Thread: To all you mine workers

Originally Posted by cartm58

Accommodation is generally 4 single rooms to a block, single bed, tv in room, self contained shower and toilet, shared laundry facilities, wet & dry mess, health & fitness program on site and small swimming pool, tennis courts, basketball court and walking track.

Hardest thing about mines work is your away from your family for 4 weeks at time can cause family problems in your personal relationships.

That is not a problem everywhere, as mining towns are a lot better equiped these days, just bloody expensive

Gday, i work for Thiess and we usually have a heap of jobs going in just about everything, the division i work for is haveing a heap of trouble getting operators for loaders, dozers, escovators, compactors and so on. If you can get your tickets you in with a real good chance because a lot of jobs are after new opperators so they can be trained the way they want them and no bad habits from past. I did hear a couple of months ago our electrical devision was after fresh people to be trained up, they do all contract work for Energex and is good money aswell so plenty to choose from mate.

http://www.thiess.com.au/careers/job_search

Plenty of jobs advertised in today's "West Australian" as there is every week. But I know that even though many of these employers will say that they cannot find the people to fill the positions, most are a bit too insistent on the levels of experience they are looking for before they'll give someone a go.

I'm a manager in gold mining - we employ most new starters through Labour Hire companies in Kalgoorlie. The people we put on through these agencies often do not have the experience that we are looking for, but if they're generally experienced and have a good work history, we'll give them a go anyway. I started a new crusher operator last week who has never worked in the mining industry - but he has worked for a small trucking company in Tassie for years which has its own quarry and small crusher, providing gravel to various clients.

I'd suggest that if you are directly experienced in the position you want to apply for, then apply directly to the mining companies. But if your past experience has not been directly in the mining industry, then you might be better off registering with some of the many labour hire companies who provide labour to the industry.

Another tip - check to see that the companies operating the mines actually employ the truck drivers / operators / fitters etc themselves. Many of them do not, but use contractors to provide these services. For example - BHP Iron Ore in the Pilbara actually do not run any of their mines in the Pilbara except for Mt Whaleback in Newman. Yandi, Orebody 25, Area C are all operated by HWE, Jimblebar is operated by MacMahon (I think) and Yarri is operated by Leighton (I think). These contracting companies recruit only through their Perth offices, although I know that HWE also uses Extraman a lot to provide new starters.

In Kalgoorlie, you will very rarely see positions for crusher / mill operators, truck drivers etc advertised by the mining companies. They all tend to recruit these positions through labour hire companies. For tradesmen, the opposite applies - most companies try to recruit these positions directly.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Further to BMKal's comments. A lot of mining companies employ this way for the first 3 months so they can get rid of crappy workers and then offer the ones they want to retain a position in the company. I know this is how BHP at the Kal Smelter and Concentrator operate. BHP down here emplow all directly except heavy duty specialist maintenance. Companies like BHP, Barrick Gold, KCGM, Place Dome all have variances of this depending on positions and locations.

Originally Posted by DiscoTDI

I know you said you were a concreter but what sort of work are you looking for and where are you looking at going. Send me a PM, I spend a little time around a few mines.

Hey DiscoTDI i am willing to do any work ,and me and my family will move any where it takes us ,,,,we missed out on the housing boom due to extended overseas travel,,,so we might as well not miss the mining boom,i have got roller,excavator ,bobcat,frontloader/backhoe,grader,HR,,,,,,and i am trying to hook up my crusher ticket now,,,,,,,,,,,
been a cert 3 concretor iwork 55-60 hrs per week and still only clear 85k. and thats the most a experienced cretor wil make on high rise work,,,mine workers make almost double that and have weeks off>>>>>>>>>>>

Originally Posted by BMKal

Plenty of jobs advertised in today's "West Australian" as there is every week. But I know that even though many of these employers will say that they cannot find the people to fill the positions, most are a bit too insistent on the levels of experience they are looking for before they'll give someone a go.

I'm a manager in gold mining - we employ most new starters through Labour Hire companies in Kalgoorlie. The people we put on through these agencies often do not have the experience that we are looking for, but if they're generally experienced and have a good work history, we'll give them a go anyway. I started a new crusher operator last week who has never worked in the mining industry - but he has worked for a small trucking company in Tassie for years which has its own quarry and small crusher, providing gravel to various clients.

I'd suggest that if you are directly experienced in the position you want to apply for, then apply directly to the mining companies. But if your past experience has not been directly in the mining industry, then you might be better off registering with some of the many labour hire companies who provide labour to the industry.

Another tip - check to see that the companies operating the mines actually employ the truck drivers / operators / fitters etc themselves. Many of them do not, but use contractors to provide these services. For example - BHP Iron Ore in the Pilbara actually do not run any of their mines in the Pilbara except for Mt Whaleback in Newman. Yandi, Orebody 25, Area C are all operated by HWE, Jimblebar is operated by MacMahon (I think) and Yarri is operated by Leighton (I think). These contracting companies recruit only through their Perth offices, although I know that HWE also uses Extraman a lot to provide new starters.

In Kalgoorlie, you will very rarely see positions for crusher / mill operators, truck drivers etc advertised by the mining companies. They all tend to recruit these positions through labour hire companies. For tradesmen, the opposite applies - most companies try to recruit these positions directly.

Hope this helps - good luck.

Hey thanks for the great input ,,, i live on the east coast ,,,,and willing to move where it takes,,,,do you know any of the names of labour hire companies in wa which i can contact
thanks again

I would not say double $85k for permanent mine workers. Most earn about $100k working even time rosters now e.g. 7 days on 7 days off. Some places work 14 on 7 off but still usually highest pay is around $130 unless you are very high level management. Even the airleggers and jumbo operators money has levelled out. The big money is in mine construction, but you do work the hours for it. These guys can earn between $140-200k depending on the job and hours worked with bonuses. They do generally work 2-6 weeks on 1 week off though and only for the construction phase of the project. We are in the construction demobilising phase at the moment and will be for the next 3 months or so. At peak a month ago we had 2800 people working here. Olympic Dam will be beginning a 7 year plant upgrade next year.
I prefer the even time roster. Good money and great leisure time.

Originally Posted by out_the_way

Hey DiscoTDI i am willing to do any work ,and me and my family will move any where it takes us ,,,,we missed out on the housing boom due to extended overseas travel,,,so we might as well not miss the mining boom,i have got roller,excavator ,bobcat,frontloader/backhoe,grader,HR,,,,,,and i am trying to hook up my crusher ticket now,,,,,,,,,,,
been a cert 3 concretor iwork 55-60 hrs per week and still only clear 85k. and thats the most a experienced cretor wil make on high rise work,,,mine workers make almost double that and have weeks off>>>>>>>>>>>

Originally Posted by CraigE

I would not say double $85k for permanent mine workers. Most earn about $100k working even time rosters now e.g. 7 days on 7 days off. Some places work 14 on 7 off but still usually highest pay is around $130 unless you are very high level management. Even the airleggers and jumbo operators money has levelled out. The big money is in mine construction, but you do work the hours for it. These guys can earn between $140-200k depending on the job and hours worked with bonuses. They do generally work 2-6 weeks on 1 week off though and only for the construction phase of the project. We are in the construction demobilising phase at the moment and will be for the next 3 months or so. At peak a month ago we had 2800 people working here. Olympic Dam will be beginning a 7 year plant upgrade next year.
I prefer the even time roster. Good money and great leisure time.

THE LAND OF MILK AND HONEY