What is a Plant Mechanic?

In Australia, in many cases a trade is more valuable than most university degrees bar the top degrees of medicine, engineering, science and law. A technical trade is more valuable again providing wonderful opportunities for tradespeople around the country and the dominant feature of an apprenticeship is you get paid to learn.

An engineering trade encompasses the maintenance and repair of mobile plant machinery in engineering workshops and in the field. This is a broad trade involving engines, fuel systems, transmissions and drivetrains, steering, suspensions, hydraulics, low voltage electrics and electronics. People also have the opportunity for specialisation although I have always thought a generalised skill-set offers greater opportunity and earning potential over an extended period.

Plant Mechanics are employed in a variety of industries including open cut mining, underground mining, earthmoving, civil construction, diesel fuel injection, fork lift, elevated work platforms, ancillary equipment, marine, rail, exploration drilling, agricultural equipment, turbines, power generation, cranes and lifting equipment. My background began in civil construction before moving to open cut mining and then onto underground mining and that included short stints in marine, exploration drilling and power generation based in short-term contracts.

For myself, this has been a wonderful trade, I have gained personal freedom, the opportunity to travel, financial freedom and a large dose of self-esteem and self worth. The days of a grease monkey are history as modern machine systems require high level technical skills, diagnostic abilities, problem-solving skills, analytic skills whilst retaining a degree of manual dexterity and hand skills. Despite this, this trade offers wonderful opportunities for women as the trade is less about strength and more about knowledge application.