FIFO work is the invisible network that powers the Australian economy. It connects skilled workers from cities like Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide to job sites scattered across deserts, offshore rigs, and mountain ranges, creating thousands of regional FIFO jobs every year.
While mining remains the heart of the system, FIFO has expanded into oil and gas, construction, renewables, engineering, logistics, and even healthcare. This model allows projects to operate in regions where permanent towns would be costly or unsustainable and ties directly into high-demand regions covered in guides like FIFO jobs in Western Australia and FIFO jobs in Queensland.
Every time a charter flight leaves Perth Airport bound for Newman, Moranbah, or Barrow Island, it represents the lifeline of remote industry. Understanding which industries rely on FIFO gives you insight into where the jobs are now — and where they will be next.
1. Mining and Resources
Mining is still the engine of Australia’s FIFO workforce. It employs more than half of all fly-in fly-out workers, with operations stretching from Western Australia’s iron ore belts to Queensland’s coalfields and South Australia’s copper mines. If you’re targeting these roles, it’s worth exploring regional hubs like the Bowen Basin or Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields.
Primary Locations
Western Australia: Pilbara (Port Hedland, Newman, Karratha, Tom Price and Paraburdoo), Kalgoorlie, and Leinster (supported by projects like the IGO Cosmos Nickel Project).
Queensland: Bowen Basin (Moranbah, Dysart, Middlemount) and Mount Isa.
South Australia: Roxby Downs and Olympic Dam.
Northern Territory: McArthur River and Groote Eylandt.
Major Employers
BHP – Iron ore and nickel operations across WA and SA, including BHP Nickel West.
Rio Tinto – Large-scale Pilbara iron ore operations and port infrastructure.
Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) – Solomon and Eliwana mines and autonomous operations.
Glencore – Coal operations in QLD and copper in Mount Isa.
South32 – Manganese and aluminium projects in NT and QLD.
Common Rosters
2:1 and 8:6 for operators and trades.
Supervisors and engineers often work even-time 14:14 rosters.
Typical Roles
Production operators, drillers (often requiring a Standard 11 mining induction in Queensland), fitters, electricians, geologists, environmental officers, and site safety advisors.
Why FIFO Works Here
Most mines sit hundreds of kilometres from any town. FIFO lets workers live in major cities while keeping sites fully staffed year-round, and is a key reason mining roles remain some of the highest-paid jobs in regional Australia (see our FIFO pay and salary guide).
2. Oil and Gas
Oil and gas is the second largest FIFO employer, with projects spanning both onshore and offshore regions, particularly in WA, the NT, and Queensland.
Primary Locations
Western Australia: Barrow Island, Karratha, Onslow, Dampier.
Northern Territory: Darwin and Ichthys LNG.
Queensland: Surat Basin (Roma, Chinchilla) and Curtis Island (Gladstone), covered in regional hubs such as Surat Basin and Western Queensland and Gladstone and the Central Queensland Coast.
Major Employers
Chevron – Gorgon and Wheatstone LNG projects.
Woodside Energy – Pluto and North West Shelf facilities.
Santos – GLNG and Cooper Basin operations.
INPEX – Ichthys LNG off Darwin.
Shell – Prelude FLNG (offshore WA).
Common Rosters
4:4 and 2:2 offshore, 14:14 onshore.
Typical Roles
Process technicians, offshore medics, mechanical fitters, instrumentation engineers, safety officers, and helicopter logistics coordinators.
Why FIFO Works Here
Oil and gas projects are located far offshore or in remote coastal zones. FIFO enables skilled crews to rotate efficiently without building permanent accommodation, supported by specialised emergency response and fire safety training and advanced technical tickets.
3. Construction and Infrastructure
Construction projects use FIFO throughout Australia to build mining facilities, energy hubs, roads, and rail systems. These projects employ large temporary workforces during peak build phases and overlap strongly with civil construction FIFO roles.
Primary Locations
WA: Pilbara, Geraldton, Kwinana industrial zone.
QLD: Surat Basin, Gladstone, Townsville.
SA: Port Augusta, Whyalla.
NSW: Hunter Valley, Cobar, Broken Hill.
