Mine site visit provides insight and opportunity
Two CQUniversity engineering students were recently provided with a unique opportunity to visit Bravus Mining and Resources’ Carmichael mine.
Isabell Friend, 18 and Christian Cartwright, 26 – both studying CQU’s Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – took flight from Townsville to experience a full day at the open cut thermal coal mine, about 160km northwest of Clermont.
For Isabell, it was an "incredible" day of new experiences.
"The trip to the Bravus mine site allowed me to fly for the first time. I was nervous about it during takeoff, but once we were up in the air it was great to experience a new way to travel for me. The adrenaline reminded me how it felt to travel by train the first time, that same adjustment to traveling at high speed," Isabell said.
“As an online student who is disconnected from physical classrooms and events within the engineering field, getting interactive experiences was something I've been looking forward to."
Isabell is in her second year of study and was accepted to CQUniversity through the Principal’s Recommendation Scheme. She wants to work as an electrical engineer upon graduating.
Christian, who is in the third year of his degree, said he choose engineering as a career path because he has a “deep curiosity about how things work and a passion for problem-solving”.
“Growing up, I was always fascinated by how everyday objects and systems were designed and functioned,” Christian explained.
“Engineering provides a unique opportunity to apply both creativity and analytical thinking to tackle real-world challenges.
"Whether it’s improving existing technologies, creating new solutions or making processes more efficient, engineering allows me to have a direct impact on society while continually learning and growing.
"I’m drawn to the field because it not only satisfies my intellectual curiosity but also enables me to make a positive impact in our society.”
Christian said the mine site visit provided exposure to something he had never seen before.
“I was curious about what it could offer and felt that taking a chance could lead to something valuable, whether it’s new knowledge, opportunities to learn, connections or simply a broader perspective,” he said.
“It's not every day as an engineering student you are given the opportunity to travel to a mine site and gain exposure to a unique field of work.”
Both Isabell and Christian said the visit changed the perspectives on their futures.
“Prior to the visit, I had never considered a career in mining. However, after meeting the teams on site, learning about the lifestyle, and hearing how fulfilling and rewarding the work is for those involved, my perspective has genuinely shifted,” Christian said.
“It was fascinating to see how the engineers manage large-scale logistics, ensuring safety and applying technical solutions to constantly changing site conditions,” he explained.
“It gave me a deeper appreciation for how knowledge is applied in a very practical, high-stakes environment. It also highlighted the importance of teamwork and communication across different disciplines to keep everything running smoothly.”
Isabell agreed.
“Previous to the mine site visit, I hadn't considered mining engineering to be in my future career journey, however, I would now consider a future career in mining engineering.”
CQUniversity and Bravus Mining and Resources are working towards a partnership that aims to provide engineering students with opportunities in the mining industry post-graduation. The mine site visit was the first step in sealing the agreement between the two parties.
Explore engineering study pathways at CQU's Engineering website.
