Full Answer
How many people work for FIFO in South Australia?
The state currently has between 6000 and 7000 interstate FIFO workers employed in its massive mining sector. They fly in and out from other states, many from Queensland. Or at least they did until covid struck the country.
Is there a guide for Irish workers on FIFO contracts in Australia?
Crosscare Migrant Project has published a new guide today for Irish workers on FIFO contracts in Australia, based on research by the Australian government, academics, and organisations specialising in mental health and addiction.
What is a FIFO worker?
A FIFO worker plays an important role in the mining and resources industry. Many operational jobs onsite can be FIFO jobs. These range from truck drivers, electricians and diesel fitters, to machine operators, mechanics, fitters and security officers. Miners, drillers, cleaners and other tradesperson roles can also be FIFO jobs.
Should I move my FIFO employees to Perth?
Thus moving interstate and even WA FIFO employees and their families to local communities within easy travelling distance of work is seen as the most practical solution under current circumstances. Failing that, moving them to Perth is the next best option.
How many FIFO workers are there in Australia?
There are approximately 60,000 FIFO workers in Australia and this is fuelled by the large resource sector in the country. With a strong demand for our exports, many mining companies require a huge workforce in remote areas. In the country, because most FIFO work is done in the mines, the biggest opportunities are in Western Australia.
Why do FIFO workers struggle with mental health?
Despite the benefits, plenty of FIFO workers struggle with their mental health due to the long periods of time spent away from family and friends. It’s harder to make social engagements and attend important milestones for your kids. With locations in rural areas, workers also have to deal with extreme conditions.
How many hours do FIFO workers work?
The pay is also significant to make up for the inconveniences. FIFO workers also work long hours – usually 12-hour shifts – and seven days a week on site with very little downtime.
What is the most common form of FIFO?
Although mining opportunities are the most common form of FIFO work, a lot of other industries are prepared to fly you in and out. From cleaners to kitchen staff, there is a huge variety of options available.
What is FIFO in rural areas?
With natural resources a plenty in rural areas, FIFO – fly-in-fly-out, as it’s better known – is providing the opportunity for job seekers to work in remote areas without the need to relocate.
What does "fly in fly out" mean?
FIFO or otherwise “Fly-in-fly-out” is the term used to describe someone who flies to a job site to complete work (usually over the course of a week or two) before flying home when the job is done.
How long does it take to drive in a dio?
DIDO (drive-in-drive-out) operates similarly but instead workers commute via car or bus – trips generally take around half a day.
What is LFS sample frame?
The LFS sample frame consists of dwellings, and responses are collected about each usual resident of the selected dwellings. The LFS also includes special dwellings, such as hotels, hostels and staff accommodation. One responsible adult in the selected dwelling usually provides information about all usual resident members of the household. If the city/town home of a FIFO worker is sampled, they will be included or excluded from the survey based on the perception of the survey respondent as to whether the person is a usual resident there. For example, the spouse of a FIFO worker may include that person as a usual member of the household even if they spend more than six months of the year at a different residence.
What is FIFO work?
Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) work is defined as “circumstances of work where the place of work is sufficiently isolated from the worker's place of residence to make daily commute impractical” 1. The term FIFO covers other long distance commuting employment arrangement, such as drive-in drive-out. The FIFO phenomenon has become more apparent, particularly in remote regions where employment in mining and related industries have increased. FIFO workers may be utilised to deliver a range of services in remote communities, such as health services and supporting infrastructure projects.
What is the number and characteristics of people counted in a region on Census Night?
The number and characteristics of people counted in a region on Census night can be compared to the number and characteristics of usual residents in that region. It has been inferred from these data that in some regions many of the people who are staying in the region on Census Night could be FIFO workers. The ABS has previously released the following articles analysing this type of data:
What is LFS in employment?
The LFS provides a measure of the employment of people who live in an area and not the levels of employment of the area.
Do LFS and supplementary labour surveys collect information?
The LFS and supplementary labour surveys do not collect any information which could be used to directly determine whether a person is a FIFO worker. Supplementary surveys such as Locations of Work (cat. no. 6275.0) have collected some information about those who work in a different state/territory or region from where they live, which may serve as a proxy measure for some FIFO work. At the state level this would not identify people who fly-in/fly-out within the same state, such as living in Perth and working in the Pilbra (WA), however the difference in region would highlight such situations. Also, people may work across a state border, but in reality live within a short daily commute, such as between Albury (NSW) and Wodonga (VIC), or Queanbeyan (NSW) and Canberra (ACT).
Does industry and occupation of work contribute to FIFO?
Industry and occupation of work are also collected in labour surveys, but use of this information (for example considering the usual residence of miners residing in non-mining regions) will only result in partial coverage of FIFO workers, as a number of industries and occupations have very small proportions of employees who work on a FIFO basis, yet contribute substantially to the overall number of FIFO workers.
How many FIFO workers are there in Australia?
