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a conscious decision while progressing through my career to
make sure I am fully competent at each role, and even as a site
manager you are constantly evolving as a person and as
a leader.
The best part of my role is that we have a positive influence and
impact on our employees.
My next goal is to become an Operations Manager or work
overseas and either role will provide valuable experience.
Q) What does safety mean to you?
A) Safety is atmospheric and shapes our way of thinking. We
often talk about or read that safety is paramount. Safety is one
of our core values so we need to lead by example. I was told by
a previous manager that “You will never become a good safety
leader if you cannot stop a job and make it safe.”
Having safety at the forefront of any decision has allowed me to
understand what this actually means and safety is at the top of
my priority list.
At Rosebery, we have achieved over 150 injury free days which
is a testament to our team, but it also highlights that we still
have a long way to go to achieve one whole year without hurting
any of our team members.
Q) What advice would you give a graduate about to embark
on the graduate program?
A) Wholeheartedly embrace any opportunity that you are given
or presented with. It doesn’t matter if you are told to clean out a
mono, pick up rubbish throughout the mine, train on the Jumbo
or even try to find the “Bucket of left handed L-Pins in the
bolt cuddy.”
Put your signature on every job you do and leave your
trademark. It doesn’t matter what role you do, carry out the task
with energy, diligence and do your absolute best as this will
allow you to create your own high work standards.
21 questions with...
Michelle Van Koutrik / Site Administrator
Location of Office
Rosebery, Tasmania
Brief overview of staff member in their own words
27 years old, Tasmanian; born and bred in Queenstown. Started in
mining at age 17 and loved it ever since, always learning something
new! Currently renovating our home with my fiancé and parents in
Rosebery, keeps us busy when away from the desk
1) My first job
Waitressing at 14, learnt the value of money quickly…my first
‘real’ job being at Henty Gold Mine in accounts payable
2) If I were to describe my current role in one sentence
Lots of paperwork but lots of laughs
3) Five years from now I will be
Raising a family (my fiancé may have talked me in to it
by then)
4) I am currently working on
Our house and HR Certificate IV
5) Most interesting project I have worked on was
MMG Rosebery as I mobilised and demobilised with one
company and then come over to Barminco, has been a site full
of new experiences/learning.
People
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Michelle Van Koutrik