Fly-in Fly-out realities

Ray Revill, a fly-in fly-out worker for 25 years, talks about the toll on workers and their families.

[rrocketman]

"all the money in the world doesn't make up for being away from your family" Well said mate 👍

[sarahcarter]

A supervisor friend said to me one day that we value what is scarce. At the beginning everyone wants the money because most people live paycheck to paycheck and the money from the mines breaks that. As time goes on and the mortgages are paid and the super tops up, it is time that is scarce, not money anymore. As he got older, he realised that family time is more important and reduced his pay to get a 1/1 roster.

He said; "Have a money based goal within 5 years, get your partner to get in on it and after the goal is met or time's up, then have a holiday with them for a few weeks and re-orient your goals"

[maxrockatanksyOG]

Spent 15 years drilling.
Started off doing 3 months on, 2 weeks. That moved to 3 months on, 1 month off.
Then the 2/2 started to come in, and finally 1/1 before a back injury finished me off.

As much as i loved drilling, those 15 years cost me 2 relationships & numerous friends

[stuartgraham]

I’m a labourer in a gold mine. My roster is 2 on 2 off (weeks) and 2 weeks annual leave. I work 24 weeks a year. I have no complaints

[adman]

I worded FIFO for about 8y in different jobs. Have to know when to quit, which I did. Need to prioritise life.

[bunyiparseadventuresbydoog]

I spent 7 years in mine work, fifo or dido and thought I was doing the right thing but now after be separated for 3 and a half years and nothing to show for it. I've missed more of my children's birthdays and special occasions than I would care to remember, all i have left is a broken marriage and broken relationships with my children, the money is never worth that.

[mickregan]

same as a trucky last year i spent 9 months living in truck

[adiintel]

Never did FIFO work. Worked in a mining town there was no roster for me and few others i worked for 7 days a week 12 hour days only time we got off is if we called in sick or just quit
i did 4 years off that and left the sector im glad i got out with my mental health intact.

[barrybarry]

I fly in and fly out, my missus say's "Not again, is five minutes the best you can do"

[andy]

I've been doing FIFO for some 6 years now, 4/2, 2/1 etc and yes, you lose one day travel going over, one coming home, so on a 2/1 roster there's not much family time to be had at home, the majority of your life is spent in 50 degree heat doing 12 hr shifts for awesome pay, no matter how many gyms, tennis courts or councillors they throw at the problem, in 10 years time the only people that will remember that you've worked every new years eve, christmas and birthday will be your family !
Great lifestyle for a young unattached person to safe up money quickly, as long as you don't spend it all on toys and get too used to it or stay in too long as all your friends are likely to move on and get married leaving you wealthy but lonely

[Red.OG.]

I never did it, so many of my friends did and all got nice houses and cars and boats and also got divorced and kids don’t wanna see them cause they don’t know them.

[craigschiller]

Worked 6 weeks on 1 off, was fkd, didnt even know what month it was, damn Zombie, then done 2&1. Fly back, loose a day, 36hrs no sleep, drive home, should have become a politician. 4x the wage all the perks, sleep during sitting & take super whenever u stop. Lol, back to fifo, great for 10 yrs then got to plan to stop or u get into a habit, then end up divorced like mostof people I know that done fifo, busted their rear end to get nice house, car, whatever the missus wants, etc, to see it all vaporise cos "your never home" but they liked the $$$ as rolled in. If your single, go for it, if not better have an exit plan & stick to it or it will go Boom in your face.

[stephanecoffin]

Work as driller 2.1, absolutely love it. I d honestly prefer be up there with all facilities, food good mate then be able to go 4wd or holidays over my week off. City jobs will never allow you that lifestyle.
Not suited for all.

[aaronodriscoll]

It's not for everyone but I love it. My family is well taken care of.

Over my 17 years I've seen 6 and 1, 4 and 1. Currently doing 2 and 1 at snowy hydro.

[RRAL]

No matter what $$. Simple fact is you can't buy time.

[cjyoung]

I laugh when people try and glamorize fifo it's not fun it's a sacrifice to try and better yourself

[pa]

I use to work 28 days on 9 days off back in 2015, i video call my family every day I would do all over again, it really helps if you have a supportive partner and a family goal to work towards.

[Dankyjrthethird]

here in Canada i know guys that work 3 weeks on 3 weeks off at the Baffinland mine in nunavut. Insanely remote place. Can't imagine what that's like, 12 hour shifts in -50C in the winter for 3 weeks would be unlivable for me. Food is bomb af tho

[shannonjaensch]

Money is your time. Money takes away some of your stresses but equally creates the same amount, if not more stresses. Your time/care/energy are your true values and gifts whilst in this physical consciousness experience we are having. Both money and time run out very quickly if squandered.
FIFO's may get paid well but it comes at a huge cost of personal connected consciousness experiences that they lose when away from what/who matters to them the most.

[robertcampbell]

Years spent doing dido foundation industry drilling piles to ventilation shafts for underground mines roster was 6 weeks on 3 days off if you were lucky, however if the job only had a few more weeks you would stay until finished. Best advice make good money and keep it and don't piss it up against a wall "keep more of what you make and make more of what you keep " as with every year it gets harder