Fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers have lifted the lid on the “hardest part of the job”. Roles in the mines allow workers to make impressive earnings, sometimes for only six months of the year, however, the isolated locations come with their downsides.
Dylan Manuel worked in FIFO mining for 17 years after hearing about the attractive wages and thought it would help him get on the property ladder and give his kids a good education. But he told Yahoo Finance that his two weeks on, two weeks off roster saw him miss out on far too much.
“My kids were getting older, they were graduating and doing very well in sports,” he said.
“My wife would tell me how well my son did, and you talk to your son, you talk to your daughter and your wife, and everyone’s happy. But at least they have each other.
“You go back to your room and you’re staring at these four walls when we put the phone down, and I’m very on my own.”
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He was pulling in up to $170,000 a year in the mines, which is well above the average industry salary of $125,000 to $145,000 per year, according to SEEK.
But being away from his family for long stints every fortnight became too much and he eventually left the industry.
He took a $60,000 pay cut when he quit, but he said it’s worth every cent if he was able to do his job and come home to his wife every day and see his kids more regularly.
