Senior mine site administrator Fiona Porter said fly-in, fly-out work had been a positive move for her family.
Camera IconSenior mine site administrator Fiona Porter said fly-in, fly-out work had been a positive move for her family. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Women in mining say FIFO great for families

Justin Bianchini, North Coast TimesNorth Coast Times

Founder Sabina Shugg said the group wanted to emphasise the benefits of the lifestyle after labelling a parliamentary inquiry as critical of FIFO operations.

The campaign draws on workers such as Merriwa resident Fiona Porter, a senior site administrator at the Tropicana gold mine, 330km north-east of Kalgoorlie.

Married with two children, Mrs Porter said the move to FIFO work five years ago had brought family benefits.

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‘I can have quality time with my children and you can guarantee, with the eight and six roster, that you are going to get at least one week of the school holidays at home with them,’ she said.

‘I am able to do things with the kids and attend sport days etc, whereas when I worked in Perth, when I did get time off, it was usually very hectic.

‘For instance, you would get home from work in the evenings and would then be rushed, trying to get dinner and household chores done.’

She said she had more time to watch her 15-year-old son Payden play rugby.

Her 18-year-old daughter Tianawa has also become a FIFO worker at the same mine.