Staff spotlight – Brady Watts

Introduction

We introduced Brady Watts on the milestone of his 3 year anniversary with CPA Group. Brady’s father, Ross Watts, had a 30 year history working for QLD Fire and Emergency services including as a leading live fire trainer. Brady has actually worked with Ross when we were at QGC (they we on an on alternate roster so only met at handover!), they have also worked together at CS Energy.

Ross is currently doing work for Baseline at Rio Tinto in Weipa.

Brady hopes they get the chance to work together again, maybe not on an alternate roster next time.

What is your professional background?

I am an automotive spray painter by trade. I left that and took a year off when I worked at a worked at a Community Indigenous Kindergarten in Brisbane.

I saved up enough money to do my course (Cert II Public Safety and Firefighting Operations) as I had always wanted to be a firefighter. (CPA Group contributed to my fees)

I did the course to get a job at QGC – I knew about the job as my dad was working on Curtis Island at that time. I got the job with CPA Group in 2015 and started just before Christmas.

Where are you working now?

I am working as an ESO at Coronado Curragh mine.

What other CPA Group sites have you worked?

I did 18 months at QGC, then on to CS Energy Kogan Creek then BMC South Walker Creek, all CPA Group sites.

What are your primary responsibilities?

I’m an ESO – however we do have some Security responsibilities such as mobile patrols. We also fill in as a first aider if the CPA Group Paramedic is not there.

(Brady is a classic example of CPA Group’s bundled model, able to contribute in fire & rescue, medical and security).

What do you find most challenging or fulfilling in your role?

The best part is being able to train, we are encouraged by our client to use the tools, being visible at site.

This is like my dream job, I love it. Being remote and away from the family is a challenge though, and  I look forward very much to coming home at the end of the rotation.

 

And what do you do in your spare time?

I have a partner who is very supportive, she loves it when I am home as I do lots of jobs. It is a physical job so I like to keep fit.

It is often hot, you have a lot of equipment and your gear on and you are fighting a fire.

I love to see my family, my dad is the biggest influence in my life.

I always wanted to be a firefighter from the time when I was young and I saw the firefighter calendar at the Ekka.

Actually, I have been in the Australian Firefighter calendar a couple of times including once with my dad – I think it was the first time they had a father and son picture.

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What would your manager say?

My manager is Kevin Waterman, he is a happy and positive guy who always turns a negative into a positive.

He might say I am low maintenance.

 

Manager comment

We asked Kevin for his assessment of Brady. He said a bit more than that!!

Brady has worked for CPA Fire and Rescue for nearly four years. We were so impressed with his attitude, keenness and strong firefighting pedigree that we assisted his funding him to get his courses.

Since then Brady has worked on high-risk QGC gas projects in the Surat Basin where he had real-world experience on road crashes, bushfires and gas leaks, then to a major power station overhaul project at CS Energy Kogan Creek before moving to our coal projects in the Bowen Basin.

Brady now works at Coronado Curragh where he works in a team that consists of 1 Emergency Services Officer (ESO) Team Leader, 2 ESO’s, 1 Rescue Paramedic and 1 Security Guard along with a day shift nurse.

He is bringing great personal skills and background to the project, helping to build his skills and the skills of others and working towards taking the next step in a leadership role in the next few years.