The big issue with the mining areas at the moment is accomadation, if you can get any.
Some have tenants paying insane amount's of rent for dungers that cost nothing a few years back.
Even have some that have different shift's in same bed EG: 1 guy get's up and goes to work as another comes in and has a warm bed.
But if you can get somewhere to live cheap, not keep up with the Jones'es buying new toy's and don't piss your money away, the rewards are fantastic.
Dave
There is no accomodation issues with FIFO.
As many have said here, big rewards with a lot of sacrifice. A person on FIFO in construction on a minesite (this is easy work to get in WA as a huge shortage of people of all levels) will take home well over $100k (skilled trades a lot lot more) and all food, travel and accomodation paid for.
If a young girl can get a HR license and go from checkout chick to operating Cat 785's in a few months earning about 4 times what she did at woolies, then what is stopping you? I know of 3 young ladies who did this and are actually excellent operators. Loads of opportunities out there, especially in construction.
I originally got into mining/construction when I was flat broke, living pay to pay. Now I own several rentals in Perth, a large property we live on and have a very nice share portfolio and cash in the bank and senior position earning a good income. Add to this I eventually put my kids through private school and Uni and we have great holidays every year. For this I sacrificed watching my children grow up, worked apart from my family for many years, almost destroyed my marriage and missed a hell of a lot of life.
Worth it? Now I say yes as all is well at home, during the turmoil years I wasn't so sure.
Don't go into this thinking it is all roses as painted by newspapers and TV shows. Reality is a lot different especially if married with kids. Single people starting out I highly recommend it, it will set you up for life. Just stay away from the bars/drugs/stirrers and invest wisely in shares and property. 5-10 years and you will be able to settle back into a comfortable 'normal' life away from FIFO work. Some love this life, I will never do it again.
The reference to hot bedding, rare occurrence now. This used to be rife due to accom shortage but hardly used now and almost never for fulltime onsite FIFO construction workers. Easiest way to make a strike occur onsite, we avoid this wherever possible and plan accordingly.
Some of the things you won't see in the paper or on tele.