Who works in the mines and what doing - Page 2

BLKWDW · 31-07-2011, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave351cid

there are a couple of fairly new coal mines in the Mudgee area and a big gold mine at Orange that doing some major expansions, i know a couple of guys working there with the contractors and making good $$$.

I've been trying to get into the mines at orange for the last 2yrs. North Parkes Mines is another one.

naddis01 · 31-07-2011, 09:32 PM

How hard would it be for someone with a background in agriculture to find a job as a plant operator or something along those lines?

BrisVegas · 31-07-2011, 09:59 PM

My wife is looking at taking a remote posting in Qld "somewhere" as a school teacher. I'm keen for a change of scene, as I've been in IT for 15 years. A mate of mine's wife got a posting to Moranbah a few years ago and he's picked up work with a contract mob building dongas. He's a plumber, so walked into a job. My mate was saying it's easy enough to get a job driving dump trucks with just a car licence, especially if you're living in a mining town. "Boneheads" as he calls them, make just as much as trades.

I was thinking it would be good to get a proper skill or trade if the opportunity came up. I see places advertising for apprenticeships and was wondering if this would be possible as a non-school leaver?

Money won't be critical if we can get teacher housing. Her wage would cover our living costs, so I could afford to go back to apprentice wages. Vice versa to our current situation! Anyone know whether the mines pay apprentices more than regular workplaces?

GS608 · 01-08-2011, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisVegas

My wife is looking at taking a remote posting in Qld "somewhere" as a school teacher. I'm keen for a change of scene, as I've been in IT for 15 years. A mate of mine's wife got a posting to Moranbah a few years ago and he's picked up work with a contract mob building dongas. He's a plumber, so walked into a job. My mate was saying it's easy enough to get a job driving dump trucks with just a car licence, especially if you're living in a mining town. "Boneheads" as he calls them, make just as much as trades.

I was thinking it would be good to get a proper skill or trade if the opportunity came up. I see places advertising for apprenticeships and was wondering if this would be possible as a non-school leaver?

Money won't be critical if we can get teacher housing. Her wage would cover our living costs, so I could afford to go back to apprentice wages. Vice versa to our current situation! Anyone know whether the mines pay apprentices more than regular workplaces?

ALOT more, my mates nephew just started a boilermaking apprenticeship, he is 16 and on $90k apparently. This is up in Gladstone.

BrisVegas · 01-08-2011, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.0

ALOT more, my mates nephew just started a boilermaking apprenticeship, he is 16 and on $90k apparently. This is up in Gladstone.

struth! I was thinking it would be like $30-40k or something? It's rare to see $90k in IT jobs in the city, unless you're a project manager or team leader.

KW XRT · 17-09-2011, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrisVegas

struth! I was thinking it would be like $30-40k or something? It's rare to see $90k in IT jobs in the city, unless you're a project manager or team leader.

90k sounds good untill you try to find rent so don't even think about gladstone unless you have accomadation sorted.saw a 5 bedder adverised for 1500 dollars a week and we recon it won't be there now.People are turning up to rentals and prospective tenants are having an action on the spot.This will only give a short term roof as the landlords are bumping the rents up by a 100 to a 150 a week when the lease is up.you have no idea

mondo_broady · 01-08-2011, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5.0

ALOT more, my mates nephew just started a boilermaking apprenticeship, he is 16 and on $90k apparently. This is up in Gladstone.

i would question that if he's a 1st year? some tradesmen i know in coalmining don't even earn that sort of coin.

as for the question someone asked about FIFO as opposed to living in the area. most of the remote towns are well... sh1tholes and blokes end up on the **** 'cause there's nothing else to do... well so i'm told by guys who've been there, done that...

GS608 · 01-08-2011, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondo_broady

i would question that if he's a 1st year? some tradesmen i know in coalmining don't even earn that sort of coin.

Yeah mate i wasn't too sure of the legitimacy of the claim, not sure if its the coal mine or gas pipe line hes on, $30-50k is a bit more realistic just depends on what trade.

