Monica from Zambia to Australia – Women in Mining
Where did Monica’s journey with us begin?
We first met Monica in the lobby of a hotel in Zambia. We were sourcing highly skilled technicians and auto electricians for an Australian Company and on the 26th of November we had the pleasure of sitting down with Monica.
Monica is so humble, yet strong, she seeks no attention, she doesn’t seek accolades or publicity, she just wants to provide for her family using her skills and experience as an electrician, and auto electrician and as a woman in mining.
After a very interesting conversation I wrote one line in my notes, and I don’t usually share my personal feedback, but I’m making an exception here, I wrote one line, and one line only..
“HV and Auto electrician, she has hire, hire hire written all over her.”
After Monica left, I chatted with Brent, the other technical interviewer that was there chatting with Monica. Brent worked for the Australian Caterpillar Dealer Hastings Deering Australia Limited for over 33 years, and he wrote only one line as well, Brent had written..
“If I was still at HDAL I would hire her immediately.”
A Job Interview With An Australian Company
After reference checks and document verification was completed we arranged for Monica to meet with a representative of an Australian Company.
And in December 2022, Monica once again sat down with Brent, the Australian Company rep, and me. And I just listened while Monica just flowed with perfect descriptions of how to conduct fault finding safety and following due process and procedures.
It was just a softly spoken, very politely and articulated symphony of pure technical class.
I’ll share what I wrote in my note book that day, I just wrote..
“do not mess about, just hire, hire, hire”
Monica, you’re Going To Australia!
The representative of the Australian Company needed no input from anyone. Once Monica left the room, there was stunned silence, until the rep said “well she’s getting hired”. And the rest is, as they say history. Monica was offered a role which she accepted, and before she knew it she was packing her bags and was on a plane to Australia.
What’s It Like Living And Working In Australia?
Monica said that she is extremely grateful to her Australian Employer for giving her the chance to join their company and live and work in Australia, she said she will not let them down. She said that she has been treated very well, has been able to learn new skills and she will never forget that she was never charged any fees or costs.
As we were chatting with Monica about this article, news came through that her husband’s, and her two children’s visas had been approved, and that her family will soon be joining her to live in Australia.
It is generational changing when people like Monica make a love like this – Monica and I have talked a lot over the last 18 months about her view, and my view that we do things for our family, for our children’s children. We see that our grandchildren, god willing, will have the chance to a better education system, better health care, and all because of the hardship that people like Monica endure to create these chances.
When people talk about women in mining, and about how it might be like this, or like that for a women – well consider another side to it on top of everything else – Monica made the decision that for the greater good of her family, that she would commit to travelling overseas, leaving her two young children and her husband, for 6 months or more, while she forged a path to Australia to create a new life for them to eventually join her there.
This softly spoken, but steely determined lady is a hero in my eyes – when you talk about “women in mining” give thought to Monica.
Feedback from Monica
Hello
I have shared a picture of me at work. Then in my article can you please include my message:
(Great achievement always requires great sacrifice, and being a mother leaving a toddler, did not stop me from travelling overseas to work. My journey started so simple. If I did it then anyone else can.)
Thank you so much, I’m forever grateful, you’re amazing I am here because of you. And I’m doing my best to prove that even women can do it.
Best regards
Monica.
Well Monica, we have a message for you – You are there because you are an amazing technician, you earned your right to be front of the cue and it was a pleasure to have met you, to know you, and to follow your journey.
You are working for an exceptional employer in Australia and your family will be with you very shortly, we salute you Monica, everyone would love to have you in their crew.
We are Skilled Migration Group Limited
This was Monica From Zambia – And her Worker’s Journey.
Monica thank you for sharing your amazing worker’s journey.