PERTH, WA: A former mine site operator and supervisor is changing the way Australians are trained to operate heavy machinery, building what Cailin Mining & Civil says is Australia's only RTO offering one-on-one training on a live mine site, with free return training allowing operators to continue building practical experience.
Founded by Niamh Murphy in May 2023, Cailin Mining & Civil was born after Murphy spent 10 years in civil, mining and rail. She saw first-hand what she believed was a major gap between having a ticket and being able to actually safely operate the machinery covered by that ticket.
"A ticket only shows an employer that you've completed a unit of competency. It doesn't mean you can safely use the machinery," Murphy said.
"When you're dealing with heavy machinery, that difference matters. Safety is our number one priority, which is why we train one-on-one in a real operating environment, giving our students genuine on-site experience."
Cailin owns all its machinery, allowing trainees to undertake practical training individually rather than sharing limited machine time in large groups to reduce training costs.
Students complete their theory online before undertaking one-on-one practical training on a live mine site. After completing their course, they can return for free additional practical training to continue building their skills, confidence and experience.
Heavy machinery remains a critical mine-site safety issue. Murphy's push for greater practical experience comes as machinery and mobile plant continue to present significant risks across WA mine sites.
The latest full-year WorkSafe WA report recorded 468 lost-time injuries and 846 restricted-work injuries across WA mining, as well as one work-related fatality. That fatality involved a 21-year-old fitter machinist who was struck by an unmanned 25-tonne mobile crane.
WorkSafe also lists roads and other areas where mobile plant operate as a principal mining hazard.
Historical WorkSafe analysis examining mobile and fixed plant incidents found 467 plant and machinery-related injuries within a 12-month period, with mobile plant operators accounting for 60 per cent of those injuries.
Another WorkSafe analysis of vehicle and mobile equipment rollovers recorded 88 notifiable incidents and 16 injuries in a single year, with 14 of those 16 injuries classified as serious.
Murphy said the figures reinforce why machinery competency cannot be treated simply as a box-ticking exercise.
"We are talking about people operating enormous pieces of equipment in environments where mistakes can have very serious consequences," Murphy said.
"Training can't just be about getting the ticket. We need to be asking whether that person has had enough quality, practical time on the machine to understand what they're doing and operate it safely."
Murphy established Cailin after years of watching new operators struggle to bridge the gap between gaining a qualification and becoming genuinely site-ready.
"I was a supervisor and I saw that the system needed to change. People could have the qualification but still need more practical experience and support before they were genuinely confident on the machine," Murphy said.
"I believe things should be done the right way. If we train people properly from the beginning, we can improve morale, productivity and mental health, reduce workplace bullying and harassment, and produce better operators and safer workplaces."
It is an approach winning strong support from within the industry.
Clinton John said Cailin was helping challenge an outdated approach to operator competency.
"They are changing the industry one operator at a time. It is amazing to hire anyone from Cailin," John said.
"This industry needs the old 'I have a ticket' mentality thrown away and we need to empower businesses like Cailin that are providing the appropriate practical training."
Since opening in 2023, Cailin says it has trained more than 2,000 students, delivers around 25 training sessions each week and has relationships with more than 100 employers.
Around 40 per cent of trainees are women, with Murphy reporting significant growth in women seeking to enter machinery operator roles.
Cailin also provides free one-on-one career calls, résumé assistance and guidance to help trainees understand how their existing skills can transfer into mining and civil roles.
Murphy knows that challenge personally, having spent years trying to break into mining before discovering civil construction could provide her pathway into the sector.
"I've spent 10 years learning how this industry works and I want to help other people fast-track that knowledge.
"You still have to be good enough. Our job is to make sure you have the appropriate training and enough practical time to give you the best possible chance.
"I want employers to move beyond asking, 'Do they have a ticket?' and start asking, 'Can they actually operate?'"
