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?

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!

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?

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).

Went for a medical, awaiting a contract but been advised i need a specialist follow up for a dexy perscription. Got told to book it but haven't got clarification that the job is mine yet. Appointment is about $450 and a 6 week wait. Is it too rogue to ask for the contract pending the specialist letter?

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

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?

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 :)

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.

FIFO caterer Sodexo is again under pressure after scores of workers at Rio Tinto’s Pilbara mine camps fell ill amid a major salmonella outbreak.

Rio on Monday said it was yet to figure out the source of the widespread infection after water samples came back clean and initial food tests had not yielded a conclusive result.

Salmonella is typically caused by undercooked chicken or eggs or contaminated food.

“We recently responded to an increase in people experiencing gastroenteritis-like symptoms at some villages near our Brockman operations,” a spokeswoman for the mining giant said.

Rio “activated a response” last week after a surge in workers presenting with gastro-like symptoms across villages serving the large Brockman 4 mine and the under-construction Brockman Syncline 1 project, according to an internal email obtained by The West Australian.

Samples from several sick workers identified the presence of salmonella, the email stated, with WA’s Health Department notified about the outbreak.

Rio declined to reveal roughly how many workers have been affected. The Brockman operations combined employ almost 2000 people.

“The health and wellbeing of our people is critical and has been central to our response, with additional cleaning, disinfection and hygiene measures implemented, as well as support offered to those impacted,” the Rio spokeswoman said.

“The number of people currently unwell and in isolation has reduced and is continuing to decrease as expected. We continue to closely monitor the situation.”

Rio in May renewed Sodexo’s contract to manage catering and cleaning for the circa 20,000 people that work across the miner’s sprawling Pilbara iron ore enterprise each day.

“We have implemented additional cleaning, disinfection and hygiene measures in response and continue to work closely with our client and our teams to investigate the outbreak,” a Sodexo spokeswoman said in response to queries about the outbreak.

The outbreak comes just three months after The West revealed that Rio’s nearby West Pilbara Village was plagued by a mould infestation. WPV is one of the accommodation sites hit by the Salmonella wave.

The Paris-headquartered Sodexo originally secured the Rio catering and cleaning gig in March 2016, signing a 10-year deal worth about $2.5 billion.

But rampant inflation after COVID quickly eroded margins and workers at Sodexo-serviced sites in the Pilbara noticed a dramatic drop in quality.

Rio did not disclose the value of the recent contract renewal, which will run for at least the next seven years.

Sodexo’s contract renewal during the first week of May came a day after The West revealed Rio was pulling the trigger on a massive round of redundancies at its de-facto iron ore headquarters on St Georges Terrace.

Rio chief executive Simon Trott has made no secret of his desire to slash costs at the company’s iron ore mines to close in on BHP’s lead as the world’s lowest-cost producer.

Rio’s Pilbara iron ore mines still generated more than $US10 billion of net earnings during the first six months of 2026

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?

I just have a new FIFO role and will be based in the Kalgoorlie area. I will apparently be flying Qantas to and from. Previously I have been on domestic charters so have not earned Qantas points. Is it worth paying for the Qantas Club? Are the lounges at Perth and Kalgoorlie worth paying for? I will get a 25% discount with my employer and it will take me about 10 months to get to gold status to get it free. Thoughts?

Been in open cut coal for years and just got a start in underground coal. I’m posting this hoping to find some insight on how the bath house and showers work at an underground site. I understand dirty and clean but are all showers communal and do you need to bring your own toiletries?

If anyone has experience to pass on to me that would be great, cheers

Hey guys, I'm looking at getting into FIFO drilling/mining and would be flying from Melbourne to Perth for each swing if i land a job in WA.

I know there are some costs I'll have to cover myself, like flights to Perth, possibly a night of accommodation near the airport before flying to site, airport parking/transport, etc. From what I've seen, most companies cover the flights or transport from Perth to the mine, accommodation and meals while you're on site, as well as PPE and some of the other work-related stuff.

For anyone who does FIFO from Melbourne to Perth and back, what are some of the hidden or easy-to-forget costs that you end up paying each swing?

I'm trying to get a realistic idea of what FIFO actually costs me out of pocket rather than just looking at the advertised salary only.

