2 February 2026

Summer vacation spent at Daunia

At Whitehaven’s Daunia mine, two vacation students are spending their summer getting a firsthand look at life in mining and discovering how diverse and rewarding the industry can be.

Mining engineering student Jack Udd is working with the mine planning team over the 2025–26 summer. Although this is his second summer in mining, it’s his first time in an office‑based role, having previously driven underground trucks at MMG’s Dugald River Mine.

Jack has been surrounded by mining his whole life. “I was born when my dad worked at GEMCO and I continued to move around the Pilbara as a child.”

Now at Daunia, Jack’s days are a mix of meetings, technical work and the occasional site visit. “A typical day for me is attending a meeting with the team and creating mine designs. If I have a lucky day, I might go out to see another part of the mine and sit in an excavator or walk up the loading conveyor.”

What stands out most to him is the scale of the operation. “I really appreciate the size of Daunia, it’s not small but it’s also not Olympic Dam, which means that the people around me have more general knowledge that I can learn from, and the size allows me to work on a range of projects.”

His advice to anyone considering mining is simple: “Just make the leap and give it a shot. Worse case, you can always go back knowing that you tried something new and it wasn’t what you expected.”

For Audrey, a first‑year mechanical engineering student from UQ, this summer marks her very first experience in mining.

She’s embraced the opportunity. “On a typical day I spend time working on projects within the Mine Scheduling team, like design or analysis work, and if I’m lucky I’ll get to go out into the pit or work with a different team to see how all the different pieces work together in real life.”

The people have made the biggest impression on Audrey. “I really love the culture at Whitehaven. Everyone has been so friendly, supportive, and welcoming, and I’ve had so many great conversations and experiences with people from all over the site.”

Reflecting on her time in the program, Audrey says, “Whitehaven’s Vacation Program has been such a valuable experience, and I’m so glad I was able to take part. Seeing the practical applications of theory that I learned in university and getting a taste of life after graduation has been incredible, and I strongly recommend giving it a go through a vacation program.”

Visit Whitehaven’s website to find out more about their vacation program.

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