Supercad

We moved back here to do a Engineering contract 4 years ago and will be returning to Brisbane in the new year. I am also living in Bristol and can only back up what MotherofMatilda has said. i am more negative than she is on the UK and i spent most of my time working in Spain if it was me i would stay put maybe try another state?

I am about to do another move UK to OZ i have done a few in my time due to work. I have never insured my goods, I understnd the risk and seen the horror stories these insurers sell you but in the long run it is all replacable besides sentimetle items which you wouldnt get back anyway the % chance of loosing everything is tiny.... put that together with an industry that employs people to try and get them out of paying you.  

Just throwing that out there

Companies advertise ghost jobs,( perhaps to gain cv's for when they actually have jobs?)

This is real problem and really annoys me to. The problem is it is not regulated and the government use sites like Seek for there job advertising figures so have no real incentive to stop this behaviour. Brisbane seems really bad for it.

To little!!! the creep should have 5 years.

we just spent 5k on half a container, we sold most of the big stuff and got new stuff in the UK our thinking was it was worth upgrading (new technology) and getting UK new warranties and guarantees. We brought washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge,TV (although i did upgrade the TV) dinning room table and chairs and lounge suit. I still think i did better than shipping it over plus the furniture is far better quality.

The disadvantage with Half a container is you half to wait for it to be full before it leaves we phoned our movers the other day and our stuff is still in Brissy. They hadn't bothered letting us know. Typical pay up front and thats were the service stops crowd

One note is that obviously offshore is different for onshore/mining etc, I think the work conditions offshore are pretty well regulated and the quality of life is good whilst working.

This is a good point and as PNE POM pointed out the employers market also changes the ball game on the mines

Well as the wife of a fifo worker I can tell you it sucks. Since Christmas I've seen him about 15 days. No, I didn't object to him taking the job but he was so unhappy in his last job I couldn't see an alternative. He was very pleased that he got the contract. How ever I am now stuck here, lonely and spending all my time alone. So much for a better life with more time to enjoy things together ... I think not.

My wife was exactly the same she hated it it didnt help that she didnt like OZ either, the contract im on now was for 18 months but im still here 2.5 years latter. when my daughter had her first child last year my wife started asking to go to the UK (neither of us have lived there for over 20 years) so i moved her back to the UK in Jan to be close to our Duaghter while i finish a contract here. I still do FIFO to OZ untill this contract finishes and then i will carry on doing the same for the next few years but in other parts of the world.

When you sign a contract you do know a lot of the facts as people are pointing out but you dont know how the job will go and what the people are like you are working with, what the camp is like etc etc same as starting any normal job but you have already signed the deal.

I enjoy the FIFO work! yes the swings can be hard but i get quality extended time at home with my wife were we can pretty much do as we please. some contracts offer 1/1 meaning you only work 6 months a year.For me it is also the end game this will enable me to retire much earlier and kick back.

iv been doing 23 days on 5 off for the last 2.5 years. iv just moved the wife back to the UK and im doing triple swings to get 3 weeks at home. im white collar in construction and ill be doing FIFO but based in UK. seems to be some good contracts in Europe, Africa and south america at the moment.

PNE the north sea shouldn't be a problem depending on your field