x2 the lifestyle isn't for everyone!
Check out the mining giants websites weekly for traineeships in mining, operators etc.
Not the traineeship type pay you may be thinking.
Shift work sux at times. You can guarantee the thing you really want to do on the weekend is when your rostered on. Every time!
Good luck!
Be prepared to do anything to get in, move house, states, etc.
GU IV 2006 4.2 TDi wagon
The biggest thing for me is the young family as mentioned. To pick them all up and move interstate with the hope of gaining employment isn't ideal, nor is the idea of me going up on my own for what could potentially be an extended period before I could lock something in. If I were a single man it would simple.Originally Posted by macca86
I hate to admit it but I should have been an electrician.no offense to all you sparkies out there.
Last edited by Blownlc; 21st May 2012 at 09:54 PM.
When you say mining giants I assume you mean BHP,Rio Tinto, etc.
2 of my kids are FIFO from Perth. They both cracked the 'big' companies the same way. After heaps of resumes to the mining companies with rarely even a reply they signed up to labour hire agencies.
Within a few weeks they had their first starts with the bottom of the food chain IE the subbies to the subbies, within a couple of swings they were hired by the "grubbie subbies" and within another 6 to 12months were hired by the "big guys".
That method has worked for lots of people as you just need get a FIFO job (any FIFO) on top of your resume and all of a sudden the firms will start to call you in for interviews if you don't get cherry picked on site.
The companies really value their employees but won't risk even talking to 'outsiders' except in exceptional circumstances or dumb luck. They let the subbies be the filtering method as the turn over is huge when people realise they get paid exactly the same but to earn 3 times as much you work 3 times the hours.
7 and 7 is rare and is more often an oil and gas rota, my kids are on 4 and 1 which is common exploration/construction swings over here and 2 and 1 is common for production. They work 13 days then an RDO to nearest pub then another 13 days then a week off.
My daughters first shift she was the only one who lasted the 4 weeks out of 4 newbies, 1 got straight back on the plane he flew in on, 1 got sacked after 5 days and the other got on a plane on his RDO. The 'Rio's, BHP's, Chevron's, FMG's' see this every day of every week so they can be VERY reluctant to talk to people other than specified fields who haven't got runs on the board.
Good luck but I can't think of a worse employment for a young family. Our extended family is a tad different as DIL and granddaughter live with us and daughter is single no kids.
Dolphins are so smart that within a few weeks of captivity, they can train people to stand on the very edge of the pool and throw them fish.
Mate im a diesel fitter by trade so was a little easier. There are a bunch of companys up here who supply labour to the mines and have their own workshops in mackay. I know others who are working in the hunter region on the same dollars as up here in QLD It seems to be up here you get a 7 and 7 roster or what they call a lifestyle roster which is 4 days on 5 days off 5 days on 4 days off The majority are even time up here. In SA and WA you can get longer rosters like 2 weeks on 1 week off etc which is good for the $$$$.
Twin: I agree, the hours your kids are doing arent for someone like me. I think it's going to take a lot of searching and a stack of dumb luck.
Newby: queensland is my main target as I have heard the rosters are better as you have mentioned. The fella I bought my rig off is working in a new mine in mackay. He has also mentioned that the rosters seem to be better in the eastern states.
Ive been wondering though, who is installing/ maintaining the ventilation systems for the underground mines and any pipelines that may be required for under ground and open cut mines? I haven't seen any positions advertised for such jobs.
These will more than likely come under what they call infrastructure possibly look for this in a sub heading when searching for jobs.
The hunter valley is more of a residential roles. Even time rosters, usually 12 hours or so, 2 shifts on, 2 shifts off, 3 shifts on, 2 off, 2 on, 3 off, etc ongoing. Work every 2nd weekend, alternate day and night shifts.
Usually have to live within 1hr of work for fatigue reasons.
Some do 8 hr and some 10hr, but not many.
BHP, rio tinto, xstrata, thiess, vale, etc
Contractors are daracon, pegasus, etc. check phone book.
GU IV 2006 4.2 TDi wagon
Hey mate, i too am in mining, i am a boilermaker/rigger and somehow ended up FIFO to Egypt 6/3 (weeks). Getting FIFO is not easy, often you have to know someone or just get lucky. Working for a contractor is definately the way to go. As a plumber there would be opportunities working for the mobs that run the camps. Compass group, which own ESS run alot of mining camps or you can try the construction companies.
http://www.gorgonjobs.kjv.com.au/ is a good one to start.
I have noticed that most of the jobs advertised are for sparkies and diesel fitters. I have had no luck applying for jobs from seek, it got me no where. Applying online with the big mobs got me no where as well, i have wasted alot of time on the job application things for rio, mmg, bhp. The recruitment and labor hire places are the go. You can get FIFO in WA on 8-6 rosters. Olymic Dam in SA might be a good one to aim for as its one of the closest to you.
I am in hardrock mining, never done coal but have done lots of construction. If you are not afraid of hard work then you can try the reline mobs, they contract in for shutdowns and they change all the wear liners inside ball and sag mills, its a shit job but can take you to all parts of the world. Problem is it won't be consistent work. TME and Pacific Relines (Ativo) are two i can think of that do this. Any contracting company is worth a go. I did shutdowns for ages before getting something more permanent. Clemments is another one i can think of that recruit for big projects.
Another thing that may be useful is the "Shutdown Monitor" online newsletter. It costs i think $88 a year and has info on mining and constrcution projects around australia. Could be useful to find out who has contracts for what.
The thing with mining is that you work the hours. I have had alot of jobs that the hourly rate is pretty crap but when you do 7x12hr shifts it seems better.
All in all though i bloody hate the mining industry in australia. There are alot of wankers, alot of people who are there because their daddy is the big cheese and alot of people who will stab you in the back at first opportunity. Maybe i just had bad times with BHP and a few other companies. Expat is ok cause it cuts out alot of the over the top safety bullcrap and we just get on with it, but i know when i come home i will not be going mining. Construction all the way.
Good luck with it all anyway, it is nice to have the beans to blow on cars. This job paid to get my XB hardtop painted. After 9 years of no progress it is finally painted and getting pieced back together. Now if only i had the time.
The money i am earning can't buy my youth back.
If you going through hell...Keep going
GQ wagon locked - lifted - 33's, 02 SS ute, XB coupe 460bb, KTM530
Blownlc (22nd May 2012)
Seems like the back door is going to be the easiest way in. Although the hours aren't an issue the roster probably isn't going to be practical givin my family situation. I'll make some calls to the above mentioned companies today and see what comes of it.
I am wondering now though if financially its the best option. I'm making $43 an hour here in melb and I'm home by 3:30 most days. I hear stories of blokes making anywhere from $140k right up to $205k per annum. How much truth is in this?
Thanks gents for all your input.
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