Mine workers

For anyone who works in the resources industry I want to hear your experiences on how you got in ? Was it through a mate, old mans a boss, relevant trade, experience through another similar job, got lucky as a Greenie, right time right place, you actually live there etc etc.

Did you even try for your job or did it land in your lap ?

It still surprises me people think mining jobs will land in your lap...I have worked in mining since I was a teenager, and still work FIFO after living up there for 7 years.
Hard work go me to where I am, and most people around my department it's the same.
...that said, these days skin colour and/or gender can determine whether a job will fall in your lap or not

It still surprises me people think mining jobs will land in your lap

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Most people dont yet there are people who get lucky or someone gets them the job (who you know)

What did you start off as ?

My husband was lucky, we moved to a mining area and one afternoon an old school friend stopped in. His old school friend looks after all the fitters. Gave him a number to ring and got the ball rolling.
Now he is full time permanant coming up to his second year.

I know so many boys who have flown to WA thinking they will walk into a mining job and come back broke.

My brother is in resources so are some of my mates they got their jobs cause they have skills and/or are qualified in shit that people need. I meet so many dickheads that tell me they are gonna go to the mines and get rich. No tickets, no industry clearances/inductions, no experience in related fields.

Cause massive mining companies are desperate for dickheads with no experience or initative, good luck landing that plumb job dreamer.

Like anything mate if you want to do it start as a shitkicker in a related job and switch over. Go work for civil companies as a labourer and work your way into the machines or go be a drillers offsider for a few months.

One mate drives four hr's from gold coast to Dalby for rotating 4/5's doing 12hr shifts in a truck for 80k a year and has to accomodate and feed himself offsite while there but after 2 years he just landed a job with xstrata FIFO 140K a year full camp accom, still took him 2 years to land a plumb job.

Generally it's very hard to get into it, and there are lots of 'training' companies willing to take ur $$$ and promise you a position in the mines, or some BS qualification to help you. I've heard from insiders having a relative or good friend in the mining business is the best way for them to LOOK at your resume.

I can tell you to steer clear of people promising you a position if you do their $1500-$3000 training course. Also be competent, and be safe. The last thing mining companies want is a cowboy operating a large piece of machinery, or someone with a less than incredibly cautious attitude. Obey and understand the reasons for all their rules, even the ones that seem stupid (e.g., at Rio if you're caught without fall protection from a 2m high ledge you're fired - this could be standing on the mudguard of a dozer which is on a semi trailer, or standing close to the edge of a drain - you get escorted off site)

I ended up there for a while as I worked for an engineering company that designed infrastructure for mines. Applying for a company that does contract work for mines (e.g. Thomas & Coffey) is probably the best way to get up there, rather than applying directly to Rio Tinto etc. I could be wrong, but it's one avenue.

I have worked fly in fly out in the oil and gas industry for 10 years , it is hard to get in but once you there its easy so long as you work hard dont be a dick , I work 2 weeks on 2 weeks off , good job good money , love the lifestyle , and i have contacts etc

I agree with joe , to get a start try the service companies first , and it helps to have things like first aid cert , truck licence , ect

I am kinda busy right now but PM me if you want any in depth info ,

I know so many boys who have flown to WA thinking they will walk into a mining job and come back broke.

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Yeh that seems to be a problem. No doubt there are blokes who do get a start that way. Someone has deluded these blokes into thinking you can just fly over and get a sweet job, maybe they would have been better off going to Kalgoorlie.

No tickets, no industry clearances/inductions, no experience in related fields.

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Im hoping my tickets plus a kind of related industry will help me.

Are you with Santos white Lion. Santos seems to be a cushy gig from what I hear.

skywalker21 said:

Yeh that seems to be a problem. No doubt there are blokes who do get a start that way. Someone has deluded these blokes into thinking you can just fly over and get a sweet job, maybe they would have been better off going to Kalgoorlie.



Im hoping my tickets plus a kind of related industry will help me.

Are you with Santos white Lion. Santos seems to be a cushy gig from what I hear.

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nah not santos , there are alot of smaller oil and gas producers , it is easier to get in with these smaller companies and often better conditions and same pay ,

Just keep hounding and keep looking. Youl get in eventually.

skywalker21 said:

Yeh that seems to be a problem. No doubt there are blokes who do get a start that way. Someone has deluded these blokes into thinking you can just fly over and get a sweet job, maybe they would have been better off going to Kalgoorlie.

Im hoping my tickets plus a kind of related industry will help me.

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Thats it bro it's deluded hey greenskins with no skills thinking they can just walk on a mine site and land a job. If your already a rigger/machine operater/trade qualified or some other shit then yeah you stand a decent chance of walking into a ok job and working your way into plumb conditions from there. What do ya do now?

@coaltrain , yep that also works , research the companies look at there websites and keep up to ddate with whos doing what , all thatb will give you clues as to who to approach and when

When my hubby got onto FIFO work in Petrol rigs, all the work for shutdowns was word of mouth since alot of the shutdowns are conducted by Contractors. Alot of the times he would only have 2 or 3 weeks secured work at a time.

Are there physios at established sites? Or are people sent home / off site if necessary?

Physios, nurses, etc are all there.
They will assess you onsite, but if your injury requires more attention they will send you home.
I'm at blackwater mine, these guys are pedantic about health and safety. Even the slightest niggle they need a million forms filled out and opinions from 76 different doctors.
Thank fuck I havent injured myself at work.
It can be a painstaking procedure to get back to work.

As an electrician, the mines have always got my mind wandering! But with a young family, it would wreck me leaving them for any length of time.. Good coin for sparkys i hear. A few of our guys have done a year or 2 up there.

Everyone wants to be in the mines yet I wonder how many get their leg in & realise its not the industry for them..

Just the douches who think its an easy ride. Think they won't have to work for the money.

I spent 3 years at Uni to get my BSc, went to every sundowner I could just to meet people, landed a job as a contractor and after 6 months was made permanent. My one piece of advice is to have a goal. Once you get in the money can be good (depending on what you do and where you work) and it's easy to get trapped. By that I mean people don't want to give up the money and feel they have no choice but to stay and support the lifestyle they've become accustomed to.

Anyway, just my 2c worth.

Didn't expect this to be my first post....
I want to get a job in the mines... doing what? I dont know, whatever.
This is the biggest mistake newbies make. If you dont know what you want to do, what chance have you got? Do some research, pick a job that looks like they need employees and that you could do and gain transferable skills and experience.
Also don't be picky. Just get a job first.