Why MINRES.edu.au Exists
Dave Sutton has spent his career in and around Australian mining operations — on the tools, in the supervisor's seat, and in the training room. Over decades, he noticed the same gap appearing again and again: supervisors who genuinely wanted to do the right thing, but couldn't find the information they needed in plain English, at the moment they needed it.
The Mining Act and Regulations are dense, technical documents. The consequences of getting it wrong — for workers, for supervisors, and for operations — are serious. But the knowledge to get it right shouldn't require a law degree or a full-day course.
MINRES.edu.au is Dave's answer to that gap. Podcasts you can listen to on the drive to site. Quizzes you can do on your lunch break. Guides you can read in five minutes. Real knowledge, in real time, for real supervisors.
Dave's Philosophy
1% Better. Every Day.
You don't need to know everything. You need to know a little more today than you did yesterday. That's what keeps people safe.
Industry Experience
- 30+ years in Australian mining operations
- Supervisor and management roles across multiple commodities
- Open cut, underground, and quarrying environments
- Experience across WA, QLD, and NT operations
Qualifications & Training
- Certificate IV in Training and Assessment
- Mining Supervisor certification (WA)
- WHS legislation and compliance specialist
- Ongoing professional development in mining law
Safety & Compliance
- Deep expertise in WA Mining Act 1978
- Principal hazard management and SHMS
- Incident investigation and reporting
- Duty holder obligations and reasonably practicable
Education & Content
- Creator of MINRES.edu.au learning platform
- 27+ podcast episodes on supervisor obligations
- Author of Quick Guides and scenario-based learning
- Advocate for accessible, plain-English safety education
On reasonably practicable:
"If you can do something to reduce the risk and it won't cost you more than the risk is worth — you have to do it. Full stop."
On principal hazards:
"Know your site's principal hazards before you know anything else. They're the ones that can kill multiple people at once."
On incident reporting:
"Report it. Every time. The paperwork is nothing compared to what happens if you don't."
On supervisor liability:
"You can't delegate your duty of care. You can share the work — but not the responsibility."
Connect With Dave
Follow the conversation on LinkedIn
Dave shares practical insights, regulatory updates, and field observations on the MINRES LinkedIn page.