Not many recent graduates have quite so much variety in their work – and as much freedom to pursue their passions - as this Environmental Officer in rural New South Wales. Her average day could be dealing with everything from feral animals to public speaking.
Tracey Hickmott is an environmental officer working in one of the most unlikely places she imagined herself working: a mine. After six years studying in both TAFE and University, Tracey was able to enter an industry which is traditionally thought to ‘rape and pillage’ the land - to do just the opposite!
“I thought I’d be a ranger or a land manager!” she laughs, but is stoked she can work as an environmental officer with a mine in rural New South Wales.
She found out through a friend that mining had environmental rehabilitation programs - which allowed her to undertake a job she was passionate about, as well as being paid as well as others working in mining.
On a day-to-day basis, Tracey’s job is never the same. While she might regularly check the High Volume Air Samplers, do dust and lead analysis and check the Blast Monitors, she also could be doing a formal induction or speaking at a presentation to the staff about the environmental procedures and practises in the workplace. She might find herself checking the yabbies in the local wetland for signs of chemicals, manage feral animals (cats, goats and even pigeons!) or travelling to houses which the mine owns, looking them over for environmental damage: even looking for broken window seals to prevent lead entry.
But Tracey’s job is unique in the way that many graduates’ wouldn’t be: she can embark on projects of her own.
“There is so much waste within the site, and over 60% of it is recyclable.” She says, stating her motivations behind setting up the mine’s own paper recycling scheme.
“While projects are left up to me, because I like to plan things, I like the support of others and to incorporate their ideas.”
“It’s a hundred-year-old mine site – there weren’t very many environmental regulations then. Now, we have loads of projects, but limited staff and budget.” So this means that while she can embark on her own projects when there is the budget – she still needs to check the Air Samplers on a daily basis.
Best part
The diversity of the job and the potential to do things.
Challenges
Doing inductions – talking to around 15 men in the mining industry – sometimes its difficult for them to understand or care about the environment. Presenting is hard as I’ve always been shy!
Personal qualities needed for the job?
To be passionate about the environment, be a people person, flexible, adapt to different situations - because, all in one day, you could be catching feral cats, presenting to people and then collecting dust! Also, you also need to not mind about getting dirty!
Advice?
At Uni, you see school-leavers forced into it because of family expectations, or their friends doing are it, and ended up being lost or doing something not related to their field or passions. So, take a gap year. Find your interests, then follow it.
Also, get experience: volunteer in community groups. In reality, the job is different to just what you read about; so you need to try it. I loved TAFE because it was 80% practical and hands on, while uni was simply theoretical.