Australia, and one state in particular, leads the world when it comes to the use of FIFO mine employees. The state currently has between 6000 and 7000 interstate FIFO workers employed in its massive mining sector. They fly in and out from other states, many from Queensland. Or at least they did until covid struck the country.
What is the importance of mining in Australia?
The Australian government recognised very early on that mining was one of the ‘essential’ industries that had to remain operational to help keep the country afloat. Traditionally it has been responsible for around 8% of the nation’s GDP each year, and earns over half its export income.
How much of Australia's GDP is mining?
Traditionally it has been responsible for around 8% of the nation’s GDP each year, and earns over half its export income. There’s also no doubt Australia has benefited greatly from the current mining woes in other countries. The forced closure of major competitors in Brazil and South Africa for instance has given Australia an opportunity to ‘fill the gap’, which it has done with alacrity.
Is FIFO good for the economy?
Whilst there are clear economic and social benefits for the towns to have people permanently living there instead of doing FIFO, there are also significant benefits for the employees themselves. Studies for instance have consistently shown that longer rosters contribute to a range of health and mental problems. Unfortunately, current covid restrictions and quarantine requirements for interstate FIFO employees means many of them are working longer rosters to reduce travel between states and unproductive time spent in quarantine.
Is it possible to move FIFO employees to Perth?
Thus moving interstate and even WA FIFO employees and their families to local communities within easy travelling distance of work is seen as the most practical solution under current circumstances. Failing that, moving them to Perth is the next best option. This will result in shorter rosters, less time spent on Covid related red tape, and remove the need to spend 2 weeks in quarantine every time an employee re-enters the state.
Is WA closed to the rest of the country?
Whilst most other states are opening up travel bubbles with states that have remained free of covid community transmission cases, WA remains steadfastly committed to keeping its borders closed to the rest of the country.
Will FIFO families move to WA?
In the future, it’s likely many families relocating to WA will be encouraged to go to rural areas, something welcomed by regional authorities. Councils in these areas have long been concerned about the impact large numbers of transient FIFO workers moving in and out of their towns has on those communities. In an effort to resolve some of these issues, BHP and other resource companies with major operations and significant FIFO workforces in WA, have been working closely with regional shires to make places like Newman and Karratha more attractive for relocating FIFO families. Some of the incentives offered include housing and transfer assistance whilst the state government has made a range of housing blocks in rural WA available at substantially reduced prices.
Why is mental health important in the workplace?
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines mental health as a state of wellbeing in which the individual realises their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to their community. There is a growing body of research that demonstrates that good work design and a positive workplace culture enhances the wellbeing of employees. Therefore, it is important for employers to identify work practices which may harm their employees’ mental health as well as those which support workers to thrive.
Is mental health a critical finding for FIFO?
This greater mental health risks for FIFO workers is a clear and critical finding. Irrespective of the many other detailed findings in thi s report, including some neutral or even positive aspects : the greater mental health risk for this population must be a central take away message.
Who funded the FIFO research?
This research was support ed by funding from the Western Australian Mental Health Commission (MHC508) on behalf of the McGowan Government. The research was conducted in response to recommendations from the Education and Health Standing Committee (2015) on FIFO mental health and concerns raised by families.
Well Handled
- The Australian mining sector in general is to be commended for its handling of the pandemic. The Australian government recognised very early on that mining was one of the ‘essential’ industries that had to remain operational to help keep the country afloat. Traditionally it has been responsible for around 8% of the nation’s GDP each year, and earns...
Significant Challenges
- Australia’s FIFO workforce though has faced some significant challenges. At the height of the pandemic, most state borders were locked down. Mining personnel were granted exemptions in most cases but still understandably faced a range of safety and quarantine restrictions. Measures like rigorous testing, enforcement of social distancing and quarantine regulations, improved cleaning, and the transport of personnel by charter flig…
Will It Work?
- West Australians have long been known for their isolationist, self-sufficient take on life. The state’s capital is after all one of the most isolated cities in the world and is separated from the rest of the country by huge deserts and the largest stretch of exposed limestone in the world AKA the Nullarbor Plain. (Incidentally, what was until recently the longest straight stretch of road in the world lies atop that exposed limestone.) All this isolation has built a sp…
A Boost to Regional Communities
- In the future, it’s likely many families relocating to WA will be encouraged to go to rural areas, something welcomed by regional authorities. Councils in these areas have long been concerned about the impact large numbers of transient FIFO workers moving in and out of their towns has on those communities. In an effort to resolve some of these issues, BHP and other resource companies with major operations and significant FIFO wo…
Employee Benefits
- Whilst there are clear economic and social benefits for the towns to have people permanently living there instead of doing FIFO, there are also significant benefits for the employees themselves. Studies for instance have consistently shown that longer rosters contribute to a range of health and mental problems. Unfortunately, current covid restrictions and quarantine requirements for interstate FIFO employees means many of them are working l…