If you fly regularly from Perth, Brisbane, or Adelaide, you’ve probably shared a plane with a FIFO crew. Every week, thousands of Australians take off for two-week swings in places most people never visit — Newman, Moranbah, Roxby Downs, or Barrow Island.
FIFO is not limited to mining anymore. It fuels gas, construction, renewables, maintenance, logistics, and even healthcare. Understanding where these jobs exist is critical for anyone considering a FIFO career.
This guide maps the core FIFO regions of Australia, the companies that operate there, and the types of work and rosters you can expect in 2025 so you can plan your own path into remote work more strategically.
1. Western Australia – The Epicentre of FIFO
Western Australia remains the beating heart of FIFO employment. It employs over 60% of Australia’s total FIFO workforce, spanning mining, gas, and renewables.
A. The Pilbara
The Pilbara is the undisputed capital of FIFO life. With more than 30 active mine sites and 50,000 workers, it generates billions in iron ore exports and underpins many of WA’s best-known FIFO mining and production operator roles.
Key Towns & Hubs:
Port Hedland, Karratha, Newman, Tom Price and Paraburdoo, Pannawonica.
Major Companies & Projects:
BHP – Newman Operations, Jimblebar, and Yandi mines.
Rio Tinto – Tom Price, Brockman 4, Gudai-Darri, and Paraburdoo.
Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) – Solomon, Eliwana, Iron Bridge.
Roy Hill Holdings (Hancock Prospecting) – Roy Hill Mine near Newman.
CITIC Pacific Mining – Sino Iron project at Cape Preston.
Rosters: 2:1, 14:7, and 8:6 rotations.
Roles: Operators, electricians, mechanics and diesel fitters, engineers, environmental officers, and camp service staff.
Airports:
Newman, Karratha, and Port Hedland handle daily charter flights from Perth via Alliance Airlines and Cobham Aviation.
B. The Goldfields
Centred on Kalgoorlie–Boulder, the Goldfields region focuses on gold, nickel, and lithium.
Key Towns: Kalgoorlie, Leonora, Leinster, Laverton.
Major Companies & Projects:
Northern Star Resources – Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (Super Pit).
Evolution Mining – Mungari operations.
IGO Ltd – Nova Nickel mine near Balladonia.
St Barbara Ltd – Gwalia mine near Leonora.
Liontown Resources – Kathleen Valley lithium project.
Rosters: 8:6 or 2:1.
Roles: Drillers, mechanics, metallurgists, mine geologists, and maintenance crews.
C. The Mid West
A diverse resource region producing iron ore, mineral sands, and rare earths.
Key Towns: Geraldton, Mount Magnet, Cue, Meekatharra.
Major Companies:
Iluka Resources – Eneabba Rare Earth Refinery.
Mount Gibson Iron – Koolan Island and Tallering Peak.
Karara Mining – Magnetite operations east of Geraldton.
Rosters: 8:6 or project-based.
Airports: Geraldton and Mount Magnet charter routes.
D. The Kimberley & North West Shelf
Known for offshore oil and gas, this region employs thousands of FIFO workers in high-value LNG operations.
Key Locations: Broome, Kununurra, and Barrow Island.
Major Companies & Projects:
Chevron – Gorgon LNG (Barrow Island) and Wheatstone (Onslow).
Woodside Energy – Pluto LNG and North West Shelf Venture (Karratha).
INPEX – Ichthys LNG operations (shared between WA and NT).
Rosters: 4:4 offshore, 14:14 onshore.
Roles: Process operators, marine engineers, offshore medics, safety and maintenance specialists.
E. The South West
Transitioning from coal to renewables and lithium, this region is central to WA’s energy transition.
Key Towns: Collie, Bunbury, Greenbushes.
Companies:
Tianqi Lithium – Lithium hydroxide operations linked with Kwinana.
Albemarle Corporation – Kemerton lithium project.
Synergy & AGL – Decommissioning coal-fired stations and repurposing assets.
2. Queensland – The Energy and Coal Giant
Queensland’s FIFO economy is driven by coal, gas, and renewables, employing more than 30,000 FIFO workers.
A. The Bowen Basin
Australia’s largest coal-producing region, covering 60,000 square kilometres and home to many of the roles covered in our Bowen Basin FIFO guide.
Key Towns: Moranbah, Dysart, Blackwater, Middlemount, Emerald, Coppabella.
Major Companies & Projects:
BHP Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) – Peak Downs, Saraji, and Goonyella Riverside.
Glencore Coal Assets – Oaky Creek and Newlands.
Anglo American – Grosvenor and Moranbah North.
Stanmore Resources – Isaac Plains.
Rosters: 8:6 or 7:7 for operational staff.
Roles: Operators, electricians, diesel fitters, engineers, HSE officers, and haul truck drivers.
Airports: Moranbah, Emerald, Mackay — frequent charters from Brisbane and Townsville.
B. The Surat Basin
The state’s gas capital, supporting major LNG and infrastructure projects across regional Queensland.
Key Towns: Roma, Chinchilla, Miles, Wandoan, and Dalby.
Major Companies:
Santos – GLNG.
Origin Energy – Australia Pacific LNG.
Arrow Energy (Shell & PetroChina JV) – Gas extraction and compression facilities.
Rosters: 14:14, 2:2, or 3:1 for technicians.
Roles: Gas field operators, pipeline technicians, instrumentation electricians, HSE advisors.
C. Gladstone and Curtis Island
Home to Queensland’s LNG export terminals and major port infrastructure.
Companies:
Santos GLNG, APLNG, and QCLNG (Shell).
Bechtel – Construction and maintenance contractors.
Rosters: 4:4 or 14:14 for offshore logistics.