GT 160 · 01-08-2011, 10:24 PM

Most of the "mule" i mean "plant operator" jobs here in the Hunter Valley are done through labour hire firms which more often than not is a 12+ mth traineeship. They generally cover all your inductions etc

Try companies like Tessa, Pegasus, Resco

Zed7fiddy · 31-07-2011, 10:27 PM

Im in gladstone and have obtaned my generics about 12 months ago, im looking at taking some time off at the end of the year and moving back to brisbane with about $5g up my sleeve, thinking about getting my HR, Shotfirer and Forklift tickets, any other suggestions to get me into a decent FIFO job?

Road Games · 31-07-2011, 10:31 PM

Yes mate they do .. they also pay a "Coal Bonus" depending on how much material gets railed ..

Apprentices dont recieve this straight up .. but after 4 years of your time you can recieve a $20000+ lump sum

Or so i have experienced anyway ...

Ben73 · 31-07-2011, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR6menace

Yes mate they do .. they also pay a "Coal Bonus" depending on how much material gets railed ..

Apprentices dont recieve this straight up .. but after 4 years of your time you can recieve a $20000+ lump sum

Or so i have experienced anyway ...

****en hell.
We are the ones out there actually moving the coal on the trains, and we only got paid a $5000 coal bonus for moving 15 million tons! We got ripped.

Franco Cozzo · 31-07-2011, 10:45 PM

Is the shotfirer course nation wide thing or depends on state to state? For example, can I do it in Victoria, and it works Australia wide?

What do you guys do with all the cash you get?

ELGT4me · 31-07-2011, 10:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Is the shotfirer course nation wide thing or depends on state to state? For example, can I do it in Victoria, and it works Australia wide?

What do you guys do with all the cash you get?

Pay huge amounts of tax!!!

05_ENFORCER · 31-07-2011, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

Pay huge amounts of tax!!!

If you are or have been in mining for a while, PM me and I'll give you some free financial advise.

No one needs to pay more than they are legally required to pay

comagutsa · 01-08-2011, 01:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Is the shotfirer course nation wide thing or depends on state to state? For example, can I do it in Victoria, and it works Australia wide?

What do you guys do with all the cash you get?

AT THIS STAGE SHOTFIRERS (caps

) have to get a licence in each state but saying this they are in the process of changing this to make it one licence for the whole of OZ. i think it will start around the end of the year but may take a little longer

and as for your other question pay the morgage and buy toys
house, ute, motor bike, guns .22 & 234, compound bows, trips the mrs spends it haha etc
i have been mining before the boom started about 9 years ago...you do miss out on alot i started doing 4 weeks on 1 off, then 3&1, then i when civil blasting 6weeks on 1 off back to 3 and 1 then 2 and 1 and now 9 days on 5 off

**Bundy** · 01-08-2011, 07:15 AM

http://www.dailymercury.com.au/story...rators-mackay/

Its a 5 day course costs about 4 grand, think they're still running at a 100% job placement for candiates.

Dumpies will pull 100-125K

Boring as job BTW

Franco Cozzo · 01-08-2011, 08:40 AM

Still boring job at the mines beats boring job everywhere else.

Stazza_Brendan · 01-08-2011, 09:30 AM

I quit my job of 4.5 years to get start in mining. Was never going to own a house in mackay doing a town job. Got my generics and coal board medical and put in for job with a mining employment agency.
Doing a long wall move shutdown at the moment at north goonyella.
First job,,, work your **** off, do all the dirty jobs and put your hand up for everything. Not really suck up to the boss. More so be a reliable, dependable worker.
I've done the above and the bosses are impressed and asked me to put in for a permanent job there and one of the bosses has offered to write me up a reference without me even asking.
Only qualifications I had was forklift ticket and good on computers... once on job I was driving a 50t forklift(size of house) and running their receivals in store for a bit.

mondo_broady · 01-08-2011, 11:16 AM

yep one of the biggest issues at our mine is absenteeism. if you are reliable on that front it's a big plus.

most of the "boneheads" are unskilled, as in not trades, but have acquired skills learned on the job.

i might have a lead for some drilling jobs in qld too if anyone is interested, i can find out some details?

