DH wants to work in the mines....

[Fleur]

Thanks everyone for the replies!
I didn't expect so many so soon! you guys are awesome

We're not expecting easy money, I guess we are looking at it like it would involve a sacrifice somewhere along the way... but a couple of years in the scheme of things isn't that much.
We started a family early & it just feels like we will never get ahead. At the moment we are surviving comfortably but there's nothing left over, we just need that bit extra to get ahead, kwim? maybe have our own home one day...

I think it would be harder for DH than me, I can't imagine being away (not that we wouldn't miss him )

He has done a bit of searching on the net & filled out a form... it was for a recruitment agency & they are requesting payment of $200+ to help him. I'm a bit iffy on it... I thought he might try a few other options yet before we part with the cash.... any ideas on this?

[mzcatieboo]

look straight on the mining websites is a big must

My DH works for Rio Tinto, except i moved up with him. so we get great money and a house for cheap as and its great. we moved here to get outta debt. sure i miss my family and friends but we needed to do this. if i didnt agree to move he would of done FIFO we started a family early. we wanna be able to provide the best for our kids. so we are getting outta debt. got a nice car and saving for a house. all things that we wanted from living here we have got.

i would not let DH do anything over 2 weeks on 1 week off, luckily who he works for you do 9 days on 5 days off so your home every 2nd weekend. sometimes the time away is good. i love DH but i seem to be more organised when he isn't around lol.

Theres are the goods and bads of it. but it makes DH happy and thats my main thing.

[nic]

I don't have a lot of time to reply at the moment, but did just want to quickly add that the mining town we live in, like Trillian said, is dearer with everything. Rent is the killer. 10 years ago, people were actually handing back blocks of land to the local council because they couldn't sell them,a nd now they are getting 100k. Wack a house on it and they are now being rented for an average of $700 per week. Quite a lot are renting for $1000 per week..i kid you not!
Will come back later when DS is in bed

[Phteven]

Having to pay a recruitment company $200 is ringing alarm bells for me. Most reputable recruitment companies don't charge job hunters.

[nic]

I think once you have a job, then you would get some training there. Also google for Mining Industry skills Centre. They do simulator training, but I'm not clear on if it is for employee's of a company or people who are wanting to get a mining job?
The industry went through an overhaul with the way they hand out tickets for machiney, a few years ago i think? It's like getting a car licence, you have to sit a test to gain a ticket, and even then, some sites make you also have to show you can actually operate the machine to get an on site authorisation. This could have changed recently though too, it's been awhile since I've dealt with paperwork like this.

As Pony said, having to pay a recruitment agency sounds a bit fishy. What are you paying them for exactly? To find you a job in the industry or are they helping you obtain tickets etc?

Another thing is first up you will also need a coal board medical before starting on a minesite. They have to be done every 5 years, and some companies will pay for them if you don't have one and you get the job. DH's is due next year, and his boss pays for it so I'm a bit rusty on the cost, but i think it is around the $300 mark? It's also not something that you can get from a general GP. I think you have to find a Dr who is certified to do Coal Board Medicals.

Each site also usually has their own course (site induction) you have to do before starting on site. No cost here. But another couple of hours or a day depending on where you are.

Best way to look for work is to check out the company websites. BHp Billiton, Xstrata Coal, Rio Tinto etc.. Also CareerOne use to have a good collection of mining jobs.
A traineeship or apprenticeship is a great way to get a foot in the door. At the end of the traineeship/apprenticeship, a lot of apprentices get kept on fulltime. BUT, you spend 4 years, or a 1-2 year traineeship for machinery operators, (can't remember if it's 1 or 2 sorry) on a lower wage. They don't usually provide accommodation for apprenctices, so that would be quite difficult as well, being on a low wage, living in a mining town. Though if you are thinking of doing the living apart thing, some towns do still have single mens accommodation. The thing you have to remember is, if you are living apart, you then have to travel home on your days off for family time, then travel back to work. After working a 12 hour shift, a lot of blokes just get in their cars and drive, instead of having a sleep first, and sadly, some haven't made it home to their families..

They are big days. My DH gets up at 4, is usually picked up before 5, starts work at 6, finshes 12 and a quarter hours later on, gets on the bus, and gets dropped off at 7. Same times regardless if it is day or night shift.

Accommodation is subsidised in our town in different ways. One mine has houses they rent to employees for around $40 per week. Other mines you have your own house and they subsidise your rent , but I'm not entirely clear on details of how much it is. I know there is a couple around here that are paying around the $600 per week into your pay for rent, but you also get taxed on it, if you are living in town, if you are living away from home, then it's pretty much tax free, but you have to pay a huge rent, or share to reduce the cost, then travel costs to get home on your days off.

I think it also helps to really research the town. Some towns have a much better supply of services, sports etc than others.