OCC Hosts Second ‘MINEher’ Session for 2026

For the second MINEher event of 2026, Oaky Creek Coal (OCC) celebrated the International Day of Women in Mining! 

This annual global campaign celebrates the advancements achieved so far and highlights the opportunities still available for the industry to continue to become sustainable, responsible and inclusive. It’s a day to celebrate the perseverance, contributions, talent and spirit of the women who were, are, and will be part of the mining industry worldwide. 

Women across OCC came together to mark this year’s theme — Shifting From Commitment to Credible Social Performance — with a time capsule. 

They were invited to bring along a small Oaky Creek memento that was meaningful to them and that represented Oaky Creek and the people, history and work behind the operation. 

People turned up with a current mine plan, photos of people on the job, group photos of the women on site, an Oaky Creek notebook and cap, a miner’s pick, an old self-rescuer, and underground tags. 

“I contributed a Kestrel Air Velocity Meter,” shares Arabella Dow, Production Engineer at OCC. “I spent most of my grad program in the Ventilation and Gas team at Oaky North, and one of the very first projects I was tasked with was completing an audit of all Kestrels on site, so it felt like a good memento of my time at Oaky North so far.”

A list of all the females that have worked on site up to June 2026, totalling 360, was also included in the time capsule, along with a copy of a GCAA newsletter, OCC’s current Parental Leave policy, an article that had been written about one of OCC’s women for Australian Mining magazine, and various editions of Tieri News.

Perhaps most interestingly for OCC’s future workforce, the time capsule also contains a ‘Meet the Women of MINEher’ document. All the women in attendance wrote down what they are currently most grateful for working in the mining industry; what’s the one thing they would like to change to better support them in their role; the changes or achievements they would most like to see for women in mining over the next 10 years; and the names of people who have been an inspiration to them in their mining career.

Each of the items were placed in the capsule ready to either be buried on site or put with all the other significant Oaky history items for the future female workforce to discover when the mine officially closes. 

“I’ve spent a large part of my career in mining, and have seen the industry change significantly in that time. There are more women here now, in more varied roles, and at more levels than ever before, and that is absolutely something we should be proud of,” reflects MINEher event organiser and OCC HR Manager, Michelle Cody.

“For me, the real question now is whether we are creating an industry where talented women can actually stay and build a career. Can they take opportunities, step into leadership, have a family if they choose to, work through different stages of their lives, and still see a future for themselves in mining?”

Speaking as an HR professional, Michelle believes that recruitment is almost the easy part; it’s actually retention where you discover whether the workplace you’re creating really works for people. She’s quick to point out that women don’t necessarily need the mining industry to make a special place for them. They simply need the same thing any talented person does – opportunity, flexibility where it can genuinely be provided, good leadership and the chance to be recognised for what they bring.

“As an industry, we still have work to do, but I’m incredibly optimistic about where we’re heading. Some of the best operators, technical professionals, leaders and emerging talent I see across our industry are women. Mining needs great people. Women aren’t simply a diversity target for the industry to achieve; they are an important part of its future.”

Events with Purpose

OCC’s MINEher program is all about creating connection, conversation, and community amongst the mine’s female workforce. 

The quarterly events are intended to be a space where women openly and candidly share experiences and learn from one another, regardless of which part of the mine they work, their tenure with OCC or within the industry, or their seniority. Importantly, they give OCC’s female workers a chance to hear from others who have navigated similar challenges and opportunities throughout their careers and build support networks that make everyone stronger.

“Being part of the Production team, I rarely get the chance to work closely with other women. I enjoy attending the MineHER events for the opportunity to build those female connections at Oaky,” says Arabella.

If you’re interested in getting involved with the MINEher event series, please reach out to Katie Duncan or Michelle Cody on 07 4984 7100.