“Mining is such a big part of what Australia does in terms of GDP and to be honest, the general public don’t know a lot about mining at all.”
These words come from Andrew Dittmann, General Manager of global technical consulting firm MEC Mining and the author of Mummy is a Miner — a children’s book aimed at bridging the gap between the public and the mining sector.
Through his debut book, Dittmann introduces young readers to the wide range of career paths that exist within the industry — from geologists to engineers, environmental scientists to operators. His mission is to inspire the next generation to see mining as a dynamic field with several opportunities.
Speaking to Mining.com.au, Dittmann says there are a lot of people within the industry that struggle to explain the different roles and give people a true perspective of what the industry looks like.
“The intention of the book was always to highlight some of the different roles we play — there is a mixture of STEM, trades, and operating vocations,” he tells this news service.
Through the title of the book, Mummy is a Miner, might suggest a focus on women in the industry, however, Dittmann emphasises that the story is for everyone.
Dittmann aims to have Mummy is a Miner in schools across Australia and secure additional partnerships. Metro Mining (ASX:MMI) recently purchased 100 books and put them throughout regional schools in the area it operates within in Queensland.
The idea for the book stemmed from Dittmann’s involvement in a women in mining event, where a poll revealed the industry’s challenges. MEC Mining found that their main challenges were diversity, inclusion, and attracting talent.
“Because we’re a technical consultancy, it’s not really in our control. We need to rely on the universities to get graduates in and without that, we can not do anything,” Dittmann says.
However, he adds that the number of mining engineering graduates has steadily declined in recent years.
“When I went through school, we had 150 people in the year behind us, we had about 70 to 80 people. But I think in 2018, there were 50 graduates nationwide,” he says.
The decline in mining engineering degrees is mirrored by the broader shortage of skilled workers in the sector, in which mining companies have struggled to recruit workers to fill specialist roles following a collapse in skilled migration.
At this year’s Queensland University of Technology’s (QUT) Business Leaders’ Forum, BHP (ASX:BHP) President Geraldine Slattery highlighted a worrying trend, as she says the interest in mining and mining graduates has been on the decline since 2016.
“The apprentices in the jobs that support mining are on the decline,” Slattery says.
“To compete we need to encourage the workforce of the future.”
Dittmann shares a similar concern as he explains it is a real challenge to attract younger generations into the workforce.
“One time, I went to an open day at one of the universities and a girl spat at me,” he tells Mining.com.au.
“I was just walking past and she said, you ‘mining scum’ and spat down on my feet. They’re already set in their opinions and they’re established.”
For Dittmann, the solution lies in changing perceptions early, before biases become ingrained.
Meanwhile, following the release of his children’s book, Dittmann was awarded the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies (AMEC) Diversity and Inclusion Award 2024.
He says this represents how the industry has been putting in effort surrounding retention space, improving maternity leave, and other necessities required that are impactful.
“There is a lot of damage that has been done around the industry and people not understanding what we do and why it is important,” Dittmann says.
“We need to rectify that and attract people back in and start young. So that is why the children’s book came out. We need to start giving teachers the proper resources to do so.”
With Mummy is a Miner, Dittmann hopes to spark curiosity and enthusiasm in children, while also helping younger generations see mining as an industry that has potential to have a positive impact.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Supplied
