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Ebony McGrady

from newspaper production line worker to Wellsite Operator
I start up, shut down and perform maintenance on gas wells
Industry
Energy, gas and oil
Company
Shell QGC
Job Level
Entry

Ask me about

  • What a day in the life of my role looks like
  • The QGC Migas Apprentice, Trainee & Indigenous development program
  • The pros and cons of working 2 weeks on and off

About me

  • Regional Background

I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life after I finished high school. I worked odd jobs from IGA to stacking pallets for distribution at Big W. At 20 years old, I worked at a small-town farm that produced, packaged and sold potatoes to markets in Brisbane. I worked my way up and stayed there for just under 5 years. I ended up getting a FIFO job as a utility worker (housekeeper, kitchenhand, bar staff) in camps, flying from Townsville to Roma to Dubbo. After talking to a few contractors in camp and receiving encouragement and guidance from my manager at the time, I ended up applying for the 2019 intake for QGC Migas Trainee & Apprenticeship program. I was successful in obtaining a Certificate 3 in Process Plant Operations Traineeship.

About my role

  • Humorous
  • Passionate
  • Reliable
  • Trusting
  • Understanding

Wellsite Operators are responsible for the safe operation of multiple assets including gas wells, low point drains, high point vents, ground water monitoring wells and gathering isolation valves. They are the frontline and most upstream part of operations in QGC. They drive from well to well to perform routine site visits, aiming to conduct preventative and corrective maintenance to keep our assets running. They also react swiftly to any ad hoc jobs, including communicating with and assisting a range of contractors throughout the day. Their focus is to do these jobs safely, so everyone gets to go home at the end of shift, whilst maintaining asset integrity, minimizing downtime and maximizing production.

Education

  • High School Certificate
  • Certificate III Process Plant Operations

Subjects

  • Drama
  • English
  • General Mathematics (Maths A)
  • History
  • Physical Education

Hobbies

  • Camping
  • Cooking
  • Gaming
  • Seeing family and friends
  • Travel

Pets

  • 1 Dog
  • 1 Cat

15 year old me!!

“You don't need to know what you want to do with your life at 15! Follow your passions and listen to your gut.”

My career journey

Curious to know how I got here? Here’s a snapshot of my career pathway.
  1. Graduated Year 12
  2. Worked random jobs
  3. Secured a traineeship
  4. Completed my Cert 3 in Process Plant Operations
  5. Became a fully qualified Wellsite Operator

My typical day

My employer

Shell has operated in Australia since 1901. From operating Australia’s first oil refinery, which was central to meeting Australia’s fuel needs, to fuelling the first Qantas commercial flight in the 1920s, to playing a foundation role in building some of Australia’s largest and most innovative natural resource developments. In nearly 125 years, the needs of our customers and the nation have changed and we have continued to evolve our business to meet these needs. Today, Shell is a leading natural gas producer and is playing a part in the transition to a lower carbon future.