Ruby mines an exciting career path with BHP's Future Fit Academy and CQU

Ruby Longbottom is forging a new path in life in the mining industry' thanks to CQUniversity and BHP's Future Fit Academy.

The Future Fit Academy is BHP's new approach to training with a pathway to a career in maintenance with 'fit for purpose' training programs in dedicated learning centres in Perth' WA and Mackay.

Ruby' a Dharawal and Gamilaraay woman living on Yuwibara Country' is undertaking a maintenance traineeship' which includes a Certificate II in Engineering – Production Technology qualification at CQUniversity's Mackay Ooralea Campus.

As a young mother of two children' she saw Future Fit Academy as an opportunity to grab a hold of.

"I wanted to take the next step with my life - I wanted to be more than just being a stay-at-home mother'" she said.

"It was a big change and a lot of sacrifices. Training to be a maintenance associate is amazing' I love the work and I love learning and growing my skills."

Ruby said the Future Fit Academy and CQU's training had changed her life for the better.

"The BHP Future Fit Academy is in all honesty' changing lives for the future'" she said.

"It's helped me be more aware and gain skills that I didn't think I had. They've given me an opportunity that I'm so very thankful for."

During her studies' Ruby engaged extra assistance from CQU's Language' Literacy and Numeracy team in the School of Access Education to help her with the maths and computational aspects of the training.

"The training at CQU TAFE is great' I love the support that I have with both Leonie Keating and Indigenous Student Engagement Officer Mellisa Taggart'" she said.

"Leonie helped me so much with my maths for both high-risk training and computations. She is an amazing help and is very supportive of your needs."

Ruby said she planned on moving to Western Australia with her family to work in the mines there.

"I'm so keen to see where my future takes me within this company and I'm hoping to lean for an apprenticeship in heavy diesel'" she said.

"If you want to study Engineering' I say go for it. It's an amazing opportunity and a great course to learn and it'll challenge you for sure'" she said.

"I'm so pleased with my experience so far and I would 100 per cent say it's challenged me and I love it."