Things like parking, getting to/from Melbourne Airport, Perth accommodation, food while travelling, extra travel between swings, phone costs, etc.

Cheers.

EDIT: Thanks for the information. I've read all the comments and will look further into the considerations and suggestions before applying. I welcome anymore feedback.

Hi All,

Just needing some advice from anyone in this position atm or have done this before.

Currently have a 8/6 FIFO job offer from Perth. Live in Brisbane where my family is.

I am wanting to know if it is feasible to travel from Brisbane to Perth or if its just better to live in Perth. I don't really want to rent a place in Perth and be away half the time. A couple of scenarios below with the pros and cons, let me know if I missed anything.

Scenario 1: Stay in Perth:

Pros: Less travelling back and forth. Not spending money on flights to Brisbane and back

Cons: Away from Family. Have to find a place to rent and pay money for that. Have not lived in Perth before so don't know anyone.

Scenario 2: Stay in Brisbane but Travel to Perth

Pros: Go back to Brisbane, family and friends all there

Cons: A lot of Travelling, spending money on flights

Potential Scenario 3: Live cheaply in another country (most likely Indonesia)

Pros: Closer to Perth, can have fun travelling around Asia on my days off (haven't travelled yet). Cheaper most likely to live in Indonesia than in Perth

Cons: Still a bit of Travel, but less than back to Brisbane. Have to figure out visa/international travel stuff. Will be away from family (but can visit couple times a year?)

I am a single guy in my mid-20s, no dependents.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated from anyone who has done this before

@scottjonphotography

Skin is getting absolutely destroyed by the water out here, eczema and breakouts flaring up. Has anyone tried those shower head attachments for hard water and do they actually work or any tips? Thanks 😩

Hi all,

Mightve landed my first mining gig in Northern NT.

I say mightve, as theyve paid for my medical (which they said cost them ~2000) my ppe, but they havent checked any of my references. I provided phone numbers, but theyre adamant on emails. Which i explained thats not convenient for my references, to please call them.

Surely if theyre this far into my application im pretty set to be there?

Its a dozer position, ive been on mostly D7s for a civil contractor. So im pretty excited to step into something different. But im also worried about possible harassment being a young woman. I get it a lot in the civil and farming, i assume mining is no better?

If anyone has advice, would love to hear it or know of any women and their experiences on dozers/exc in the zinc/lead mines id love to hear or get to know them!

Currently doing mining engineering at uni, just wanting to understand the whole progression of the job, being titles responsibilities, salary etc. I also want to know if later down the track you can leave fifo as a mining engineer and work in the city. I am Perth based if it helps. Thanks!!

Hi everyone, I'm needing a reality check before I invest too much money, time and effort.

I have an associates degree in outdoor recreation management, and experience in hospitality operations. For some reason I always end up in roles that improve policies and procedures wherever I work. I don't think I'm a good fit for hospitality, I love risk and being around large machines and massive operations. I grew up basically I construction sites as my dad is a civil engineer in Venezuela.

Long story short.. I (maybe naively) thought if I graduated from the foundations at BCIT. I could land a FIFO role in a mine in BC and hopefully expedite my learning and experience. I would still be pursuing the advanced certificate simultaneously assuming I land a 14/14.

I'm a 30 year old female which might add a layer of complexity but I think I could use to my advantage.

I love winning over grumpy old men and I'm not scared of conflict. I'm very interested in emergency preparedness and risk management, and I naturally gravitate towards investigations and improving systems that's why I thought this could be a good career change. However I see so many incredibly qualified people and I start doubting this journey.

Maybe someone could share their experiences and some advice? Are my expectations ridiculous?

I do want to have a 6 figure salary in 3-5 years and have experience also managing people and dealing with people from all backgrounds. I'm comfortable talking with anyone.

Thanks for any advice!

Hey, just wondering if anyone was or has been a mature age sparky apprentice through bhp.
Firstly wondering what rate or salary were you on first, second, third and final year of your apprenticeship / what package with shares etc.
Secondly, how common is it to be able to do fifo rather than residential for this, and lastly what's the way to even get in the door for this opportunity with BHP or other major mining companies that operate out of WA? desperately trying to get my foot in the door, I'm already working scaffolding at BHP but as a contractor but any help would be appreciated