I plan to return to Oz with my partner, I have travelled to Oz over the past few years and quite familiar with most parts of the country.

I understand there is a great need for workers and am wondering if that is true? we are keen to work anywhere and would like to hear opinions on working in the mines? We are split on the idea, as we are more accustomed the city life and have good qualifications.

I have to be realistic and say that while quality of lifestyle is important we want to save for a home etc.

We are both very capable and adaptable and enthusiastic, are degree qualified and have varied work experience.

I would like to get some views on these thoughts particularly if you are from a mining community. Is this worthwhile?

It depends very much on which mine you are looking at, what work arrangements you want, and what qualifications you have. Its harder to get into some mines than others (eg more tickets are required to get into coal mines than gold mines). Do you have a problem with working underground, or could you only handle open-cut? What qualifications do you have? They might not be any use in a mining environment. Your current qualifications might get you better pay and conditions for less hours and cheaper living conditions. Eg if you have accounting related qualifications, move to the country (anywhere in the country) - you will have instant employment, on pretty comparable wages to the city, and with a LOT lower living expenses. You can earn a little more in the mines than on a senior accountants income, but generally the cost of living in mining centres is quite a bit higher, so the two can offset. Also, you dont have to work night shift in a professional career!! That said, if you would like a change, I would recommend it. Go to WA or QLD though - its hard to get into NSW mines

Go through the proper channels. This is not a travel or employment agency.

We have too many foreigners here already. Stay where you are.

Northern WA has a desperate shortage of workers. The reason being is that while the money and conditions are good, no one wants to live there...its really not a fun place to live, especially if you're accustomed to city life.

But if you're a fan of 40 degree heat, cyclone shutters and...uh, dirt, then thats the place fo you.

Oh, and ignore Leigh, he has a problem with interacting on an adult level.

Yes, skipis - unfortunately there's a minority of people here like Leigh, but most of them take their medication.

I'd suggest you look outside the cities for work in Australia - that's where the main labour shortages are.

In 2006 I visited northern Australia and was also looking for work and found:

Many mining towns are closed communities, there is no access for the general public, the workers are employed through head office in Perth

Miners are flown in for their roster and then flown home to any part of Australia. The miners roster is 14 days on then 14 day off, and they work 12 hour shifts.

Seasonal workers like fruit picking, meat packing or construction labourers are hired locally. If you have a trade like driving mining equipment, carpentary, mechanic you are in demand.

If you have a teaching qualification you can apply online at http://www.teaching.nt.gov.au/ and schools trawl the database looking for staff

In fact if you want work that uses your qualifications you should probably apply online before you leave home.

In the city there are heaps of temporary office jobs, in fact some organisations prefer to be "skip free zones" eg the largest superannuation manager prefers not to employ Australians. Workers get hired on a daily basis and if you get on well you will be invited back tomorrow.

Likewise I would suggest you check online prior to leaving home.

The real unemployment rate is much higher at about 15% to 20% rather than official statistics of 4%. The discrepancy is achieved by defining "employed" as not in full time study and working for 1 hour per week, paid or unpaid. The unpaid portion captures volunteers who might be volunteering to get experience to get a paid job. This definition includes people who are undertaking unemployed training schemes as employed.

If you are of asian descent you will have more difficulty in securing work.

Good luck!

Don't fall for the left-wing crap that my views are minority ones. Australians have had a gutfull of foreigners taking Austalian jobs because our pinko, gutless government has refused to put money into training Australians.

The users of this site are 90% left-wing looneys who take great delight in rubbishing their own country.

Find out more about the wider community before you make any decisions. Don't believer anything you see on OLO without checking it out for yourself.

Hi there...

I suspect most people in Australia would welcome folk from abroad, who have expressed a keen interest and desire to work in this country. And as the other correspondents have reiterated herein, I too would welcome anyone with that legitimate goal also. Did you mention from which country you're from ? Perhaps I missed it, if so I'm sorry.

Employment in the North West of Australia, within the mining industry, will earn you pretty good bucks I'm told (mate of mine is a copper in the region). However accommodation is both scarce and very expensive.

Both my sister and brother-in-law (mechanical engineer) lived in Karratha for 'round 11 years, and with very careful management of their finances, managed to buy two lovely properties in both suburban Perth and Sydney. And without the necessity of entering into a protracted and lengthy mortage.

Chris (my B.I.L.) used to come home absolutely covered in filth. Sometimes working a 10 or 12 hour day! They lived through extreme heat (40c - 50c) and some pretty fierce cyclones too. He worked through ALL weather, leading a gang of maintenance mechanics, repairing necessary plant and equipment for the mines. Yet, both of them and their kids, really loved it. I suppose it's a bit like living and working at the frontier, anyway it beats me!?

Hope this'll help you. Cheers...osungwo.

Is there any one currently working for a mining company? I’m sorry I have not expressed my occupation as I have had several, though currently I am in I.T. What sort of openings are there or do look at getting tickets for operating plant etc.

As for your comments Leigh, I fail to see why you waste your time bleating nonsense, you seem to have a very ignorant view? that is unless you are an native aboriginal, you should ad arrogance to your cyber CV cause I’m as aussie. And as for your remark it is quite racist and disrespectful. Please make your narrow-minded remarks in your own discussion area. Finally Liegh we have been educated overseas not at your expense, and I would be happy to share my skills and experience and contribute to Australia’s success as I already have for 28 years.

That said, I would love to hear from anyone living in a mine community

For those serious about making stuff happen, WA is the place
to be. Not just the NW. Lots of manufacturing and admin for
the NW is done from Perth. There are also huge multi billion
$ mining projects in the SW coming on stream. One in Boddington,
one in Ravensthorpe for instance.

The rush to mining has left huge holes in staff levels in
a number of other industries in WA. Lots of staff fly in
fly out from Perth to various mine sites in WA, north, east
and south of Perth. So thats where I would start to look.

Comparing WA with NSW and Vic right now, is like comparing
day and night.

Hi Skippis I have worked in IT for 3 mining companies in WA. Mining companies employ the bulk of their IT staff in Perth, there is usually a token soul on mine site. In the good old days women were always employed as temporaries so they were laid off in times of strike and thus unable to give sustainance to the strikers.

You can find out what IT work is going by searching the online job databases like

www.seek.com.au - be warned that every vacancy is advertised 5 times and there are fishing ads

www.mycareer.com.au

try the individual mining companies directly

RioTinto subsidiaries prefer graduates from Monash University - Caulfield campus

Absolutely a hoot isn't it? A Bachelor of Laws (circa 2006) doesn't earn me as much as my Trade Certificate (circa 1980) working in mine sites/shutdowns atMcArthur River - Granites - and oil rig jobs in the Timor Sea. What a wank it all is! $4,200 per week as a Fitter or maybe $1,400 per week as a lawyer (gross figures).

Having to bite the bullet and be the "stay at home Dad type", put up with the infrequent shut downs handed out from labour hire firms. Which means time with my boys - or do I pay nannies to look after the sprogs and play the mining/resources sector doing the fly in fly out swings?

Hi billie, I know, Ive got the attitude, a brill work ethic, I can do all sortes, but need guidance to the 4k/pw even less, who can give me this help. Do I get a truck license, do a cooking course.

Ive got a Media Technology and a post grad education degree, maybe thats not good enough. Sign me up.

Hi Skipis well it looks like you should get on the mining company websites and apply on line.

I heard of a woman who applied for a mining job online, last year. She is now driving miners from the camp/town site to the mine site. The trick is to know the names of the mining companies.

If you want teaching jobs apply to each state education department online.