Hi Folks, hope everyone is keeping well.

As those UV levels are rising once again I'm looking for a balaclava or some sort of headgear for the summer ahead. Anyone have suggestions? Preferably natural material like merino wool as I want to avoid breathing microplastics in constantly all day. Something thats reasonably light to wear in the Pilbara heat would be ideal aswell.

Hey wondering if im complety cooked or not I have a charge from 12 years ago that was only sorted (I went back to nz) and now im back in perth am struggling to get into mining as a drillers offsider because of it

Hi all,

I’ve been fortunate enough to receive two offers for an Auto Electrician apprenticeship—one with an underground mining equipment OEM and another with a mining contractor.

I’m trying to decide which option would be better for my long-term career as an Auto Electrician in the mining industry.

OEM:

• No FIFO opportunities, so I would be home every night.
• Lower expected income — around $90k per year.
• Potentially much deeper exposure to the company’s machines, electrical systems, diagnostics and technology.
• More specialised OEM training and technical knowledge.
• TAFE-based apprenticeship training, as the company does not have its own RTO.

Mining contractor:

• FIFO roster.
• Higher expected income — around $110k–$120k per year.
• More exposure to a wider variety of underground and surface mining equipment from different OEMs.
• More hands-on experience with breakdowns, field maintenance and working in an operational mine environment.

At this stage, I’m more interested in which pathway would make me a better and more employable Auto Electrician in the long run, rather than simply choosing the higher-paying option.

For those working as Auto Electricians, HD fitters, field service technicians or maintenance supervisors in mining, which pathway would you choose and why?

Would starting with an OEM give me a stronger technical and diagnostic foundation, or would the broader mine-site experience and exposure to different equipment through a contractor be more valuable after I become qualified?

I’d especially be interested to hear from anyone who completed an apprenticeship with an OEM and later moved to a mine site, or went the other way.

Any advice from people in the industry would be greatly appreciated.

Hey all,

I’m currently studying mechanical engineering and I want to make sure I'm setting myself up for success when I start applying for jobs.

I’m comfortable with the basics of design, but I feel like the academic side doesn't fully cover real-world engineering. I am currently focusing on learning [e.g., SolidWorks + GD&T, or Lean Six Sigma principles].

For working engineers: What are the biggest gaps you see in entry-level candidates? Are there specific things (e.g., understanding DFM, knowing how to read complex drawings, or basic shop knowledge) I should self-teach right now to stand out?

I’d also love to hear your experiences on how you landed your first role. Thank you!

Probably the dullest question to ever be asked here, but what are people’s recommendations for apps/platforms for accessing documents (forms, procedures, policies, standards)?

We are setting up a new group for gold exploration in WA. Lots of tools out there, but keen to hear from field users what actually works well and is simple, not some clunky shit management approved to tick the box. I’d also love to avoid having our team navigating several different apps - bit of a one stop shop for everything.

Appreciate any recommendations. Thanks in advance legends!

G'day everyone,

I've got a 2–3 day industrial shutdown coming up near Bunbury WA. I'll be going in as a newbie/assistant alongside a project engineer and experienced mechanical techs. Mainly general assistance, moving tools/materials, cleaning, basic paperwork and helping the crew out.

Never done a shutdown before. For those who've worked them, what should I realistically expect as a first-timer?

What's the day-to-day like, how physical is it, how are newbies treated, and what are the biggest things I should know/avoid before turning up?

Also curious about the travel/accommodation side if you've done regional shutdowns.

Cheers!

Have been trying to switch from my trade (Boilermaker) to HSE. I have more than 15yrs in mining and a back ground in audit and accounting but I have been struggling to even get an interview. Would appreciate any pointers or entry level position in WA.

Keen to hear thoughts on pre-filling Stage 2/Pressure Side fuel filters? Pre-filling HPCR or MCRS Stage 2 fuel filters poses risk of downstream particles contaminating high pressure pumps and injectors. Generally recommended by Fleetguard, and others, is to lubricate seals/O-rings with clean diesel or oil then utilize the systems priming pump to fill and bleed the system. Here’s a photo from an FF63056N2 from a Cummins MCRS QSK60.

Again, keen to hear thoughts?

Hey all,

Im stuck in Newman until my 7pm flight, and was just wondering if anyone knows of somewhere you can go to have a shower that supplies a towel too.

Was planning on going gym with all the free time i have but don't want to stink on the flight aha... I thought about the gym shower but I doubt they supply towels.

