"Keep going. Don't stop. Don't give up. Push through the tough stuff"

These words of advice are directed at those Indigenous trainees undertaking the new Telfer-based program, and others elsewhere who are considering employment opportunities in the region. And, they are spoken with authority by one who’s been there, done that. Bruce Edgar is the first Indigenous employee at Telfer to complete formal qualifications in a TAFE-sponsored Certificate 2 in Warehousing course, which he has studied while working as a storeman in the mine site’s warehouse department. Bruce recalled his early days at Telfer, where he started work on June 6 2006. “It was hard at first to learn the job, and to work with computers,” he said. “The work involves serving customers, issuing stock, unloading and back-loading stores, entering receipts and tracking items on the computer, stocktaking and forklift driving. “I also had to get used to working 12-hour days for two weeks on and then have one week off. Now I’m just used to it. “The people I work with here are all good blokes, and they have always helped me out and given advice when I’ve asked for it. “So if these new trainees can work through the tough stuff, they’ll come out at the end being very happy with themselves, and they’ll have enough money to do and buy things they want and that they would never otherwise have.”

Bruce (30) and his wife Janine have five children, Sharnelle (9), Bruce (7), Beverley (5), Jazaana (3) and Shanine (1), and live in Bidyadanga, where Bruce was heading immediately via the weekly charter aircraft flight from Telfer to Broome for a week’s break and some fishing. He has strong family support for his role at Telfer. “If I ever suggest I stay home fishing for a few extra days, they will have none of it. They just kick me back onto the plane,” he said, with his beaming smile. “I’m happy at Telfer,” Bruce said. “Before this opportunity came up two years ago, I worked for CDEP on many different jobs. “Now I have job security, a good lifestyle and good pay, and an opportunity to learn and do more. I really do enjoy coming to work.” Bruce’s study days are not yet over. He plans to enroll shortly in a Certificate 3 course in warehousing. “If an opportunity comes up one day to work elsewhere at Telfer, such as driving trucks, I’d probably want to give it a go. “Education is very important. No one goes very far in life without it.”