Institute of Quarrying Australia (IQA) chief executive officer Jane Schmitt shares how the organisation is working on building awareness about career opportunities in the sector.
The detailed findings from our recent Schools to Workforce (S2W) research project confirmed school engagement in our sector is largely ad hoc, dependent on individual site managers or local connections rather than systematic approaches. Even within large organisations, engagement varies dramatically from site to site, some actively building school relationships while others have none at all.
The administrative burden looms large. Companies want to engage but feel overwhelmed by red tape around traineeships and Certificate II pathways. Many don’t know where to start, and those who are motivated are often discouraged by in compliance requirements.
Perhaps most telling is the disconnect between schools and our sector. Career advisers focus on university pathways or well-known trades, largely unaware of quarrying as a viable career option. The research highlighted that we need to educate not just students, but the teachers and advisers who guide them.
Regional operations leading the way
The research identified regional operations as natural leaders in school engagement, driven by local labour shortages and stronger community ties. There are standout examples of organisations demonstrating how structured programs and long-term community relationships can attract and retain young talent while enhancing sector reputation.
These success stories prove that where engagement occurs, the impact is measurable. The challenge is scaling these approaches across the sector.
Building the toolkit
Based on these findings, we’re developing practical resources that address the real barriers companies face. This includes school engagement frameworks that promote consistency without rigid standardisation, simplified guides for traineeships and apprenticeship pathways, and curriculum-aligned materials that teachers can actually use.
The research showed strong appetite for professional digital content, career lifecycle maps, and toolkits that help companies move from recognition of the workforce challenge to concrete action.
Findings drive national campaign
We are incorporating these research outcomes directly into the development of a national awareness campaign to reshape public perceptions. The campaign will feature quarrying professionals sharing authentic experiences, highlighting both what our sector contributes and why people choose this rewarding career path.
The path ahead
The research provides clear direction: develop systematic approaches that reduce administrative burden, create consistency across sites, and educate the broader community about career opportunities in quarrying.
Member feedback in this research has been essential. The insights you’ve shared are now shaping practical tools and frameworks that will help our sector attract, develop, and retain the talent we need for the future.
Jane Schmitt
Chief Executive Officer
Institute of Quarrying Australia
