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I knew a 19 year old girl who was driving trucks in a mine in Western Australia. She was on $180K/year. She gave it up after a year though apparently, and I d

I knew a 19 year old girl who was driving trucks in a mine in Western Australia. She was on $180K/year. She gave it up after a year though apparently, and I don't know where she is these days so cannot ask her why she left a job that was paying that much only a couple of years out of high school.

King-Aaron 9y ago
I can give you some direct insight on that. First of all, she would have experienced severe gender bias. I don't think it needs an explanation when you consider a demographic of mostly low-to-moderately-educated men in the workforce and everyone living in fairly close quarters. Secondly, the conditions are harsh. You work around 14-hour days in 35-45 degree C heat. This wears out people very quickly. It can get so hot that rubbish bins catch on fire themselves, and you can cook an egg on your car's roof. And third, people get homesick due to the rosters - usually 2 weeks on, one week off (or similar). It disrupts relationships and takes a big personal toll on people. There are a lot of people that do it for years - but the majority pull a year or two and then leave.
- cyberferret 9y ago
  I figured it would have been something like this. She was a fairly attractive young lady. Very capable, but I am thinking she would have copped a fair amount of harrassment just due to her gender. I am several male friends in the mining and offshore oil rig game too, and those jobs appear to suit young people without a family and little social life. Once relationships and kids come into the equation, that shift regime just doesn't seem to be compatible.
  - bdcravens 9y ago
    I know someone in Brisbane who did the mining thing who went to General Assembly and accepted the first job he could get his hands on - he knew mining wasn't sustainable.
- Cyph0n 9y ago
  The rotation doesn't sound that bad to be frank. The oil and gas industry has been operating that way for decades.
  - King-Aaron 9y ago
    I've seen rosters between 7/9days and 3/4 weeks - It does vary depending on the site. The main difference though, is that oil and gas is literal luxury to working in an iron ore mine... My ex partner used to be a chef on one of the Atwell platforms, and just the difference in food is unbelievable haha.
- taneq 9y ago
  I work in this industry and the women I've talked to don't seem to feel gender bias is that much of an issue. Your second and third points are much bigger factors - in some parts of the industry (admin, environmental management, safety, camp support - ie. desk jobs in airconditioned offices) I'd guess 40%+ of the workforce would be women, but other roles with more physical discomfort (mechanical fitters, civil works, machine operators) are almost exclusively male. Depression and suicide are a huge risk factor for FIFO workers. It's shit work.

King-Aaron 9y ago

I can give you some direct insight on that. First of all, she would have experienced severe gender bias. I don't think it needs an explanation when you consider a demographic of mostly low-to-moderately-educated men in the workforce and everyone living in fairly close quarters. Secondly, the conditions are harsh. You work around 14-hour days in 35-45 degree C heat. This wears out people very quickly. It can get so hot that rubbish bins catch on fire themselves, and you can cook an egg on your car's roof. And third, people get homesick due to the rosters - usually 2 weeks on, one week off (or similar). It disrupts relationships and takes a big personal toll on people. There are a lot of people that do it for years - but the majority pull a year or two and then leave.

cyberferret 9y ago
I figured it would have been something like this. She was a fairly attractive young lady. Very capable, but I am thinking she would have copped a fair amount of harrassment just due to her gender. I am several male friends in the mining and offshore oil rig game too, and those jobs appear to suit young people without a family and little social life. Once relationships and kids come into the equation, that shift regime just doesn't seem to be compatible.
- bdcravens 9y ago
  I know someone in Brisbane who did the mining thing who went to General Assembly and accepted the first job he could get his hands on - he knew mining wasn't sustainable.
Cyph0n 9y ago
The rotation doesn't sound that bad to be frank. The oil and gas industry has been operating that way for decades.
- King-Aaron 9y ago
  I've seen rosters between 7/9days and 3/4 weeks - It does vary depending on the site. The main difference though, is that oil and gas is literal luxury to working in an iron ore mine... My ex partner used to be a chef on one of the Atwell platforms, and just the difference in food is unbelievable haha.
taneq 9y ago
I work in this industry and the women I've talked to don't seem to feel gender bias is that much of an issue. Your second and third points are much bigger factors - in some parts of the industry (admin, environmental management, safety, camp support - ie. desk jobs in airconditioned offices) I'd guess 40%+ of the workforce would be women, but other roles with more physical discomfort (mechanical fitters, civil works, machine operators) are almost exclusively male. Depression and suicide are a huge risk factor for FIFO workers. It's shit work.