Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Mining Jobs in Australia

By Tracey Charleston


With the recent mining boom in Australia, predominately in inland Queensland (QLD) and Western Australia (WA), there has been a seemingly endless supply of generally well paying job opportunities for anyone not afraid of a bit of hard work. The remote location of a majority of the mining areas has required a vast amount of infrastructure to be built, including housing, recreation facilities and much more. This construction has seen a corresponding spike in construction jobs as well. For those wishing to take advantage of the high wages but not knowing what's involved; here's a quick guide to mining industry jobs and how the mining industry works.

Straight mining jobs are varied and range from administration work and blue collar work right through to specialist professional roles. There is a huge range of entry level jobs available in the mining industry and the nature of the work means there is often high turnover with jobs opening up regularly. Mining jobs can be full time, part time, casual or contract and may require government certification, White Card safety courses and mining induction courses depending on the job and the state which it is in.

There are plenty of entry level jobs requiring no qualifications including cleaning, housekeeping, data entry operator, customer service officer, cook, kitchen hand, store person, security officer and more.

The often remote location of mines can make getting to work a challenge. BIBO (bus in bus out), FIFO (fly in fly out), DIDO (drive in drive out) or BIBO (boat in boat out) are terms used for the way the mining areas are accessed. Once a worker arrives at a mine, they are generally required to live on site as getting in and out daily is unfeasible. Accommodation usually consists of purpose built share and single cabins with limited facilities such as a bar fridge, TV with Foxtel, air conditioning and en-suite. Meals are supplied from a commercial style kitchen and served in a common dining room. Other recreational facilities may include BBQ facilities, swimming pool, sports areas and gyms.

There are many considerations to take into account before applying for a job in mining. Firstly, are you able to pass alcohol and drug tests? Random drug and alcohol tests are common place in the mining industry. Are you able to be away from friends and family for extended periods of time? Is your fitness level good enough? Many mining jobs require the worker to be physically fit. Are you required to hold any certification or meet any safety requirements? Your state government website should be ale to give you this information.

Construction jobs in the mining industry are also relatively easy to find and include both skilled and unskilled positions. A legal requirement for all workers on a construction site throughout Australia is a White Card. Before looking for work in construction, it is recommended that you obtain a White Card. The White Card course can be taken quickly and easily online, and once obtained a White Card is valid throughout Australia.

Although mining can be a great way to make some good money fast there are quite a few things to consider before taking the plunge. Mining work is not for everyone, and the promise of good wages shouldn't be the only consideration when contemplating this type of work.




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