opportunities in our Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle offices.
Applicants should be pursuing a degree in Mining Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Mechatronics, Geology, Surveying, Environmental Science, Health and Safety
Priority will be given to second- and third-year undergraduate students, however we do encourage students who have completed at least one full year of study to apply.
Employee Benefits
Whitehaven Coal offers competitive pay and benefits, including:
Attractive salary and bonus scheme + $1K company shares
Career development, mentorship and coaching
Flexible work options
Full relocation packages
Access to salary packaging, including novated leases
Salary sacrifice opportunities
Employee referral schemes – $3K for successful referrals
26 weeks of paid parental leave
Whitehaven Employee Share Gift programs – $1K
Celebrating Diversity
Gender Diversity
We believe in equality for all and recognise the importance of embedding diversity and inclusion into everything we do. From our leaders and employees to our community and our suppliers, we consciously act to enable equal opportunity by:
Using a recruitment process designed to eliminate unconscious bias and welcome candidates traditionally underrepresented in mining, including shortlisting females for all senior roles.
Offering an industry-leading parental leave policy with 26 weeks paid leave plus super for primary caregivers, two weeks plus super for secondary caregivers, and super contributions for the unpaid portion of an employee’s parental leave.
Providing women’s leadership development and mentoring programs for senior and emerging talent.
Being a platinum sponsor of Women in Mining NSW and participating in its Mentoring Program
Offering a domestic and family violence policy with 10 days of paid leave
Indigenous Engagement
We work in partnership with Indigenous people connected to the land where we operate
We aim to work together to address disadvantage and help create stronger families and futures for Indigenous people in North West NSW and in Queensland’s Bowen Basin.
Our approach is specifically designed to be intergenerational in nature. We have oriented our focus towards addressing Indigenous disadvantage through initiatives in the areas of early childhood education and support, schooling, skills development and employment.
This holistic approach provides intergenerational support for children and their families, our employees and prospective employees, so local Indigenous people see their immediate needs being addressed, in addition to creating the socio-economic preconditions for future generations to grow and prosper.
Our Indigenous Employment Strategy helps transform and empower the lives of local Indigenous men and women through meaningful and well-paid work. In 2015, we set an ambitious target of 10% of our workforce at Maules Creek, our newest and largest mine, identifying as Indigenous. We have exceeded that target every year since, and now around 20% of our Maules Creek workforce identifies as Indigenous. Across our broader workforce, around 9% identify as Indigenous.
However, our approach goes beyond developing opportunities for employment; our investment aims to ensure local Indigenous people have the self-esteem and confidence to shape more positive futures. The practical measures we invest in are outlined in our Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan, launched in mid-2018.
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Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Shena | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Aaron | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Xavier | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Nathan | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
Tom | Graduates @ Whitehaven Coal
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