Whitehaven coal
24 November 2022
Further opening our doors to females with the World of Work
We want to be the Australian mining employer of choice, and to help us connect with female talent, and achieve our target of 20% female workforce representation by the end of FY26, we’re partnering with the World of Work Program.
The World of Work Program is a comprehensive career support initiative designed to help women looking to restart or strengthen their career after a break, or even change careers entirely.
Paul Flynn, Whitehaven Coal Managing Director and CEO, says the World of Work partnership helps highlight Whitehaven’s clear offering for women looking for a new challenge, and will contribute to attracting the diverse talent Whitehaven requires to thrive.
“By partnering with the World of Work Program we can reach high-calibre females looking for a fresh start, share the many opportunities we have available for women at all stages of their lives, and clear up common misconceptions about mining that may impact a woman’s decision to pursue a career in our industry.
“Given the tight talent market, it’s more important than ever for us to widely advertise our point of difference as an employer for women so we can continue to build a truly diverse and inclusive workforce,” he said.
We know balancing work and family commitments can be a reason women choose not to return to the workforce after having children, which is why we’re taking action to support working parents.
To help young families, we offer roles to suit a variety of schedules, provide flexibility based on individual circumstances, and have recently launched an industry leading 26 weeks of paid parental leave, in addition to the Australian Government’s parental leave scheme.
Anastasia Schutz, a Commercial Superintendent for Whitehaven’s Gunnedah Open Cuts, has benefited from Whitehaven’s flexible approach.
“While on maternity leave after having my first child in January 2021, senior leaders facilitated a role change that has allowed me to stay with the company while reducing travel time and accommodating child care needs,” she said.
We also provide in-depth women’s leadership development and mentoring programs to empower our female workforce and accelerate their careers.
Our Aboriginal Community Relations Officer, Hollie Sampson, is thankful for Whitehaven’s investment in women and has benefited from participating in our Women’s Leadership Program.
“I am grateful that Whitehaven recognises the importance of retaining and developing women in our workforce and the valuable contribution women make to our company.
“The Women’s Leadership Program has given me a toolkit of strategies to build my confidence, become my authentic self at home and at work and take charge of my own personal development. I have really enjoyed learning more about myself and my own strengths and weaknesses and the science behind it all,” she said.