Paul1Perth Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 It's an interesting comparison. I guess the main difference (leaving aside the danger aspect) is that a forces posting could mean a separation of maybe 3 months or so, and it's a one-off. Or at least once a year. Whereas a FIFO job is for the foreseeable future, month in month out. And you're trapped because you're spending the income that you earn. There's no light at the end of the tunnel. Unless, you are literally engaged on a contract only for the duration of subterranean excavations. If you work in the FIFO industry and get "trapped" as you put it then more fool you. I've had a couple of jobs where I've got fed up with them and just changed. One was pipeline testing when I was in my mid 20's. Went into it for the money, had to live away from home most of the time, in caravans on sites though, not decent digs with a gym and food provided, put lots of weight on as we were in the pub every night and eating crap, not exercising. After about a year I'd had enough and got another job, started playing football at weekends again and got my life back. That job showed me there is a lot more to enjoying life than having a lot of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 30]If you work in the FIFO industry and get "trapped" as you put it then more fool you. I've had a couple of jobs where I've got fed up with them and just changed. One was pipeline testing when I was in my mid 20's. Went into it for the money' date=' had to live away from home most of the time, in caravans on sites though, not decent digs with a gym and food provided, put lots of weight on as we were in the pub every night and eating crap, not exercising. After about a year I'd had enough and got another job, started playing football at weekends again and got my life back. That job showed me there is a lot more to enjoying life than having a lot of money.[/quote'] Easier said than done for many many people doing FIFO Paul. You can't just go out and get another job that earns enough to support your family. Also many people professions limit them to having to work up North. The way you seem to see things and reality are very different. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 You don't have to do fifo. Simple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 You don't have to do fifo. Simple There is loads that do. I have met them as I work with them. Your statement has no substance or consideration for certain peoples life situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eera Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 On the flip side there are people who enjoy it; my OH does it (admittedly, not the huge shift the bloke in the first post did). He likes getting away for a while, I like having my own spce and the money is good. There are way, way better shifts on offer than the 4/1 in the first post, over here it's uncommon to do anything more strenuous than 7/7 (days), though 10/4 crops up during construction and exploration tends to do 19/9 (again, days), simply because you have to finish the borehole during your roster. It's perfectly feasable to do much, much better shifts if you're prepared to have a bit of a look around and move if you have to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 There is loads that do. I have met them as I work with them. Your statement has no substance or consideration for certain peoples life situation. I do fifo myself. I know what I'm talking about Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 On the flip side there are people who enjoy it; my OH does it (admittedly, not the huge shift the bloke in the first post did). He likes getting away for a while, I like having my own spce and the money is good. There are way, way better shifts on offer than the 4/1 in the first post, over here it's uncommon to do anything more strenuous than 7/7 (days), though 10/4 crops up during construction and exploration tends to do 19/9 (again, days), simply because you have to finish the borehole during your roster. It's perfectly feasable to do much, much better shifts if you're prepared to have a bit of a look around and move if you have to. Unfortunately what you claim regarding better shifts being on offer is not the case for the majority. Perhaps if you are a professional working salaried for the likes of Rio Tinto or BHP that may be the case but for your average contractor that make up a large percentage of the FIFO workforce that is definitely not the case. 3/1 and 4/1 swings are very common place and the option for an easier roster just isn't there. Especially in the current climate. It's an employers market at the moment. My company has many contracts throughout the North west and staff do a 3/1 and the plant operators and general site workforce do 4/1 in some of the projects. 10/4 during construction may have been more common throughout the boom but certainly not now for your average FIFO worker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I do fifo myself. I know what I'm talking about Do you? Since when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I have to agree with it hard getting better swings. My OH is in the mines in construction and most of the jobs are 4 and 1. Hopefully at some point he might land a 2 and 1 maintenance job but still waiting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Do you? Since when? All year.. LNG sites Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 All year.. LNG sites So you know what your talking about? So you can speak for the whole fly in fly out community without knowing each and every individuals life and financial situation when you state that nobody has to do it? That's a total nonsense statement! But whatever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 So you know what your talking about? So you can speak for the whole fly in fly out community without knowing each and every individuals life and financial situation when you state that nobody has to do it? That's a total nonsense statement! But whatever! Quite simple.. Don't buy a brand new mc mansion, new car , jet ski and all the other bollocks fifo people buy. You get used to 3.5 a week and can't give it up. It realty is that simple Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WeegieDave Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Quite simple.. Don't buy a brand new mc mansion, new car , jet ski and all the other bollocks fifo people buy. You get used to 3.5 a week and can't give it up. It realty is that simple Totally narrow minded view. I could give you several situations of people who need to do it but I can't be arsed TBH... Whatever you say mate.. Whatever you say! