‘Perfect blend of savings and travel’: Life as a female FIFO worker
Applying for her first job in the mines at 18, Layla-Rose Tynan speaks candidly about her travels, spending sprees and some of the pitfalls she has faced finding the ‘perfect blend of savings and travel’ as a FIFO worker.
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A young Queensland woman has detailed the glamorous life she leads as a FIFO worker - from the cash she has to burn and ability to take regular holidays to how she is treated on the worksite by her male colleagues.
Layla-Rose Tynan, 20, is among scores of young FIFO workers documenting her day-to-day life on her TikTok account where she’s amassed almost 7000 followers for her candid videos about her life as a casual FIFO worker.
Originally from Geraldton, four hours north of Perth in Western Australia, Tynan recently made the move to Queensland in pursuit of “personal growth and new experiences”, after starting her FIFO career two years ago at just 18.
“I began my working journey as a disability support worker during high school in my hometown,” Tynan said.
“When I turned 18, I ventured into fly-in-fly-out work (FIFO) for about a year, often balancing it with my disability support work during my time off.
“Fuelled by my dreams of starting a business, I relocated to Queensland, embracing FIFO … to secure funds, create new connections in this state and pursue my goals.”
According to a Women in Mining Survey 2021, women’s participation in FIFO roles are upwards of 19 per cent of the total mining workforce.
Reported annual earnings indicate about 75 per cent of women earn more than the average female Australian salary between $104-$155k.
Previously working in disability support work and nannying jobs, Tynan said it was her friends that inspired her to look into FIFO.
“My first time getting into FIFO work was inspired by the happiness my friends experienced in their off-week lifestyle – a perfect blend of savings and travel,” she said.
“ … I’ve had the pleasure of meeting extraordinary people, and the FIFO lifestyle aligns perfectly with my current situation in a new state, allowing me both the time and resources to explore and grow while also getting closer to my goals.”
Tynan’s current position as a casual utilities worker sees her looking after the kitchen at a mine site, responsible for managing the floor, back crib, dishwashing and replenishing hot breakfast options and lunch options for the miners.
She said her casual roster enables some flexibility and allows her to combat common challenges that arise with FIFO such as occasional absences from life events where you would rather be home.
“For me, FIFO is unquestionably a short-term arrangement, and this holds true for many of my fellow crew members as well,” she said.
“It doesn’t always have to be a long-term commitment, but for the present, it perfectly aligns with my lifestyle and future.
“Some people love the lifestyle and choose to do it for a longer period of their career, it’s just about listening to yourself and doing what’s best for you.”
Tynan said that compared to typical nine-to-five jobs, FIFO provides more financial security and increased leisure time.
“I did notice a big shift in terms of income as I saved my original savings goal within a couple of swings, all while also travelling and spending what I wanted, where I wanted,” said Tynan.
“I think I am pretty smart with my money … but I also am young so I don’t hold back too much because I am also here to experience this state [Queensland] and have fun.
“FIFO has allowed me to have a great balance to do both, save and have fun … I like the fact you come to work, work a lot and then have a lot of time off”
As a woman in the male-dominated mining field, Tynan said that management is also becoming increasingly accommodating and supportive of more women coming into the industry.
“It's encouraging to see that many men have learned that their actions are not tolerated, as the risk of job loss is high. Yet, occasional issues do arise,” Tynan said.
“Many companies and camps are now going the extra mile to accommodate women, implementing measures such as alcohol limits, security services for walking to rooms, and even personal safety alarms.
“In my experience, the men on my crew are quite considerate. When given the opportunity they willingly assist with tasks like holding doors open, reaching high objects, or handling stubborn lids, always ready to help when needed.”
Now two years into her FIFO journey, Tynan says that your crew can very quickly “become like family” and it‘s the people and friends that help break the monotonous cycle of work, eat and sleep.
“The first initial weeks will likely be challenging, because you’ll be adjusting to the long hour work routine, unfamiliar faces, and homesickness, which can be quite unsettling,” said Tynan.
“However, there comes a turning point where you'll realise it’s not as daunting, often after forming connections or friendships.
“My first few days in FIFO, I felt overwhelmed and wanted to cry constantly – persevere through this period, but understand that if things don’t improve, FIFO might not be the right fit, and that’s perfectly fine.”
Tynan’s main message for people starting out in FIFO is to enjoy every moment you can and make as many friends as possible, stating, “Just make the most of it and stay safe and happy”.
FIFO work is becoming an increasingly popular career option for Australians, as mining and energy sites across the nation search for people to work in remote and regional locations.
And younger generations are the latest joining in on ‘fly-in, fly-out’ work.
According to AUSINET there are 100,000 FIFO workers in Australia.
FIFO work arrangements are predominant in Western Australia and Queensland.
Workers work on a FIFO roster of 14 days on/7 days off or 8 days on/6 days off.
Sharing ‘day in the life as a FIFO worker’ videos on platforms such as TikTok, the hashtag #FIFO has more than 780 million views on the video platform, with the newest generation of FIFO workers sharing their first-hand experiences working in remote locations online.
You can keep up with Tynan’s FIFO journey on her TikTok account @laylaatynan.
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