Major Employers
Monadelphous Group – Industrial construction and maintenance, a major employer of boilermakers and welders.
CPB Contractors (CIMIC Group) – National infrastructure projects.
Downer EDI – Mining, utilities, and energy builds.
BGC Contracting – Civil and bulk earthworks.
Clough and Thiess – Major engineering and construction projects.
Common Rosters
8:6, 3:1, or 4:1 depending on urgency and distance.
Typical Roles
Civil engineers, concreters, steel fixers, scaffolders, surveyors, project managers, and equipment operators, including crane and heavy equipment operators.
Why FIFO Works Here
Construction is short-term and mobile. Using FIFO allows skilled workers to move from project to project without relocation, often supported by specialist tickets like working at heights and confined space entry.
4. Engineering, Maintenance, and Shutdowns
These teams keep Australia’s massive industrial infrastructure running. FIFO maintenance specialists perform scheduled shutdowns to inspect, repair, and replace equipment that cannot fail, which is why these jobs are central to FIFO construction and shutdown work.
Primary Locations
WA: Port Hedland, Newman, Karratha.
QLD: Bowen Basin and Mount Isa.
SA: Olympic Dam.
Major Employers
UGL – Engineering and maintenance services nationwide.
Komatsu Australia – Heavy equipment servicing.
WesTrac – Caterpillar machinery support.
BHP Maintenance Alliance – In-house maintenance teams across WA.
Lendlease Engineering – Large-scale industrial projects.
Common Rosters
8:6 or 10:4 depending on shutdown duration.
Typical Roles
Electricians, boilermakers, mechanical fitters, diesel mechanics, crane operators, and planners.
Why FIFO Works Here
Maintenance schedules are intense but temporary. FIFO crews ensure projects can continue 24/7 with minimal downtime, supported by advanced safety training like MSMWHS216 Operate Breathing Apparatus and Gas Test Atmospheres.
5. Renewable Energy and Critical Minerals
Australia’s renewable-energy boom is reshaping FIFO. The country’s shift toward clean power has created hundreds of regional projects that follow similar roster systems to mining, particularly around new lithium and hydrogen hubs.
Primary Locations
WA: Pilbara Hydrogen Hub, Greenbushes lithium mine.
QLD: Kennedy Energy Park (Hughenden), Wandoan Solar Farm.
SA: Port Augusta Renewable Hub, Whyalla Wind Farm.
VIC: Gippsland offshore wind zone.
Major Employers
Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) – Hydrogen projects in WA and QLD.
Neoen – Solar and battery storage sites nationwide.
AGL Energy – Renewable assets and transition projects.
Lynas / IGO & related critical minerals hubs – Including Kalgoorlie and Fraser Range processing operations.
Tianqi / Albemarle and Pilbara Minerals – Battery metals production.
Common Rosters
Even-time rosters (14:14 or 7:7) to support mental health and retain specialists.
Typical Roles
Electrical engineers, project managers, environmental scientists, plant operators, and renewable technicians.
Why FIFO Works Here
Renewable-energy projects are often built in sparsely populated zones, requiring short-term but skilled workforces. FIFO provides flexibility and rapid mobilisation while letting workers base themselves in major cities.
6. Camp Services, Catering, and Hospitality
FIFO life is sustained by the people who run the camps — the cooks, cleaners, and maintenance staff who keep thousands of workers fed and comfortable. These are classic entry points into FIFO via cleaning, utility, and kitchenhand roles.
Primary Locations
Every major resource region in WA, QLD, SA, and NT.
Major Employers
Sodexo Australia – Catering and camp management across mining regions.
Compass Group Australia (ESS) – Provides services to Rio Tinto, BHP, and Chevron camps.
Morris Corporation – Remote facilities and workforce villages.
ISS Facility Services – National cleaning and hospitality operations.
Common Rosters
9:5 or 2:1 depending on camp size and client.
Typical Roles
Chefs and kitchenhands, housekeepers and laundry staff, baristas, cleaners, maintenance technicians, groundskeepers, and camp supervisors.
Why FIFO Works Here
Camps may house up to 2,000 people. FIFO hospitality ensures consistent service quality and rotation flexibility for large-scale operations, with pathways into camp management and site supervision for experienced staff.
