Yeah it's certainly gonna be an eye-opener. The missus and I are leaving Tuesday morning, a 5,000km trip all up. Allowing a week for travel, and camping along the way. Basically had to turn down a job offer yesterday cos I wasn't in Port Hedland at the time, if i'd been up there I probably could have got it. Dammit! Haha. I guess the main reason for me heading up there is
- Trade qualified people can earn more than they can spend (although I have pretty big eyes, hello Datsun GTR)
- Geelong didn't really get summer, one day topped 35 haha
- I'm probably at the only age where i'm most able to; no real ties, no mortgage, no young family etc. Seize the opportunity while I can

I've worked in the mines for years now all over Australia. I won't mention my job title or company, but I have worked underground when a mine has collapsed, had rib(wall) explode over me, seen people loose fingers/feet, watched someone die in front of me as each cpr pump sprayed blood out of 3 holes in the back of his head, had a collegue explode whilst charging up a face (accidental explosives trigger), seen a hook go up someone's nose and rip back out again, had a young guy get run over and killed by a haul truck, had someone hit by a haul train, to name a few.

It's fun at the start but it drains the life out of you. Make sure you get a good town to live in as it really makes a difference, join the union as soon as you can, and as a heavy diesle fitter $150K per year is really the lower limit of what you want to look at. All depends on experience though so you may have to start lower.

Above ground is pretty cruisey, underground is lots more fun, however as an underground fitter you get the dirtiest jobs (crawling under continuous miners in 3 feet of mud)

Not trying to put you off but everyone I meet thinks mining is an awesome way to make money. It can be (i.e. $330,000 per 4.5 months) but if you are only after lots of money prostitution is easier, much more fun, and you don't have to live in the middle of nowhere.

Jim.

Wardy if you decide to head north rather than west, my uncle runs a business out of Brisbane (but has outlets in every state)that provides specialised ute/truck trays and safety equiptment for the mining industry. I presume at the very least he will know where to start looking and who to speak to. The business is called Minecorp (www.minecorp.com.au).
I'm happy to speak to him if you're chasing a possible in. Just let me know.

well im up for a job in ravensthorpe, going for an interview soon and see what happens. They have alot of jobs up at the moment just look on seek.com.au

A 2:1 roster is what you should be looking at for a roster. Shorter than that is hard to get without experience. Longer rosters are eaiser to find
Consider shutdown work.
Trying to crack into the industry can be hard if you dont know what to expect.
Move to the state/area you want first.
In WA for hard rock mining, go to Kalgoorlie.
WA iron ore, Port Headland.
Dont aim for direct employment with a mining company. Go to employment agencies, and start contracting to being with. You get the experience and can start networking.
Mining contractors are also a good point of contact to start.

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Thats some good advice right there Jim. The industry isnot a pretty wonderful place. Its hard work, in an isolated enviroment, with no support networks, and high consequence activties.
Every second person sees to think that you earn a million dollars an hour and live in luxury. couldnt be further from the truth.

A quick calculation of my wages and once you include the overtime, my hourly rate comes in at less than $40/hour. (I wont give you exact numbers) Im not complaining but that took me 10 years in the game to get that. Sure, Im not a mechanic, but its not all peaches are cream is the message.

The answer that I give everyone is this
Dont expect anything special.
Nobody will care who you are, or what you have done, until you can prove otherwise.
Take the first job you are offered, regardless of what it is. Everyone starts somewhere.
Have a range of jobs that you are suitable for. Saying you will do anything will get you nowhere. List offsider, labourer, TA on you list of jobs as well as you trade to increase your chances

I might sound a bit harsh, but dont take it as a personal attack. I just dont pull any punches.
Feel free to email/PM me for mre informaiton here in WA. I know a few people and may be able to push you in the right direction.

If you don't want to head to the mines we are quite often looking for tradesmen (electricians especially).
Role is for travelling tech involved in maintenance and construction of wind turbines.
Again it sounds good but is a lot of hard work. Good base wage, OT, allowances etc. but not uncommon to work 80+hrs a week in the back of beyond when required. Get home once a month (every 2 months if overseas), paid time off as well as leave.

Great way to see the world, we have guys in Taiwan, Japan, Korea and India at the moment as well as all over Aus.

We are really working hard at retaining techs as it costs a lot to train people up, so I reckon the wages/benefits are on a par with the mines..

Anyway, if you are interested, let me know and I can put you in touch with our HR people..

So the missus and I hit the road on Tuesday, have travelled 2,600km and are currently in Kalgoorlie for the night. Got here just before 5, a lady from a recruitment agency in Port Hedland I applied for a job through gave me a call and gave me the job then and there. No further details, DAS tests or further info. Begin on Monday, so we have to travel 1,700 km tomorrow and Sunday to meet her Sunday arvo and fill in induction forms etc. I guess having a trade (chippie) made it a lot easier! 60 hr weeks, bullshit hourly rate and accom and meals paid for. The real test will be when I begin though!

Really good to hear that you have had success.
If you are keen and work hard, it will be a rewarding move for you. Although the flies, stinkbugs, and monster flying things will keen you amused on night shift.

In your position mate try westrac.com.au. They've been advertising lately heaps for fitters. Its easy to get into the mines these days, there's a huge skills shortage and lots of people are getting in with no experience. Just dont think you can be in the industry for 2 years, go home and pay casb for a house and buy a new car etc etc. If you want to get ahead quickly, forget the beer, forget the datsuns, and save hard. Ive been in the industry now for 8 years and for most of that have been earning over $100k, and i have very quickly learnt how to spend it. I love the lifestyle, i work week on week off fifo from perth, missus works up there with me and we have no kids yet. But we're just like every other person out there with bills, insurances, petrol, food bill, yeah you get my drift. But it does give you a lifestyle eg bought a ski boat, went to cairns last week, go out for tea whenever and dont think twice about checking bank balances. As for strain ur relationship, theres plenty of residential work in kalgoorlie, singleton, and peak downs.

is it hard to get an apprenticeship in the mines(eletrical or similar) and would the pay be much better then just doing it outside of the mines

just doing my home work before i leave school