Belinda From Zambia To Australia
Where did Belinda’s journey with us begin?
We first met Belinda in 2022.
We were tasked with sourcing highly skilled technicians for Australia.
And in November 2022, Belinda sat down with Dennis and Brent in Lusaka, Zambia and talked about her training, her work and her ambitions.
Belinda was a joy to listen to, she had an infectious thirst for life. Brent and Dennis listened as Belinda discussed her training from Sept 2011 until April 2014 at the Mufulira Technical Training Institute Limited, where she completed a Heavy Equipment Repair Technician Course.
In 2014 Belinda also completed a course on computers, principles of Information Technology and office skills.
In 2014 Belinda was also awarded the Advanced Certificate Heavy Equipment Repair and Belinda was admitted to the Engineering Institution of Zambia.
We listened as Belinda talked with passion about her current employer, First Quantum Minerals at the Trident Mine, where she had worked since May 2016. We heard her talk with great fondness in her voice of her co-workers, and how in 2017 she was part of the mining teams that were recognised for reaching 3 million work hours without lost time injury.
In 2020 Belinda completed four Caterpillar Training courses.
But still Belinda was not finished learning, in 2021 she put her hand up to attend two Komatsu Certified electrical and maintenance training courses on KSA-860E and 960E dump trucks.
Belinda was a pleasure to chat with as she told us she was ready to seek new challenges.
Genuine Feedback And Guidance
Belinda had fantatstic skills and experience on large rigid mining trucks. However, on this occasion, she lacked exposure to other equipment and OEM that the Australian client at that time required.
We explained that Skilled Migration Group would search out a role that perfectly matched her needs and experience and that we would for certain, be talking to her again, and we gave her some advice on areas she might consider gaining additional experience with.
And we asked would it be ok with her, if we contacted her from time to time to check in with her and keep her updated on possible upcoming work that would suit her.
Belinda just smiled her usual infectious smile and said she’d be happy to stay in touch.
We Meet Again
In September 2023 we met up again with Belinda in Lusaka, Zambia.
We had been tasked with finding a number of highly skilled technicians for an exceptional Australian Company, highly respected and the leader in their field.
We felt that Belinda was just the skills and experience the Australian company was looking for, and when Belinda and Dennis started talking about the role Belinda said “it sounds perfect for me”.
Pack Your Bags Belinda, You’re Going To Australia!
On Friday the 15th of November 2023, Belinda got to meet the Australian Employer, and excellent discussions took place. Belinda would be the first to admit that she was very nervous, she said later that she felt so much pressure was riding on that chance with the Australian employer. But that she soon got into her stride and demonstrated her knowledge of large rigid mining trucks. And the supervisor from the Australian company agreed with our assessment – Belinda, subject to you accepting our offer, and being approved for an Australian visa, you are going to Australia!
Belinda did agree to the offer, she did obtain an Australian work visa and she deployed to Queensland, Australia where she remains today – doing the work and getting used to living in Australia.
Belinda told us that her employer in Australia has been amazing, she said they had a fantastic induction program planned out and that she would recommend her employer to anyone, Belinda said that the quality of the work and products the company produces is exceptional. And the way they look after their workers is with care, humility, laughter and there’s a real team spirit from the bottom to the top at her new company.
Feedback from Belinda
Belinda wanted us to say that first and foremost she is very proud to be able to share her journey, her story, the story of how much effort and work she put into getting a role and relocating to Australia.
She said she’s proud to be able to share her story, not because she wants any praise – but because she said if she can do it, if she a proud Zambian Woman can do it, then she hopes that people can see that they can also do it.
Belinda said she had so many people to thank at First Quantum in the Copper Belt, she said that she was never discriminated against because she was a woman – but, she said she had tough days there, the work was hard, but her coworkers, her team mates, her supervisors all helped each other – Zambians helping Zambians, and that got everyone through each shift safely. And for that she will forever be grateful to many, many people there.
Belinda said that it’s not always perfect in Australia, people should expect to do the work they are trained to do when they arrive in Australia, and she said that she has made the effort to get out and meet people outside of work. And recently Belinda found a church that while different from what she was used to in Zambia, they are nice people and have warmly welcomed her to the church.
Belinda you are a star, a rock star! You are a well trained technician, you not only survived in mining in Africa you have also got yourself, through your own efforts, into a role in Australia – You are an amazing Zambian Female Technican and you should be very proud of what you have been able to do – many, many people will take hope from reading about your journey.
That was Belinda’s workers journey.
We are Skilled Migration Group.
Quality Never Goes Out Of Style.