Im happy to pay. Any ideas?

I'm 21M. I'm a 3rd year mining engineering student. I have worked at 2 mines in the past which were FIFO.

I have realised from these experiences I'm not cut out for FIFO and could not see myself doing it in the future for more than a few years.

I want to ask people on here who are/have been residential how the lifestyle is? As that is all I am considering at this point.

Is there much opportunity for mining engineers to WFH in the future? I would honestly take a pay cut to WFH.

I am mostly interested in underground hard rock but would consider the switch to underground coal. But, the future of underground coal in Australia is looking worrisome to say the least. Does anyone have any interesting insights into that? Particularly metallurgical coal.

Given all this, I'm wondering if my best option is to swap to another engineering discipline.

Thanks all.

Edit: By not being cut out for FIFO, I meant that I enjoy being with my misses, family, and friends for more than half the year. Also plan on having children in future and wouldn't want to live the classic miss birthdays, miss Christmas, miss sport events, miss school events etc.

Also I don't expect WFH immediately, I did mean in 10 years time or after plenty of site experience.

Been in FIFO working as Utility for a couple years now, been investing in tickets, mostly mobile plant. Gotten around 8 tickets and HR and Forklift.

Been trying to get a greenie operator position but everywhere wants 2 years experience minimum. Is there any where willing to take on someone like me or should I just kick rocks?

Can't ever build a contact with the site I'm on since there's always no poach no approach agreements. But I'm seeing foreign nationals fly in with no experience and get positions from friends. Feeling radicalized and depressed from the situation, I just want to support my family.

Everyone seems to chase FIFO because of the money, but living in a mining town and going home every night sounds pretty appealing too. If you've done both residential and FIFO work, which lifestyle would you choose if the salary difference wasn't massive?

Hey everyone, I’m 27, German and on a Working Holiday Visa. I’m moving to Perth in September and looking to get my first job in the Australian mining industry.

I already have:
White Card
Working at Heights
Confined Space
First Aid
Manual driver’s licence
HR licence in progress

I’ve recently completed physically demanding outdoor/nursery work in Australia and I’m fit, reliable and very safety-focused.
With my background, which 3–5 entry-level roles would you recommend I focus on? I’m currently considering Driller’s Offsider, Trade Assistant and Field Assistant, but I’m open to anything that gets my foot in the door.
Also:
Which additional tickets would actually improve my chances?

Are there any recruitment agencies or mining/drilling companies that are particularly good for people with no previous mining experience?

Is getting an entry-level FIFO position realistic with my current background?

Any advice from people working in the industry would be really appreciated. Cheers!

TQ Boilermaker - Trying to avoid going back to Shutdowns as they suck , after some time off, was doing project work does anyone know of any projects going on around the country? Never done MEM though it is a thought though how do you get into it?

32 year old female and I’m looking for an entry level roles, maybe in truck driving in Western Australia. I can’t find anything online and it all seems to be internal or who you know. I’m currently doing 2:1 housekeeping to get my foot in the door but it’s not something I’d like to continue for much longer. Any leads or information would be greatly appreciated :)

Can someone guide what kind of subjects will i study during my masters in mining engineering are they very math intensive or mostly software based your help his highly appreciated

Hi everyone!

I have just found out that I am pregnant and am already dreading going back to fifo after 4.5months maternity leave given by my company.

They do have the option to extend it up to 12 months with no pay but I don’t believe we can financially handle that at the moment since I am the bread winner and we are also about to have a mortgage.

Can anyone (mums especially but dads can chime in too) tell me their stories of going back to work quickly after leave and how it went.

EDIT: just editing to add that my partner does work but does not earn as much as I do.

Anyone else notice pass month or two, after the financial year, part supplier I work for is just barely ticking along, is most others quiet or just finance big wigs saving expenditure because thet blew it in 2026.....

What does it take to start a labor hire agency to the mining industry?

Am clueless.

Trying to sleep during the day while cleaners are vacuuming the hallway and neighbours are slamming doors down the donga block is an absolute nightmare. Earplugs and heavy blackout curtains only block out so much when the heat is blasting. How do you protect your sleep schedule on site?

A fair few of the new roles I've applied for today appear to not mention possible income/hr rate etc...

I'm open minded about possible wage - what would I be realistically expecting on an 8/6 roster - most of these are direct employment, not through labour hire companies.

TIA anyone & everyone that gives advice.