Almost 400 Mount Arthur Coal employees are working towards acquiring new skills and qualifications and seeking specialist advice in anticipation of the mine's closure in 2030.
The preparation of the 1400-strong workforce for life after the mine's closure is regarded as a test case for future mine closures.
An estimated 12,000 mining and supply chain positions will be lost from the region's economy by the end of the decade.
Mount Arthur employees are receiving financial advice, career coaching or undertaking study through more than 160 different nationally recognised training providers.
Popular areas of study include business and management, mining, construction and resources, education and training, law, electrical trades, transport and logistics and health services and allied health.
Drill operator Sarah Crosbie is completing a bachelor of education degree with the aim of becoming a high school maths teacher.
"It's too good an opportunity to pass up," Ms Crosbie, who is due to complete her degree next year, said.
"I'll be able to teach from kindergarten through to year 12, but I'm most interested in teaching high school maths, and maybe eventually physics of quantum mechanics."
"I'm already saving up my long service leave to do my teaching placements next year."
Production operator Brett Sullivan studied entrepreneurship at the College for Adult Learning.
"I was thinking about opening a small, local business, like a cafe; but I've been in mining for almost 20 years, so what do I know about running a small business," he said.
He also took up the option for free financial advice.
"The financial advice tells you what you need to do to set yourself up, and this gives you the peace of mind of knowing you're on the right track," Mr Sullivan said.
The company is supporting 238 employees across 160 nationally accredited courses.
BHP has committed $3 million so far and paid $885,698 in reimbursements to employees who have successfully completed their courses.
Employees are also engaged in workforce support services, including career coaching and financial advice.
"As we prepare for BHP to finish mining at Mount Arthur Coal in 2030, we're working alongside our people to set them up for success into the future and keep the Hunter a great place to live and work," Mount Arthur Coal general manager Darryl Messenger said.
"We know that many of our people want to keep building their careers in resources beyond 2030, and we're focused on giving them the skills, support and information they need to pursue the opportunities that are right for them, both in the resources sector and beyond.
"For some people, this will mean retirement, for others it will be finding another job in the mining sector, or possibly retraining for an entirely different career."
A survey of 800 Upper Hunter residents done in 2024 revealed there were mixed emotions about the mine's closure and what it would mean for the local community.
The BHP-commissioned Closure Legacy Expectations Assessment Recommendations Opportunities highlighted that many residents were anxious about the potential social and economic impacts that could flow from the mine's looming closure.
The concerns translated into anxiety about the local economy's future, the appearance and environmental health of the mine site post-closure and the negative social issues that may emerge.
Two areas of the Mount Arthur site will be zoned for new industry with access to major highways and the existing rail loop.
More than 950 hectares of land out of a total area of 5400 hectares have been identified for early activation, tipped to create about 5900 jobs.