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Quite simple.. Don't buy a brand new mc mansion, new car , jet ski and all the other bollocks fifo people buy. You get used to 3.5 a week and can't give it up. It realty is that simpleExcuse me we are "FIFO PEOPLE" as you put it and have none of that. Doing it to save up a big deposit for a house as we dont want a huge mortgage in our 40's. So please dont generalise! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Excuse me we are "FIFO PEOPLE" as you put it and have none of that. Doing it to save up a big deposit for a house as we dont want a huge mortgage in our 40's. So please dont generalise! Dream home then ...??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Totally narrow minded view. I could give you several situations of people who need to do it but I can't be arsed TBH... Whatever you say mate.. Whatever you say! Like paying off the old women because you've always worked away trying to keep up a lifestyle as 1200 working in the city won't cut it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 [/u] Easier said than done for many many people doing FIFO Paul. You can't just go out and get another job that earns enough to support your family. Also many people professions limit them to having to work up North. The way you seem to see things and reality are very different. I know it's not easy Dave but you have to cut your cloth according to your means. You probably couldn't get another job in Perth that would give you the same money but you and your family would have to change and reduce your spending. If you were really unhappy I'm sure your wife would rather you be happy and spend a bit less. I would hope so anyway. Our friends who split up had everything going for them so we thought and they are nowhere near as well off as they were when he worked up North, but he's a lot happier. Don't know about his missus I've not seen her for a long time. I've changed professions and careers a few times mate. Started off as a fitter for the NCB, worked in pipeline testing as a test Engineer, went back to fitting as a sewing machine mechanic, jobs disappearing fast when Maggie was in power so went back to tech to do a HTC in robotics then a 3 year degree in Systems Engineering. Worked in IT and comms for years. Came here and couldn't get a job in IT so went back to the mechanical side for a while and worked in the mining sector for about a year. Realised I didn't like it much and eventually got a job back in comms then IT. Been there ever since. It's never easy and sometimes you think there isn't an option there but you can carry on looking while your in a job. It's worse if your out of work altogether and looking, hated that. You might be surprised what opportunities crop up. The pipeline testing and job back in mechanical Engineering here were both out of left field and not something I had looked for or considered. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 On the flip side there are people who enjoy it; my OH does it (admittedly, not the huge shift the bloke in the first post did). He likes getting away for a while, I like having my own spce and the money is good. There are way, way better shifts on offer than the 4/1 in the first post, over here it's uncommon to do anything more strenuous than 7/7 (days), though 10/4 crops up during construction and exploration tends to do 19/9 (again, days), simply because you have to finish the borehole during your roster. It's perfectly feasable to do much, much better shifts if you're prepared to have a bit of a look around and move if you have to. Yep, my son knocked back a 3 on 1 off job he had offered when he went to the first agency. Guy rang him up on the way home from the agency interview. Told me and his Mum and we were both flabbergasted, thought he might never get another opportunity. Signed himself up for a course the agency guy said would help, met a guy on the course who's company was looking for someone 8 days on 6 days off. He was in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 I do fifo myself. I know what I'm talking about Is that why you complain all the time? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Is that why you complain all the time? Australia just hasn't lived up to the utter bollocks it's talked about. Fair enought I'm on a good screw now but other than that its fails Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul1Perth Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Australia just hasn't lived up to the utter bollocks it's talked about. Fair enought I'm on a good screw now but other than that its fails Maybe your just depressed with the FIFO work and don't know it Paul. :wink: Thought you were moving over East anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Maybe your just depressed with the FIFO work and don't know it Paul. :wink: Thought you were moving over East anyway. Far from depressed mate. Just cute with coin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 You don't have to do fifo. Simple It depends on your occupation. Some of us have little choice without changing occupation. I am trying to do that now, but it's not easy when your in your 40's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul1977 Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 It depends on your occupation. Some of us have little choice without changing occupation. I am trying to do that now, but it's not easy when your in your 40's. I can understand with your job VS.. But 99%of us have a choice , and if you don't your on very very good moneyb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted July 29, 2014 Share Posted July 29, 2014 Dream home then ...???Not even that, just a decent 3 x 2, have you seen the prices round this area! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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