I work in recruitment for underground mines. Underground is harder to get into than open cut mining. You really need some underground experience first to get in, the best way is to contact all of the contracting companies and try to get a position with them.

We would sometimes put on young guys who had been working underground with a contractor, even if it was just set-up work, as at least they were working in that sort of environment. We did do a stint of hiring 'cleanskins' (miners with no experience) but had 2,000 people apply, so you have more chance of getting in with a contracting company and then trying to get into a mine.