| Positive Development for Female Geologists at George Fisher Mine, Mount Isa, |
Trowbridge, Bek
The mining industry is historically male-dominated and culturally entrenched with a longstanding reputation for excluding women. The geologists at George Fisher Mine (GFM) comprise between 30% to 50% females. As a member of that group, I believe that gender does not form any barriers in my role. Of the total work force at GFM, 8% are female and skewed toward administration. In a male-dominated workforce GFM maintains a womenfriendly environment. This paper explores the perspective of a recent-starting late-twenties female geologist working at GFM, covering the following points:
• The geology department is over one third female, and there is opportunity to work with other females in a larger technical group.
• The larger technical group generally has an under-forties demographic, comprising mature professionals with some members having had other careers.
• EEO, Harassment and Discrimination policies are reiterated every year to everyone.
• Mount Isa is a family oriented, residential town.
• The mining industry is experiencing a shortage of geologists and University intakes are having increasingly higher proportions of women.
Despite the stigma surrounding the mining industry for women, there is a supportive, dynamic atmosphere at GFM that has encouraged me to develop as a professional.
|
|  | |
  |
|
