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Oliver SnoadMining Engineering
“I didn’t think I was the brainiest kid in the world so to get this scholarship gave me faith in myself, it felt awesome” |
As a young child, Oliver Snoad always believed his interest in rocks would lead him to become a geologist. But that all changed when a former student returned to Westminster School to speak to the then 16-year-old Snoad and his senior school classmates about the benefits of working in mining engineering. “It sounded like the perfect fit – the lifestyle, the type of work,” the now 19-year-old said. “I hadn’t realised mining was an engineering discipline – that talk set me on the right path.”
Snoad’s experience so far as a first-year mining engineering student at The University of Adelaide has reinforced his decision. “I have studied maths, programming (Matlab and Excel), introduction to engineering and introduction to mining,” he says. “Introduction to mining and engineering have been very interesting, and I’ve found the mining aspect more enjoyable than I expected.”
His programming studies have also opened his eyes to a career in mine automation. “That sounds incredibly interesting and it seems that is the way the industry is moving, to make things safer and more economical,” he says.
Job security and global career opportunities also appeal. “Another factor that drew me to mining was the opportunities to work in other countries,” Snoad says. “To begin with I would love to start in Australia but if opportunities presented to work abroad, I would definitely jump at those if I was at the right stage in my life.”
For the avid surfer and musician, having the support of the Playford Trust behind him is a matter of pride. “I was genuinely shocked when I learned I had been awarded the scholarship,” he says. “I didn’t think I was the brainiest kid in the world so to get this scholarship gave me faith in myself. It felt awesome. It means I don’t have to work as much to support myself, which is a great relief.”
Snoad’s experience so far as a first-year mining engineering student at The University of Adelaide has reinforced his decision. “I have studied maths, programming (Matlab and Excel), introduction to engineering and introduction to mining,” he says. “Introduction to mining and engineering have been very interesting, and I’ve found the mining aspect more enjoyable than I expected.”
His programming studies have also opened his eyes to a career in mine automation. “That sounds incredibly interesting and it seems that is the way the industry is moving, to make things safer and more economical,” he says.
Job security and global career opportunities also appeal. “Another factor that drew me to mining was the opportunities to work in other countries,” Snoad says. “To begin with I would love to start in Australia but if opportunities presented to work abroad, I would definitely jump at those if I was at the right stage in my life.”
For the avid surfer and musician, having the support of the Playford Trust behind him is a matter of pride. “I was genuinely shocked when I learned I had been awarded the scholarship,” he says. “I didn’t think I was the brainiest kid in the world so to get this scholarship gave me faith in myself. It felt awesome. It means I don’t have to work as much to support myself, which is a great relief.”