I’m still pretty new to FIFO and the roster itself isn’t the hard part for me, it’s switching between site and home. First few swings I’d get home absolutely wrecked and then somehow be wide awake at 2am a couple of days later. Does that eventually settle down or is it just something you learn to manage?
From the facebook comments it looks like it is more than Brockman 4 its Yandi too if anyone has access to full article through to paywall please reply
Doing a summer vacation program in the Pilbara, kinda tom price ways.
My problem is how my genes are working against me here...I'm a pale asf ranga...my body can't deal with the heat for shit.
So I'm nervous about how hot itll get working over the summer.
What tips and tricks do you guys have on dealing with the heat?
Goal is just to survive tbh.
If u guys just have any good coping strategies, they are welcome too
Cheers
Edit: thanks guys for all the helpful advice! Read through them and learnt heaps. Hopefully this has increased my chance of surviving the summer :)
Hello, looking for some advice about getting into underground mining.
I’m 32F, no kids and don’t plan on having any. I’ve worked in the mining industry for 3 and a bit years, with the last 8 months working on site in a technology role.
I’ve been thinking about making the switch to an entry-level underground role. Part of it is seeing how quickly AI is changing technology and wondering what my career will look like in 10–20 years, but I’ve also realised I really want a more hands-on job. I enjoy being on site and would rather be out doing practical work than sitting behind a computer.
I’m comfortable with FIFO and being away, and I’m happy to start at the bottom. I’ve also nearly paid off my mortgage, so I’m in a position where taking a pay cut initially to change careers isn’t a huge concern if there’s good progression long term.
There’s also not much room for progression where I am currently — people tend to stay in their roles long term, so opportunities to move up or into something different rarely come up, despite having our annual reviews and discussing development goals etc
Has anyone made a similar switch or started underground in their 30s? How hard is it to get a foot in the door with no underground experience, and do you reckon it’s worth making the change? Thank you
I have just landed my first fifo role as a storeperson.
Just looking for tips of unspoken rules and etiquettes. Also what would the first day be like that’s what I’m most nervous for.
Any tips or advice would be very appreciated.
Throw away account for privacy reason but I just started as a drillers offsider for a small drilling company based in Pilbara and on my first shift I was asking the driller plenty of questions, then he turns around and answers to one of my questions that all I need to do to succeed here is put my lips together and start real slow. WTF is this shit normal? will I get ratted out if I report it or do I just suck it up and pretend it never happened?
Hey everyone,
I’m looking at studying mining engineering (ideally mining or a closely related discipline) and currently on a 7/7 roster.
I’m trying to figure out the best universities that actually help with this path — which universities have you are the best for working fifo.
Any experiences with Curtin/WASM, UWA, UQ, UNSW or others would be massively appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
For whatever reason you've been away for so long (year long holiday, burn out, family emergency, career change and shift back to mining, tried to unshackle yourself from the golden handcuffs only to want them back, etc).
I imagine most people who have been in the industry for years have completely different priorities from when they first started.
At the beginning I'd expect the money, overtime and getting experience to be the exciting parts. After you've been around heavy equipment, shutdowns, long shifts and site routines for years, I wonder whether things like roster quality, management and getting home safely become much more important.
What did you care about when you started that you barely care about now?
Hi team, I’ve got a NSW Contractors Licence as an electrician. Is that mutually recognised in QLD to work as an electrician on QLD mine sites? I had a recruitment agency come back and tell me it wasn’t but reading online I seem to think otherwise. Will I actually need to get a QLD electrical licence as well to get on to QLD mine sites?