7. Health, Safety, and Emergency Services
Remote operations cannot function without medical and safety professionals on site. FIFO health workers ensure that emergency care is available anywhere in the outback or offshore and underpin many WHS and safety roles across the sector.
Primary Locations
WA: Pilbara, Barrow Island, and offshore rigs.
QLD: Mount Isa, Surat Basin, and Moranbah.
NT: Gove Peninsula and remote mining camps.
Major Employers
Remote Medical Services (RMS)
Aspen Medical
International SOS
Sonic HealthPlus
Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) partners
Common Rosters
14:14, 2:2, or even-time 7:7.
Typical Roles
FIFO nurses and paramedics, health and safety coordinators, emergency response officers, and mental health practitioners.
Why FIFO Works Here
Remote mines and offshore rigs operate far from hospitals. FIFO medics provide on-site care, emergency response, and health monitoring for workers, often backed by specialist emergency response and fire safety training.
8. Environmental and Heritage Management
Environmental specialists ensure that Australia’s mining and infrastructure projects meet strict government and Indigenous land regulations, and many enter these careers through dedicated FIFO environmental officer roles.
Primary Locations
WA: Pilbara, Midwest, and Goldfields.
QLD: Bowen Basin, Surat Basin.
SA: Roxby Downs and Cooper Basin.
Major Employers
Eco Logical Australia (ELA)
GHD Environmental
Stantec
AECOM
Indigenous Land & Sea Corporation (ILSC)
Common Rosters
8:6 or project-based flexible rosters.
Typical Roles
Environmental scientists, heritage monitors, ecologists, hydrologists, and sustainability officers.
Why FIFO Works Here
Environmental and cultural compliance teams rotate across multiple sites to ensure ongoing monitoring without permanent relocation, often supporting several mines or infrastructure corridors at once.
9. Transport, Aviation, and Logistics
The FIFO system itself depends on aviation and freight services. Thousands of workers and tonnes of equipment move across Australia every week, supported by specialist logistics coordinators and freight drivers.
Primary Locations
Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, and Darwin are the key FIFO departure hubs.
Major Employers
Alliance Airlines – FIFO charters from Perth and Brisbane.
Cobham Aviation Services – Services for BHP, Santos, and Chevron.
QantasLink – Regional resource routes.
Toll Group – Freight and supply chain logistics.
Linfox – Mine site fuel and materials distribution.
Common Rosters
5:2 for ground crews, 8:6 for remote logistics.
Typical Roles
Pilots, flight attendants, ground crew, freight coordinators, and transport drivers, including FIFO bus drivers, fuel and dangerous goods drivers, and warehouse and inventory control staff.
Why FIFO Works Here
FIFO relies on aviation to exist. These teams form the logistical backbone that connects every mine, rig, and camp to the rest of Australia.
10. Emerging FIFO Sectors
New industries are adopting FIFO principles as Australia’s economy diversifies, particularly in defence, telecoms, and remote infrastructure.
Examples
Defence infrastructure projects in Northern Territory and WA.
Remote education and training programs with rotational teaching staff.
Telecommunications and data centres built in isolated regions to support digital expansion.
Leading Companies
Lendlease Defence, NBN Co, and Ventia.
Common Rosters
10:10 or 14:14, focusing on equal-time models to attract professionals.
Why FIFO Works Here
As national projects move further into regional areas, FIFO provides flexible labour without permanent relocation or housing investment.
Summary
FIFO is no longer a single-industry concept. It is a framework supporting every major sector of the Australian economy. From miners in Newman to offshore engineers in WA, renewable-energy electricians at lithium and hydrogen hubs, and camp chefs in Roxby Downs, FIFO keeps regional Australia alive.
For workers, it offers access to some of the country’s highest-paying and most stable roles. For companies, it ensures that even the most remote operations have the skills they need to run safely and efficiently, especially when workers invest in the right tickets, licences, and training.
As Australia expands its energy transition and infrastructure projects through 2030, FIFO will continue to grow — connecting city life with the heartbeat of the outback and the full spectrum of FIFO career pathways.