Roles: Marine engineers, process operators, construction supervisors, safety coordinators.
D. Mount Isa and North West Minerals Province
A long-standing mining powerhouse focused on copper, zinc, and lead and covered in our North West Minerals Province FIFO guide.
Key Companies:
Glencore – Mount Isa Mines and Lady Loretta.
South32 – Cannington silver-lead-zinc mine.
MMG Limited – Dugald River mine.
Rosters: 2:1 or 8:6.
Airports: Mount Isa, Cloncurry, and Townsville handle the bulk of FIFO flights.
3. South Australia – Mining, Energy, and Renewables Boom
South Australia is shifting from a traditional mining base toward renewables and critical minerals, while maintaining strong copper and uranium exports.
A. Roxby Downs & Olympic Dam
One of the largest integrated mining sites on Earth.
Operated by: BHP – producing copper, uranium, and gold.
Rosters: 2:1, 14:14, or site-based flexible rosters.
Roles: Engineers, metallurgists, electricians, operators, process technicians.
Airports: Olympic Dam Airport (charter flights from Adelaide).
B. Prominent Hill & Carrapateena
Both operated by OZ Minerals (BHP subsidiary), these underground copper-gold operations use even-time FIFO rosters.
Key Locations: Near Coober Pedy and Port Augusta.
Rosters: 8:6 or 14:14.
C. Port Augusta & Whyalla Corridor
South Australia’s new energy frontier.
Projects:
Neoen – Hornsdale Wind Farm and Battery.
Simec Energy / GFG Alliance – Whyalla steel and renewables.
Hydrogen Park SA – Early hydrogen pilot sites.
Rosters: Even-time 14:14 or 7:7.
Roles: Renewable technicians, engineers, electricians, and construction supervisors.
4. Northern Territory – Frontier FIFO Territory
The NT combines gas, mining, and defence infrastructure in some of Australia’s most isolated landscapes.
A. Darwin & Ichthys LNG
Operated by INPEX, Ichthys is one of Australia’s largest LNG export projects.
Supporting Companies: JGC, KBR, and McDermott.
Rosters: 2:2 offshore or 14:14 onshore.
B. McArthur River Mine
One of the world’s largest zinc-lead-silver mines, operated by Glencore near Borroloola.
Rosters: 2:1.
Roles: Operators, mechanics, HSE officers, environmental scientists.
C. Gove Peninsula & Groote Eylandt
Rio Tinto (Gove) and South32 (Groote Eylandt) continue large-scale bauxite and manganese operations.
Rosters: 2:1 or 14:7.
Airports: Nhulunbuy and Groote Eylandt (charter from Darwin).
5. New South Wales – Coal and Precious Metals
NSW combines mature coalfields with growing renewable projects.
A. Hunter Valley
Australia’s oldest coal region with dozens of operating pits.
Major Companies:
Whitehaven Coal, Glencore, BHP, Yancoal.
Rosters: 5:2 or 7:7 (often DIDO).
Towns: Singleton, Muswellbrook, and Maitland.
B. Central West and Cobar Basin
Gold, copper, and zinc dominate here.
Major Companies:
Evolution Mining – Cowal Gold Mine.
Aurelia Metals – Peak and Hera operations.
Newcrest Mining (now Newmont) – Cadia Valley Operations near Orange.
Rosters: 8:6.
C. Broken Hill
A legendary mining town now revitalised through silver and renewable projects.
Major Companies:
Perilya, Silver City Minerals, AGL’s Silverton Wind Farm.
Rosters: 8:6, often DIDO from Adelaide.
6. Victoria – Renewables and Offshore Projects
Victoria’s FIFO sector is small but growing due to energy transition and offshore wind.
Key Regions & Projects
Gippsland Basin: Star of the South offshore wind farm (AGL, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners).
Western Victoria: Wind projects around Ararat, Hamilton, and Portland by Vestas and Neoen.
Latrobe Valley: Power station decommissioning by ENGIE and Alinta Energy.
Rosters: 14:14 or 7:7 for offshore work.
Airports: Melbourne (Tullamarine) and Avalon.
7. Tasmania – Smaller Scale FIFO and Hydro
Tasmania’s FIFO footprint is modest but essential to its mining and hydroelectric industries.
Major Sites & Companies:
MMG Rosebery Mine – Zinc and copper.
Grange Resources – Savage River iron ore.
Hydro Tasmania – Power station and dam maintenance.
Bell Bay Aluminium – Smelter operations.
Rosters: 8:6 or 14:14.
Airports: Hobart and Launceston connect to Melbourne and Perth FIFO routes.
8. Cross-Border & Offshore Operations
Some of Australia’s largest FIFO projects span multiple states or international waters.
Key Examples:
Barrow Island (WA) – Chevron Gorgon LNG.
Curtis Island (QLD) – Santos GLNG.
Cooper Basin (QLD/SA) – Santos and Beach Energy.
Timor Sea & Browse Basin (WA/NT) – Offshore rigs and floating LNG platforms.
Rosters: 4:4 or 3:3 offshore, even-time for technical teams.
Summary
FIFO work forms a lattice across Australia’s map — linking cities with deserts, coasts, and islands. Western Australia remains the hub, but Queensland’s gas and coal fields, South Australia’s copper belt, and the Northern Territory’s frontier projects keep expanding the network.
From gold in Kalgoorlie to gas in Gladstone, each region has its own rhythm, roster, and rewards. The diversity of these sites means that whether you’re an operator, engineer, medic, or chef, there’s a place in the FIFO system waiting for you — especially if you match your target region with the right tickets, licences, and training and a clear FIFO career plan.
