Mining Support Worker

A Mining Support Worker provides manual and semi-skilled labour to support mining operations across extraction, processing, and site maintenance activities. They work on-site in underground or open-pit mines, coal seams, or processing plants, performing tasks that directly assist qualified operators and engineers. The role requires compliance with strict health and safety protocols under Safe Work Australia standards and the mining-specific regulations of their state or territory.

Operate basic mining equipment such as shovels, wheelbarrows, hand drills, or pneumatic tools under supervision. Load and unload raw materials, ore, coal, or processed minerals into trucks, conveyor systems, or storage areas. Conduct pre-shift safety inspections of work areas, equipment, and personal protective equipment (PPE) in compliance with site safety procedures. Monitor and report ground conditions, water accumulation, or hazards that may affect mine safety or stability. Assist licensed operators in setting up, positioning, and securing drilling, blasting, or extraction equipment. Maintain and clean mining equipment, tools, and work areas to prevent corrosion, contamination, or equipment failure. Assist with environmental compliance tasks such as dust suppression, sediment control, or waste segregation required by state environmental regulators. Support ventilation and air quality monitoring in underground mines by repositioning ducting or reporting air flow issues.

The standard entry pathway requires a Certificate I or compulsory secondary education (ABS skill level 5). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll be doing physically demanding manual labour in harsh conditions: underground heat, dust, noise, and isolation from family for weeks at a time on fly-in fly-out rosters. The injury risk is real despite safety rules, and there's a pay ceiling: you won't progress to better money without getting licensed qualifications (like operator tickets), which takes years of study on top of shift work. Automated equipment may replace some manual tasks over time.

Remote work doesn't exist in this role. Most jobs are in regional and remote areas, not cities. Employment depends heavily on commodity prices and mine expansion cycles.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Clean waste materials from machinescore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Address problems critically
• Basic Arithmetic and Numerical Accuracy
• Conflict De-escalation
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Data Entry and Accuracy
• Inventory Tracking
• Quality Assurance and Checking
• Record Management
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026