**Polyal** · 01-08-2011, 11:23 AM

Well I have had my heart on working in the automotive industry with my mech eng degree (5 units to go!) but the more I think about it the more Im looking at resources/energy long term...the money is hard to look past when you have a young family although FIFO will take some time to get used to.

Im waiting on Rio to get back to me at the moment with some summer work which Ive got into the next round..just need to get some experience first.

mondo_broady · 01-08-2011, 11:54 AM

my advice, have a plan and stick to it. don't be seduced by the money and live too lavish a lifestyle like me. i've earned good coin for 20+ years and got bugger all to show for it as i live a bloody nice lifestyle. mining isn't something you want to do as a lifelong occupation and can set you up for life if you are smart about it...

Dirty32 · 04-08-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mondo_broady

my advice, have a plan and stick to it. don't be seduced by the money and live too lavish a lifestyle like me. i've earned good coin for 20+ years and got bugger all to show for it as i live a bloody nice lifestyle. mining isn't something you want to do as a lifelong occupation and can set you up for life if you are smart about it...

^^ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I work for BHP (as a Recruiter, in Perth) and we have a ******** of work on at the moment. We are growing all the time, looking at opening a new mine a year for the next 6 years or something... Most of the operator type jobs will be with Contractors though.

What is quoted above cannot be more true!

The amount of guys i know that start out with the best intentions... Get out there for a couple years and pay a house off, is all rubbish. You soon get used to the money, have loads of material things and as a result of FIFO, miss watching your children grow up, Marriage or relationships break down or your missus cheats on you coz your never around... Lots of pitfalls to selling yourself for the money you can potentially earn.

Loads of old codgers on site who have fallen into the trap and will still be up there in 10 years time, with nothing to show for it other than toys!

If, on the other hand you treat it right, make some coin, set yourself up and get out, props to you!!

Stazza_Brendan · 04-08-2011, 10:51 PM

See alot of guys get sucked in by the money. Then cant go back to a lower paying town job as they are too acustomed to the money and days off a mine job brings.
Just put in for inexperienced underground position at work, got good references from supervisors so hoping that helps out.

Big boost in central qld mining coming. Joy are apparantly supplying a longwall a year for next 6 or so years which means new mines and expansions. Companies seem to be pushing for fifo but some locals are trying to stop it.

ELGT4me · 05-08-2011, 12:05 AM

Just a clarification guys it is CAT that now owns O&K & Bucyrus mining equipment.

Maybe try labour hire companies as well, usually 3 months trial, no holiday pay, sick leave, but the dollars are good. If you are keen & talented, drug free, & of sober habits, you will normally be signed over pronto.

Spanrz · 08-08-2011, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

Be warned, Westrac work you hard, & only pay reasonably well.

LOL. You worked at Westrac? Remember, Kerry Stokes is paying your paypacket.
Have a mate that I worked with here in Vic, who is/was working for Westrac in Newman.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ELGT4me

Just a clarification guys it is CAT that now owns O&K & Bucyrus mining equipment.

.

Bucyrus I know of, not sure about O&K. Unless it's joint venture (buyout package).

Franco Cozzo · 01-08-2011, 01:07 PM

I want a mining job just to put the cash towards a house, particularly if you can pay it off in a few years.

Franco Cozzo · 01-08-2011, 07:13 PM

How do you guys find FIFO? Would you rather just pack up and move to the area if you had the cash and no dependants?

comagutsa · 02-08-2011, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big Damo

How do you guys find FIFO? Would you rather just pack up and move to the area if you had the cash and no dependants?

no dependants mate just do FIFO you save alot more money ...everything is supplied and the only money you spend is on beers and that
most FIFO camps have gyms tennis courts indoor cricket pool etc its all supplied to make people feel like its you home away from home

Gobes32 · 01-08-2011, 09:26 PM

So there really is a huge demand for labour in the mining industry? I only have Forklift, Doggers and are still employed full time in a job I do love. However, I also have a young family and redundancy has been playing on my mind lately. I guess my question is, is it really possible for the average guy to score a 100k fly in fly out job?