Working in the mines

[Heiny]

Started at Olympic Dam just over 1 week ago on a 2:1 roster and earning over twice what I was getting working as a Operations/Training Manager in the SA civil construction industry.

Operating a 24H grader constructing new haul roads and doing pre-strip for the new open pit expansion. Greatly enjoying it so far, the better half and two kids are getting used to me not being home, so we'll see hows it goes after some time.

Many of my fellow workers are family people who have been working in mines for a long time, so its not just a single persons industry.

  bubba

[Manjimike]

 

[Hairs]

X2 
Good Stuff, bubba
 

[peteandkyles]

There are currently plenty of jobs out there for those that want it. Unfortunatelly due to lack of accomodation in most places they are drive in drive out or fly in fly out. All those that think its big money for jams, I think when you speak to anyone working out there you work hard. I am employed as a proffesional on an 8h roster, but I don't think I have ever worked only 8 hours. If a maintenance job is running over, our tradesmen have pride in their work and will stay back to finish rather than just down tools at 5pm. Just part of life and in the end there is the reward of seeing plain dirt become copper or gold.

As far as opening up opportunities, register with companies like Skilled or Workpac to get some experience. If already have it, look at BHPB, Rio Tinto, Extrata etc for their jobs on their websites. Most ompanies don't bother placing adds in newspapers anymore. They will go their own website and somewhere like Seek.com.

[Campfire]

The Hunter Valley in NSW is a big hive of activity for the resource sector, over the last decade or so I've worked in underground  gold & coal mines, open cut mines, energy, civil tunneling/ construction and quarries. I've enjoyed working for the medium size contracting companies which have their fingers in all pies of the resource sector, this allows diversity across a number of project sites whilst working for only one employer. I've been in roles where I have been responsible for a particular portfolio across a number of different sites. The only problem is the endless inductions and reinductions you have to do to them all happy.

Some aspects of industry are effectively a closed shop and it's good to get your experience up in WA before coming back to the East Coast.

Suprisingly once your in and have some time in the industry, you get to know alot of people and those contacts always come handy.

I couldn't see myself working in any other industry, I enjoy the role, employment conditions and travel opportunity.

Hunter Valley is pretty nice place to live.

Regards

Campfire

[Symon]

I started permanent as an operator with Rio Tinto a month ago (140k per year
+ benefits) on a 3days on - 2days off - 3nights on - 5 days off roster with 6 weeks annual leave a year 1hr 20Min's from home and only 4 nights away a fortnight they bus you in and out on first and last days of shift. they fully accomadate you in a flash ass en suited rooms at a village with all the good food you can scoff ha ha. the hardest thing is getting use to being away from your family.but of all rosters around i think that's the best because there is physically only one day out of the three that you dont see them. just keep hammering away at them its the only way. 

Ooo look out, here's another one at the 'creek!

[Pebble]

The Hunter Valley in NSW is a big hive of activity for the resource sector, over the last decade or so I've worked in underground  gold & coal mines, open cut mines, energy, civil tunneling/ construction and quarries. I've enjoyed working for the medium size contracting companies which have their fingers in all pies of the resource sector, this allows diversity across a number of project sites whilst working for only one employer. I've been in roles where I have been responsible for a particular portfolio across a number of different sites. The only problem is the endless inductions and reinductions you have to do to them all happy.

Some aspects of industry are effectively a closed shop and it's good to get your experience up in WA before coming back to the East Coast.

Suprisingly once your in and have some time in the industry, you get to know alot of people and those contacts always come handy.

I couldn't see myself working in any other industry, I enjoy the role, employment conditions and travel opportunity.

Hunter Valley is pretty nice place to live.

Regards

Campfire

It's funny how you say some aspects are closed. My Husband who is a qualified Surveyor (grade1 qualification in WA and has been doing that line of work his whole life) at one stage found that  either Qld or NSW (can't remember which exactly) wouldn't recognize the qualification!! He would have had to jump through a bunch of hoops to be recognized over there and it was pretty much like a "boys club". But in saying that I think things have changed recently as qualified people in his field are sometimes scarce.
But that's probably a bit like having to get an Engineers certificate again when we moved to NSW for a Brunswics Chev we'd put into the vehicle in QLD (with engineers cert & all) less that a year before.

But you know what maybe I'd consider moving back over east again after reading your post lol, you make it sound like a nice place to live. Hubby always likes to throw curly ideas at me when he sees jobs advertised....sometimes just for the reaction I think lol

The thing about the mining life is if you don't have kids you can move around as often as you want to change jobs, so we've hardly ever stayed in one spot for more than 3yrs (well until now...4yrs and counting(the kids are in school now too)).
Problem is now he changes jobs as often as he likes still but the Wifey gets itchy feet at times. As the kids get older though it's harder to let go of the stability etc etc. So generally I think that means the furniture in the house gets re-arrange quite frequently and sometimes I have to warn him that the bed isn't in the usual spot (as he comes home really late at times)

[Manjimike]

I went back up to Perth on Monday to do my MARCSTA and Senior 1st Aid.
Tuesday morning I saw a few Drillers Offsider jobs on Seek.com.au and applied for them all when I got home that night.
Wednesday about 3.30pm had a call from one of them and organised an interview for 10am today (Friday).
Had interview and then received a call @ 2.45pm offering me a job out the back of Kalgoorlie somewhere; they suggest I go back home to Manjimup tonight and come back for induction this coming Monday @ 8.00am and medical @ 1.45pm and fly out Monday pm. 

They can move when they want to. 
Now there is no phone; no TV; NO COMPUTER for the next 2 weeks.
But I am camping for the next 2 weeks and getting paid for it (No fishing though)

 

Mike

[Campfire]

I went back up to Perth on Monday to do my MARCSTA and Senior 1st Aid.
Tuesday morning I saw a few Drillers Offsider jobs on Seek.com.au and applied for them all when I got home that night.
Wednesday about 3.30pm had a call from one of them and organised an interview for 10am today (Friday).
Had interview and then received a call @ 2.45pm offering me a job out the back of Kalgoorlie somewhere; they suggest I go back home to Manjimup tonight and come back for induction this coming Monday @ 8.00am and medical @ 1.45pm and fly out Monday pm. 

They can move when they want to. 
Now there is no phone; no TV; NO COMPUTER for the next 2 weeks
But I am camping for the next 2 weeks and getting paid for it (No fishing though)

 

Mike

G'day Mike

Congratulations on the job and all the best in your new career.

Just curious, what kind of drilling you got into, there are many different types of specialist areas out there e.g drilling for water, exploration, blasting

Cheers

Campfire

[Manjimike]

Thanks Campfire,
This 1st swing will be with an exploration team away fom civilisation (or getting closer to it if you don't like crowds).
It will be a diamond drill rig.
This is the company and their rigs

 
Mike

[Pebble]

Congratulations, hope you enjoy the work!

[Manjimike]

Thanks Pebble, I will make sure I enjoy it.

 

Mike