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Pilbara Mines


spud-u-like

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FIFO from the UK is HARD!

My partner did it for 10 months up until August this year to Karratha on a 6 week on/3 week off roster. Travel was in his own time and once you take jet lag into consideration too he had about 2 good weeks at home. And when he was home I was working so we didn't get a great deal of time to spend together. He was employed by a UK company earning UK wages, which turned out to be less than the cleaners on site in Karratha!

We ended up moving down here permanently and he now has a residential job with a different company. I reckon we could have done it for a few more months but it was exceptionally hard work for me emotionally, would not want to go through that again.

 

So would you be doing the 8/2 roster indefinitely even when you get residency? Or after the year's probation would they ship your whole family down?

 

I'm currently working in the Sinai desert (Egypt) so am used to the remoteness, this current site is 35kms from the Gaza strip and as far out in the middle of nowhere as you can get. My wife and I see each other every 6/9 weeks and talk every day on subsidized landline calls or skpye so used to the heat, flys and dust etc (45/50 degs C here a few mths ago)

I'll be doing 3mth on, 1 mth off, flying back to the UK or my wife flying into Perth....(all paid for) doing this rotation for the first year then onto a normal 8/5 rotation and then she can come out to Oz permanently and then apply for perm residency at the 2 yr point

As for the wage, after tax, car loan and a considerable mortgage (my dad lives in Brisbane so he gave me all the figures) I'll still be bringing home £70 sterling.

Yes a gamble but I've always wanted to be fully retired at 55 (I'm 45 now) and this job will allow that dream to become a step nearer.

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Hi mate

Would you know if your company are looking for non-experienced mine workers. Im currently a plumbing and heating engineer in UK, but have previous experience operating plant machinery in the golf course construction industry. I moving to Perth in January, any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers Chris

 

Chris....best to try to re write your CV to try to incorporate heavy industry/commercial type heating engineering. Alot of the mine sites have a facilities provider which manages either the mine site or the remote accommodation site facilities, this might be a way in.

 

Good luck

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Just for info in case anyone interested - the red hot job at the moment is being a safety officer on some of these sights - thought I'd mention it as I have being doing H&S stuff and always being asked about going to mines. Just a thought if anyone wanted a way in. By the way, a former PIO member who went to Hedland made the comment "it was like going to Mars" - just so you are prepared. Some will love it, others not, good luck all of you who are trying it.

 

Exactly what I'm going to be doing!

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Cheers for that Spud

I have not got any experience on heavy industry/commercial type heating, its only domestic I have been involved in. Could I get in with my previous experience on plant machinery?? Would I be better off doing some tickets when I hit Oz??

Any help greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

Chris

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Cheers for that Spud

I have not got any experience on heavy industry/commercial type heating, its only domestic I have been involved in. Could I get in with my previous experience on plant machinery?? Would I be better off doing some tickets when I hit Oz??

Any help greatly appreciated

Thanks

 

Chris

Chris,

 

Plant machinery operators are always in demand, might be worth initially going down this route and once you have secured a position try to get your UK skill assessed. Look at the Rio Tinto and BHP Biliton web sites for plant op's -

 

https://riotinto.taleo.net/careersection/4/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en

http://careers.bhpbilliton.com/jobSearch.asp?stp=AW&sLanguage=en

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My 19 year old Son is really keen on getting work in the mines, but with no experience, has he any chance? :unsure:

 

With being so young and no experience I personally think he might struggle, the mines are heavily regulated in terms of health and safety therefore they tend to employ persons who are already qualified/skilled.

 

That said a lot of he big mining companies (BHP, Rio Tinto) have graduate programs but again your son would need to have completed some sort of further education to be considered as the competition is pretty tough.

 

Please note I'm no mining expert, just speaking from experience as I have been offered a position with Rio Tinto and I know how stringent the recruitment process is.

 

Hope this helps and good luck. :wink:

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All questions finally answered from employer today 23 Nov 11

1. Contract, superannuation, Tax file form, banking details, HR emergency forms all signed and emailed back to HR in Oz.

2. Fly back to UK for medical (Manchester) 01 Dec 11

Fingers crossed!!

 

 

Latest Update -

 

Medical passed on the 01 Dec 11, documents emailed to Oz

Just awaiting formal notification to be passed to visa specialists (Fragoman)

Been told from employer that my visa will be issued within 5 days of me being medically cleared. :biggrin:

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spud do you know if any of those companies can sponsor plant operators?

 

Stacey, short answer yes....if you look at the my previous post (6 Dec 11) and click on the two hyperlinks, type in plant operators and you'll see quite a few vacancies.

 

Might be work applying making sure your/OH's CV match what they are advertising and see whether they are wiling to sponsor overseas applicants.

 

Best of luck:wink:

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Stacey, short answer yes....if you look at the my previous post (6 Dec 11) and click on the two hyperlinks, type in plant operators and you'll see quite a few vacancies.

 

Might be work applying making sure your/OH's CV match what they are advertising and see whether they are wiling to sponsor overseas applicants.

 

Best of luck:wink:

cheers for the reply, theres thousands on jobs and we apply for loads but we always get told that they cant sponsor. Been told this might change next year sometime so just have to keep trying but it gets very frustrating!

 

cheers

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Guest flaco06man

That is great news!..I'm a U.S. citizen trying to do the same thing with that kind of work schedule.I have 20+ years experience with operating,training,maintenance,heavy equipment.I know you don't know me but if you are working there now in W. Au. could you maybe mention me to your supervisor or the H.R. department?..All I have is my passport....and many years of quality experience.

 

I am currently employed but am looking for something more rewarding. I available anytime..

 

Many Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family..:biggrin:

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That is great news!..I'm a U.S. citizen trying to do the same thing with that kind of work schedule.I have 20+ years experience with operating,training,maintenance,heavy equipment.I know you don't know me but if you are working there now in W. Au. could you maybe mention me to your supervisor or the H.R. department?..All I have is my passport....and many years of quality experience.

 

I am currently employed but am looking for something more rewarding. I available anytime..

Many Thanks and happy holidays to you and your family..:biggrin:

 

Plant machinery operators are always in high demand, Look at the Rio Tinto and BHP Biliton web sites for plant op's and send your resume direct to either recruitment departments. I'm currently still with my employer until I've been medically cleared, so haven't yet moved to WA.

 

https://riotinto.taleo.net/careersec...ch.ftl?lang=en

http://careers.bhpbilliton.com/jobSe...W&sLanguage=en

 

Best wishes and happy holiday's to you and yours

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This is a good website, it will give you an idea of how big the Pilbara region is, and has an interactive map. I have lived in Karratha a couple of times, also Port Hedland and Newman (east Pilbara region), and have driven around a lot of the Pilbara. It is VERY hot and dry and some areas are very isolated.

 

http://www.australiasnorthwest.com/Destinations_of_the_North_West/The_Pilbara

 

My son rang up last night and mentioned that the top of the open cut was 40C and at the mine floor, some 300 metres below, it was 49C. That is a mine out from Port Hedland...A fair way out.:wink:

 

Cheers, Bobj.

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