Education Endowment Fund expands career opportunities

For over thirty years, the core theme of the Education Endowment Fund (EEF) program is to identify future industry leaders among AusIMM’s student members and ensure they are offered meaningful opportunities to develop professionally over the course of their scholarship. We caught up with one of the 2023 Premium Undergraduate Scholars, Sophie Gillogly on her experience since receiving the scholarship.

What prompted you to apply for the Education Endowment Fund?

I was working at the time in mining and a past EEF scholar told me about the scholarship. When I looked into the scholarship, I was really interested in enhancing my career development and finding a mentor to help me work through my career trajectory.

What has your mentor taught you?

My mentor has definitely been instrumental in helping me navigate my career path and helped me to start discovering aspirations. Through their guidance and support, I have gained valuable insights into the diverse opportunities within the mining sector and the various roles I can play. They have taken the time to understand my strengths and weaknesses, interests, and goals, allowing them to provide tailored advice and encouragement. By sharing their own experiences and challenges, my mentor has opened my eyes to the possibilities that lie ahead.

What was a highlight from the field trip?

The highlight of the trip was the incredible people I had the opportunity to meet. Throughout the week-long trip, I was surrounded by individuals who shared similar passions and interests, yet came from diverse university backgrounds – including Geologists, Processing, Mining, Civil, Petroleum, Renewable. This mix made the experience unmatchable, as we exchanged stories and knowledge from our respective fields. Not only did it provide a networking opportunity, but it also fostered genuine connections, turning us into close friends by the end of the trip.

How has the financial aid helped you study?

The monetary component of the scholarship has allowed me to spend more time focusing on university, while also getting involved in university societies. It has also helped me pay off my HECS debt.

Where do you see your career heading?

Through this scholarship it has allowed me to contemplate my career trajectory through discussions with my mentor and talking to other EEF scholars during the field trip. Initially, I began this scholarship without a clear vision of where I saw my career heading and this overwhelmed me, and I thought I had to know exactly what it was I wanted to do.

However, my mentor has shifted my outlook, allowing me to embrace the idea that it's okay not to have all the answers right now. Instead, I'm determined to take every opportunity, seeking diverse experiences to better understand and define the path that aligns best with my aspirations.

What recommendations do you have for applicants?

If you are passionate about the mining industry have a look into this scholarship, it has made a huge impact in my life and will continue to impact my life through the community we have made and the experiences I will take into the future with me.

To find out more about the EEF head here. Apply today to kickstart your career in mining and get paid while you study!