AMSJ » FIFO and the effects on family life
Mental Health MINERS HEALTH

FIFO and the effects on family life

As a FIFO worker, if you’re reading this, you will probably understand all about the frustrations, lack of control over your life, sleep disturbance, stress,  feeling lonely or socially isolated and how the  demands of FIFO work arrangements interfere with your home and family life.

When compared to other parents, partners of FIFO workers experience higher levels of stress. FIFO workers are often working away from home for four to six weeks at any one time. Studies have also found that FIFO partners are more likely to use harsh discipline when it comes to handling their children.

Often,  FIFO partners who are at home with the children while their partners are away are more anxious, stressed, and prone to depressions compared to other parents in the community. They carry the weight of the responsibility, making the decisions, as well as running around behind everyone. This increases the risk of burnout.

However, the strength of the relationship can hold more influence over the function of a family than the work schedule. This can increase the stress and anxiety that a FIFO partner experiences, as when their fly in fly out working partner is home they may not pick up the slack that’s necessary. Certainly, when workers are home for just one week there is less time to spend with the family, adding more pressure to the FIFO partner. While many companies offer support a lot of the workers are hesitant to discuss their struggles.

Of course, every situation faced by FIFO families and is unique and solutions are dependent on their situation and needs. The greatest asset to these families lies in their ability to communicate with each other and open up about the struggles they face.

Do you have a FIFO story you would like to share? How has your family been affected?

If you need to speak to someone about your struggles, contact Beyond Blue

Call 1300 22 4636 
24 hours / 7 days a week

 

4 Comments

Click here to post a comment

  • Driverless trucks you can argue save lives but its early stages yet. They can fail and gid help anyone nearby or in thier road. A human operator can make quick decisions seperate fron programing.

  • Noise induced hearing problems will not go away in mining. We put earplugs in but then we have to turn the 2ways and radios up louder to hear them. Same effect for 12 hours. If cabs were sound deadend you can then leave earplugs out and listen at a comfortable level like a car. Unfortunately mining companies don’t want to listen when you say spend money.

  • I spent 11 years FIFO between brisbane and mackay . Ive done the lifestyle roster and the 7-7 over that time.

    To me its been good and bad but a lot depends on weather your full time for the mine or a contactor of which ive been both.

    The reason i say this is because we hear all the time about rosters and delayed flights and time away causing problems. But for me it was the way your accommodated during that time at work really effects your attitude and well being.

    As a full time employee that’s FIFO you generally get a full time room that’s yours to set up and make of it what you can to feel like home for the time away from family. I.e pictures and personal items knowing you gear is safe.

    As a contractor you turn up at a camp get allocated a room and at the end of your tour you must vacate put all your belongings in your car including your mining gear and leaving it at the airport or side street while on days off worrying will it all be there when you return.

    With the amount of contractors now replacing fulltime employees companies dont have the accomodation at camp or lockers at the mine site to allow you to store your stuff. So you empty your locker and room on the morning of your last shift proceed to work allowing someone else to check in and at the end of your shift empty the locker as well.
    Some mines are trying to put more lockers in but if course space dictates this.

    This affects your mental state as your constantly transitioning from room to room and unable to make it as friendly as possible. Which is hard at the best of times.
    The camps are clean and supply a lot of amenities these days unlike the old contractors camp at tieri many many years ago when i first started in the industry but for mental state and permanent room does go a long way.

    The list is long of all the good and bad of FIFO life and the reasons why we all put up with it. The benefits for me were i could live where i wanted, enjoy good money and finding a mine that had a 7-7 roster giving plently of time at home.

    It has been hard also .sitting in an airport waiting for a delayed flight or the fatigue rushing back to mackay for your flight. and at times having your cap lamp flash underground to call control to find out there is a problem 1000km away at home that your try and fix over the phone which your partner cant always understand why you cant just come home.

    Saying that i did enjoy the FIFO life but mines need to really think ahead about how the worker is treated during their roster.
    A good camp and decent accomodation is key .the old dongas stacked side by side for ease and cost deflates employees .
    So to all my FIFO FRIENDS keep your chin up and remember why your doing it and dont lose track of your goals.