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AngloGold Ashanti Australia

4.2
  • 1,000 - 50,000 employees

Favian Firdaus

Anything is possible in the mining industry as long as you are willing to work hard and be open-minded when an opportunity arises.

What's your job about?

AngloGold Ashanti is a global gold producer and has operations in four continents. In Australia, there are two sites: Sunrise Dam and Tropicana. I am currently working at Tropicana Gold Mine as a graduate mining engineer. As part of the mining engineering graduate programme, I am working in the field to gain practical experience in open pit mining to help me obtain a Quarry Manager’s Certificate. During this time, I was with the production team working with heavy machinery. Now I am working with the blasting team in the pit. This experience gives me exposure to the production cycle of mineral extraction and will help me to be a better engineer. In my current job, my responsibility is following the blasting plan by ensuring the explosives are planted safely and correctly. The best part of this job is when we blast the explosives on the ground and see our days of hard work go according to plan.

What's your background?

I grew up in Surabaya, Indonesia. I decided that I wanted to study abroad and picked Australia for my mining engineering degree. I went to the Western Australia School of Mines because I heard good things about it from a friend who went there. Kalgoorlie is a great location to study because you are in a mining town and the atmosphere cannot be replicated anywhere else. After I spent 2 years at the Kalgoorlie campus, I obtained my master’s degree in mining engineering. I worked at different mining companies as a mining operator before I landed a graduate position with AngloGold Ashanti Australia. I have been in my current job for one year now.

Could someone with a different background do your job?

Yes! Many people working at the mine site have diverse backgrounds. Some engineers come from different backgrounds working in surveying, mechanical roles, supervisor roles or geology. Anything is possible in the mining industry as long as you are willing to work hard and be open-minded when an opportunity arises.

What's the coolest thing about your job?

The coolest thing about my job is having the chance to drive a 250-tonne truck during my time with the production team. Not many mining engineering graduates get the opportunity to spend time with mining equipment and I am grateful for that. At the mine site, people are friendly and willing to help which makes the work enjoyable.

What are the limitations of your job?

At the mine site, we work for 12 hours a day and have an8:6 FIFO rosters, which means 8 days working on-site and 6 days off-site. We work longer hours during the working week, but we have plenty of time during our time off which allows time to spend with family and friends.

3 pieces of advice for yourself when you were a student...

  • Be open-minded and you never know if the opportunity is one step away.
  • Try to get a full university experience while you study hard for your degree.
  • Attend workshops and training provided at the university to get an idea of what the industry is like.