But it hasn't come without it's challenges, including the stigma that mining is a man's job.

In our series, The Lithgow Mercury reached out to women who work in mining to discuss how they first joined the male dominated work force and what their role is within the industry.

Isobel Standfast decided she wanted to get into the mining industry during her second year of university at QUT in Brisbane.

"I had just switched from my business degree into a dual business management and environmental science degree. I was working as a landscaper on commercial construction sites," she said.

"These two things combined made me realise I had an interest in rehabilitation and environmental management. I knew mining would be the perfect place for me to develop a career in these two interest areas."

In 2019 Isobel applied for a range of graduate programs in both Queensland and NSW with a number of mining companies as well as companies that operate as consultants to mining companies in their environmental departments.

RELATED: Diana Barnes is just one of the many women who work in Lithgow's mining industry

"I had several interviews and ultimately missed out on positions due to location as they were all based in NSW," she said.

"Towards the end of my final year at uni, I was contacted by Centennial and offered an interview for their environmental graduate program. I accepted my position with the company and relocated to Lithgow in the last week of February 2020."

Isobel has now been in the mining industry for just under two years.

As the Environment and Community Officer at Clarence Colliery, Isobel's job covers a range of areas.

"I am the only person in the environment 'department' on site so I am responsible for ensuring the environmental compliance of the mine site and our mining lease and development consent areas," she said.

"This includes things like site inspections, coordinating monitoring programs for flora, fauna, biodiversity, ecology, water flow and quality, Aboriginal cultural heritage sites, etc. environmental risk management, internal and external reporting, developing and updating environmental management plans, procedures and strategies and managing the sites environmental budget."

She is also responsible for maintaining positive relationships with the surrounding community members as well as government agencies.

As her first job in the mining industry, she is extremely passionate about environmental management and confidently says that she will stay in this field for the duration of her career, even if her role changes a bit.

"There are many things I enjoy about my work. I love field work and getting out into the environment that I am responsible for," she said.

"We live in such a beautiful part of the country and I am grateful I'm contributing to keeping it that way.

"Ensuring that my site is employing the most proactive and environmentally responsible practices is what I come to work every day to do."

Isobel said she enjoyed working with people in all levels of the company, government agencies and members of our local community to facilitate continual improvement of our processes.

"A huge bonus of living in Lithgow is that I am very close to work. This allows me to personally relate to our community members, because I am one," she said.

Unfortunately Isobel said she has 'absolutely' felt the stigma that comes with being a woman working in the mining industry.

"I doubt you will ever meet a woman in this industry that hasn't," she said.

"Women definitely have to work twice as hard to gain the respect of our peers and superiors than our male counterparts. However, I've noticed that all the women I know in the mining industry tend to rise to this challenge and excel within their chosen fields."

One of the biggest challenges that Isobel has faced is one that most women struggle with.

"Gaining the respect of your peers and superiors in a way that means your advice and opinions will be given the weight or importance that they should is definitely more difficult," she said.

"I also have a bit of a disadvantage being quite young (25) and have limited experience in the mining industry. Many of my peers, and certainly my superiors, have many years of experience in the mining industry, some in the position they're currently in and some who have moved into their current roles more recently.

READ MORE: Dedicated Lithgow staff praised by management for hard work during lockdown

"I am both new to my role and new to the mining industry so naturally I face a much higher level of scrutiny."

She said there was a lot of pressure to present in a calm, measured way so as to not come across as emotional or irrational.

"I always have to be very prepared with research, data and facts when discussing potentially sensitive topics to make sure my position or opinion on these topics is taken seriously. This makes me more diligent and detail oriented which are important skills for my role and makes the support of my colleagues, both male and female, all the more deserved."

Despite the hardships, Isobel said she would 'definitely' encourage women to look at careers in the mining industry.

"I feel that the stigma that women experience is not unique to the mining industry, a huge number of industries are guilty of this and women rise to the challenge everywhere," she said.

"If your passion or the focus field of your career can be pursued in the mining industry, I definitely encourage other women to go for it. As I mentioned before, the scrutiny we are placed under as women, tend to make us better at our jobs than we may have been otherwise.

"Within Centennial, women have a bit of a reputation for being very good at our jobs. This high standard is set due to the women who have come before me and gives me a standard to rise to. This then brings the standard up for everyone else.

"Getting more women into the mining industry can only raise the standards and I see that as a great thing for everyone."

READ MORE: Finally off the market, historic Theatre Royal sells at evening auction

Despite having only just started her career, Isobel said a highlight is her appointment as the Environment and Community Officer at Clarence.

"The position was advertised both internally within Centennial and externally and although I was not quite finished my graduate program, I chose to apply for the role and was given the opportunity to finish my graduate program early and take on the role full time as a permanent employee," she said.

"This career progression is the most amazing opportunity I have been given to date and I am absolutely taking advantage of every minute."

Isobel was also recently given the opportunity to be included in the NSW Minerals Council COVID-19 vaccination campaign as a representative from Centennial and the Lithgow region.

"This was a great experience for me to be an ambassador for both the company I work for and the community I live in."

If you would like to see the advertisement that Isobel was a part of you can check it out here.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: