I Moved to Australia for FIFO Work to Fund Travels

I began to analysis totally different profession alternatives that might enable me to make good cash that I may spend on journey. I all the time had an curiosity in visiting Australia and I had heard about mining jobs years in the past.

I figured if I did that for a few months, I might have a piggy financial institution for touring. So in June 2023, I left Eire and moved to Perth, Australia to grow to be a FIFO employee, which stands for “fly in, fly out.”

Touchdown a FIFO job in a brand new nation wasn’t straightforward

FIFO is an trade that largely exists solely in mining fields in Australia, Canada, and Alaska. Mining firms in Australia extract iron ore together with different minerals and ship it to crushers and refineries. Then, it goes to Port Hedland, which is the principle port in Australia, and cargo ships ship it to China.

Australia is likely one of the most mineral-rich nations on the planet, so there are a ton of mining initiatives and FIFO jobs obtainable right here.

However that does not imply it was straightforward to land one.

I discovered some YouTube movies about FIFO work, however there was no how-to information on what to do if you wish to enter the trade from a international nation.

I needed to give you my very own recreation plan, which included making use of for a working Visa. I had no expertise in mining and I had by no means pushed a truck or bulldozer — I additionally did not have a license in Australia. It wasn’t going to be straightforward shifting to a different nation and touchdown one among these jobs, however I used to be decided.

After arriving in Australia, I spent about three days exploring vacationer websites earlier than I turned to the job hunt course of. In Australia, it is advisable to get tickets, that are like {qualifications}. I spent two and a half weeks at a coaching heart getting licensed in CPR and dealing on an elevated platform, together with a heavy inflexible license to drive huge vans.

As soon as I did that, I paid an organization referred to as W1n W1n to do my résumé and completely hammered job pages and utilized to as many FIFO jobs as I may for about 10 days. Inside a month of arriving in Australia, I secured a FIFO job.

Now, I assist others get into the trade with movies on social media and a information I made for international employees excited about FIFO.

I work 12-hour days for 3 weeks straight

I get flown in from Perth to work in Pilbara, a northwest area of Australia that is wealthy in iron ore.

I get up round 4 a.m. to prepare for work, which begins at 5:30 a.m., and I spend the following 12 hours within the mining area.

The circumstances are bodily strenuous and the common temperature throughout the day is 95 levels Fahrenheit. In peak summer season, it hits about 113 levels.

As a serviceman, I preserve a fleet of 45 or 50 machines, together with dump vans, diggers, dozers, scrapers, and different mining tools. All through the day, I fill them up with gas, grease them up, prime up fluids, and blow out their air filters.

Then I pack the whole lot again into my truck and drive to the following machine. I often finish work at 5:30 p.m., and the journey again to the positioning takes about 40 minutes so I often get residence at 6:10 p.m.

Usually, after I get again I attempt to shark down meals and manage lunch for the following day. I intention to go to mattress at 9:30 p.m. in order that I can get as a lot sleep as potential for the following day.

Throughout my week off, I get flown again out to Perth. The flight takes about two hours. Some individuals go on weekend journeys to Bali. I prefer to go on highway journeys round Australia.

I even have the pliability to go on breaks throughout the yr. I took seven weeks off round Christmas and went to Esperance, which is on the southwest coast of Australia.

I’ve made round $80,000 to date this yr pre-tax, and my bills on-site are paid for

As a FIFO employee, firms pay for worker flights to and from the mining area. In addition they pay for housing lodging and supply facilities like a meals court docket and fitness center on the housing web site.

My room is dorm-like and it is nothing particular but it surely has the whole lot I would like and I exploit it for sleep.

There is a huge exercise tradition amongst FIFO employees and the fitness center is well-equipped to fulfill these wants. The fitness center has a power room, a cardio room, an out of doors fitness center, a CrossFit room with courses provided, and a female-only fitness center. I often stroll about 25,000 steps a day on the job however nonetheless attempt to work out about two or thrice per week.

As somebody utterly new to the trade, I make $5,329 Australian {Dollars} per week earlier than taxes, which is round $3,477 USD — however I additionally do not work each single week of the month. To date, I’ve made round $80,000 earlier than taxes working the final 9 months, together with a seven-week break I took to journey round Australia.

Throughout my week off, I fly again to Perth and both go away for per week or pay a good friend to stick with him for the week. My bills throughout my week off often come out to round $1,300 USD.

I am getting the journey I used to be trying to find

I initially deliberate to work this job for 3 or fourth months at most.

However now I have been right here for 9 months and I plan to stay it out for the remainder of the yr. As soon as I discovered in regards to the machines, turned part of the crew, and began making good cash, I did not see a degree in leaving.

I am having fun with studying new expertise and my checking account simply retains rising. As soon as I wrap up the yr, I am occurring a 10-month journey to Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

I will not have to fret about working and I will get to expertise the journey I have been craving.

As soon as I am completed, I plan to get proper again into FIFO work for my second yr and do it yet again.