‘Financial freedom, good lifestyle’: Meet the Qld mining family

Brianna Jozsef travels more than 600km to get to work but it’s a place that still feels like home. That’s because there is a chance she might run into eight members of her family at breakfast or dinner.

Brianna Jozsef travels more than 600km to get to work but it’s a place that still feels like home.

That’s because there is a chance she might run into eight members of her family at breakfast or dinner.

This story is part of The Courier-Mail’s special Future Queensland: Resources series that reveals the truth about the contribution the much-maligned resources industry makes to Queensland. You can read all of our coverage on the special topic page here.

Brianna, her mother and brother Chanel and Tyron Jozsef, her grandparents Lyn and Barry Jellick, her aunts Lynette and Candy Jellick, her uncle Sammy Jellick and cousin Corey Jellick proudly all work for MacKellar Group at the Bravus Carmichael coal mine in Central Queensland.

Her partner Bailey Zerner also works on site.

Brianna Jozsef (2nd from right) is joined by her (from left) uncle Sammy Jellick, cousin Corey Jellick and mum Chanel Jozsef who all work at Bravus Mining and Resources' Carmichael Mine. Photo: Cameron Laird.

Ms Jozsef is a dispatcher and responsible for managing truck fleet movements and maintenance while trying to hit efficiency targets.

The 24-year-old got into mining after leaving her hometown of Emu Park for a short stint working as a barista on the Gold Coast, which saw her earning just $500 a week.

“I struggled down there with how expensive everything was and I wasn’t sure how I was going to make a living off making coffee,” she said.

“I lasted about a year and thought I might just get into mining and give it a go because lots of my family were doing it.”

She started work when she just was 20 at the Meteor Downs South coal mine, operated by Sojitz Blue, near Emerald.

She gained a standard 11 Generic Coal Induction training accreditation before learning on the job in the trucks.

She then moved onto gaining experience with water trucks before going to work for MacKeller at the Carmichael coal mine.

She started working with the electric trucks before taking up a role as dispatcher on a seven day on seven day off roster.

Bravus Mining and Resources' Carmichael Mine site administrator Kat Groves. Photo: Cameron Laird

She also earned her grader ticket and does regular overtime to maintain her truck skills.

“Having seven days on seven days off is really like working half the year,” she said.

“Yes, we do work extremely hard while we’re at work but it’s a really good lifestyle.”

Ms Jozsef said her career had also brought her great financial freedom.

“I bought a brand-new car, which I honestly never thought I could do especially when I was living on the Gold Coast,” she said.

“I’m looking at buying a house which is exciting.

“Last year, we did a big family trip to Europe for a month.

“I’ve also been to Bali and New Zealand and I’ve got three more trips booked this year.”

Ms Jozsef said while there was little stigma around working in mining in Central Queensland, she understood there were misconceptions from people outside the regions.

“There are definitely people who portray things like ‘we’re destroying the earth’ but I don’t think they understand everything that goes into mining,” she said.

“There is so much research that goes into what we do and they are just so careful with everything out there.

“When we’re digging there are just so many protocols that we have to follow.

“Before we can touch anything like it’s there are a lot of rules and regulations that I think people, in the city especially, don’t understand.”

Ms Jozsef said she wouldn’t hesitate in recommending a career in mining to anyone, particularly females or those with little formal qualifications.

“If anyone can get into it, I definitely recommend it, especially if they’re unsure of what career path they want to go down,” she said.

“I’ve just always felt very welcomed and haven’t experienced any of the stereotypical issues that people say about being a female.

“Just have a go because once you’re in the mining industry, you can go anywhere.”