Inside Australia's Fly-In, Fly-Out Work Life
Key Vocabulary
| Word / Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FIFO | fly-in, fly-out; working at a remote place for a period and then returning home | FIFO work is common at some remote Australian mines. |
| remote | far away from towns, cities or other people | The mine is in a remote part of Western Australia. |
| roster | a schedule showing when someone works | The worker checked his roster before booking a holiday. |
| accommodation | a place where someone stays or sleeps | The company provides accommodation near the mine. |
| burnout | extreme tiredness caused by long-term work or stress | Employers need to reduce the risk of worker burnout. |
Article
Imagine taking an airplane every time you go to work. In Australia, some people do exactly that. They are called fly-in, fly-out, or FIFO, workers. FIFO is common in remote mining and resource areas where travelling from home every day would be impossible. [1]
A worker may live in Perth or another city but work at a mine far away. At the beginning of a work period, the company flies the employee to the site. The worker stays in accommodation near the mine and returns home when the roster finishes. [1][2]
This system allows companies to find skilled workers without asking every employee and their family to move permanently to a remote town. For workers, it can also mean having several days away from work after an intense period on site.
Life at the worksite can be very different from life at home. Employees may work long shifts, eat and sleep in the same camp, and spend most of their free time with colleagues. Being far from family and friends can sometimes be difficult.
Research commissioned by the Western Australian Government found concerns about psychological distress, burnout and workplace bullying among FIFO workers. It recommended better rosters, rest periods, accommodation and mental-health support. [3]
Western Australia's WorkSafe agency has also published guidance for companies using FIFO arrangements. It asks employers to consider stress and other psychosocial risks when designing remote workplaces. [2]
FIFO can offer good opportunities to people who are comfortable with an unusual schedule. For others, regularly changing between intense work periods and home life may be difficult. The airplane journey may be short, but the distance between the two lifestyles can feel much larger.
Discussion Questions
- How would you feel about flying to work and staying away from home for several days?
- What are the main advantages of FIFO work for employees?
- What problems might families experience when one person works far from home?
- What facilities would you want in a remote workers' camp?
- Would you prefer more intense work followed by longer breaks, or a normal weekly schedule? Why?
References
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, "Fly-in Fly-out (FIFO) Workers."
- WorkSafe Western Australia, "Mentally healthy workplaces for fly-in fly-out (FIFO) workers in the resources and construction sectors: Code of practice."
- Government of Western Australia, "Report calls for action to improve mental health and wellbeing in FIFO workers."