Australia has one of the biggest mining industries in the world. According to the website Mining Careers, it is the leading producer of bauxite and alumina and the second-largest producer of gold, iron ore, lead and uranium. Miners operate the machinery that is used to excavate minerals in the mines. Their day-to-day activities include using pneumatic equipment to cut the minerals into pieces and then place them onto transporters that transport the minerals out of the mine. Miners may then be expected to load the minerals onto trucks ready for transportation. The role also involves reinforcing the walls of the mines with steel props and installing vertical shafts to enable air to circulate throughout the mines. The role of the driller in mining operations is to drill the holes needed for the excavation of minerals. They do this by operating and setting up drilling rigs. In addition to operating these machines and setting the depth and angles they drill at, a driller also operates secondary machines, such as air pumps. According to Mining Careers, drillers should be physically fit and have a good eye for detail, as they need precision when it comes to drilling. They should also be prepared to work in remote locations in Australia, have a clean police record and be able to pass a medical examination.

While it is possible to work in an Australian mine without experience, relevant training will increase your job prospects and salary range. Mining is considered dangerous work, which helps explain why the wages are higher than average. According to the United States Department of Labor, the mining sector -- with the exception of coal -- is expected to decline. Mining, either open pit or underground, requires workers with a variety of skills. There are mining jobs that require specific skills. Completing an apprenticeship is one way to get a mining job. As well as drillers, mines need plumbers, welders and millwrights, and these jobs can be attained through a combination of on-the-job training and classroom study. Another option is to go to university and take a degree directly related to the mining industry, such as engineering. Mining orientation training programs teach inexperienced miners the basics of the industry. Find out where the miners hang out and join them. Getting to know people who work in the mine is always a good idea. You may get a heads-up about when the mine is hiring, or get to know a foreman.

Mine work is inherently dangerous. Life risks are associated with operating heavy earth moving equipment and exposure to hazardous contaminants. To promote health and safety, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act (MSHA) requires all mine employees to undergo training and obtain certification on basic safety procedures before beginning work. For the safety point of view of employees it is advisable to get training of mine work before doing jobs in mines. An employee who is going to work in mine should know the techniques to save his life some problems occur in mine.