FIFO Utility Jobs in Australia: Duties, Pay and How to Get One
FIFO utility jobs are one of the most common entry points into FIFO work in Australia. If you are trying to get your first FIFO job but do not have mining experience, a utility role can be a realistic place to start.
Utility workers help keep remote camps, mine-site villages and accommodation facilities running. The work can include cleaning rooms, working in dining areas, helping in kitchens, doing laundry, restocking supplies and supporting general camp operations.
The work can be physical and repetitive, and you may be away from home for one or two weeks at a time. But for many people, FIFO utility work is a practical way to get site experience, earn steady income and build a pathway into other FIFO roles.
What is a FIFO utility job?
A FIFO utility job is a support role based at a remote worksite, mining camp or accommodation village. FIFO means “fly-in fly-out”, where workers fly to site for their roster, live in camp accommodation, then fly home for their days off.
Utility roles may also be advertised as:
FIFO utility worker
Mine site utility
Village utility
Camp utility
FIFO cleaner
FIFO housekeeper
FIFO kitchen hand
FIFO all-rounder
FIFO domestic
FIFO hospitality worker
The exact title can vary, but the work usually involves cleaning, housekeeping, kitchen, dining, laundry or general camp support duties.
What does a FIFO utility worker do?
The duties depend on the site and employer, but common FIFO utility duties include:
Cleaning accommodation rooms
Making beds and changing linen
Cleaning bathrooms and shared facilities
Working in the dining room or mess hall
Serving food or clearing tables
Washing dishes and kitchen equipment
Helping with basic food preparation
Restocking supplies
Doing laundry
Emptying bins
Cleaning offices and recreation areas
Some jobs are called “utility all-rounder” roles. These usually involve rotating between several areas, such as housekeeping, kitchen hand, laundry and dining room work.
Do you need experience for FIFO utility jobs?
Not always. FIFO utility jobs are often more beginner-friendly than many mining or trade roles, but employers still prefer people with relevant experience.
You may have a better chance if you have worked in:
Cleaning
Housekeeping
Hospitality
Fast food
Cafes or restaurants
Hotels
Aged care
Commercial kitchens
Warehousing
Labouring
Customer service
Even if you have never worked FIFO before, employers may still be interested if you can show that you are reliable, physically fit, safety-conscious and comfortable working long shifts.
What skills do FIFO utility employers look for?
Employers usually look for people who can work safely, follow instructions and handle the FIFO lifestyle.
Important skills include:
Reliability: FIFO sites run on tight schedules, so employers want workers who turn up on time and complete their roster.
Physical fitness: Utility work can involve standing for long periods, lifting linen bags, pushing cleaning trolleys, bending, mopping and working at a fast pace.
Attention to detail: Rooms, bathrooms, kitchens and dining areas need to be cleaned properly and consistently.
Teamwork: You will usually work closely with cleaners, kitchen staff, supervisors and camp managers.
Safety awareness: Remote sites take safety seriously, so you need to follow procedures and report hazards.
What tickets or licences help?
You may not need many tickets for a basic FIFO utility role, but having the right documents can make your application stronger.
Useful tickets and documents may include:
National Police Check
Manual driver’s licence
First Aid certificate
RSA certificate
Food safety certificate
White Card
Forklift licence, for some stores or warehouse roles
Before spending money on tickets, check current job ads and see which requirements appear most often. For many beginner utility jobs, a police check, driver’s licence, food safety certificate and relevant cleaning or hospitality experience may be more useful than collecting lots of expensive tickets.
How much do FIFO utility jobs pay?
FIFO utility pay varies depending on the employer, roster, site location, hours, allowances and whether the role is casual or permanent.
In general, FIFO utility jobs may pay more than similar cleaning or hospitality roles in the city because they involve remote locations, long shifts and time away from home.
When comparing jobs, look at:
Hourly rate or salary
Roster pattern
Hours per day
Casual vs permanent status
Superannuation
Travel arrangements
Accommodation and meals
Whether flights are covered
Point of hire
Whether the role is ongoing or project-based
A higher hourly rate is not always better if the work is short-term or inconsistent.
Common FIFO utility rosters
Common FIFO utility rosters include:
2 weeks on, 1 week off
1 week on, 1 week off
2 weeks on, 2 weeks off
8 days on, 6 days off
14 days on, 7 days off
Some roles involve long shifts, often around 10 to 12 hours per day. You may work early mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays depending on the site.
Before applying, check where the flights leave from. Some FIFO jobs only fly from certain cities such as Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide or Darwin.
How to get a FIFO utility job with no experience
Your first FIFO job is often the hardest one to get, so your application needs to show that you are low-risk and ready for the work.
1. Highlight relevant experience
Even if you have never worked FIFO, you may already have useful experience. Cleaning, hospitality, fast food, hotel, aged care, labouring or warehouse work can all be relevant.
Focus on duties that match FIFO utility work, such as cleaning, food handling, customer service, stock rotation, early starts, long shifts and working in a team.
2. Make your resume FIFO-friendly
Your resume should clearly show:
Relevant cleaning, hospitality, kitchen or labouring experience
Tickets and licences
Availability
Ability to pass a medical and drug and alcohol test
Willingness to work remote rosters
Experience with long shifts or physical work
3. Search for different job titles
Do not only search for “FIFO utility.” Employers use different titles.
Try searching for:
FIFO cleaner
FIFO housekeeper
Mine site cleaner
Village utility
Camp utility
FIFO kitchen hand
FIFO all-rounder
FIFO hospitality
Remote site cleaner
Using a wider range of search terms can help you find more opportunities.
4. Be flexible
Your first FIFO role may not be your ideal roster or location. Being open to casual roles, relief work, short-term contracts or different departure points can help you get your foot in the door.
Once you have site experience, you may be able to become more selective.
Is FIFO utility work hard?
Yes, FIFO utility work can be hard. It is often physical, repetitive and fast-paced. You may clean many rooms in a day, work long shifts and spend time away from home.
The lifestyle can also be challenging. You may miss weekends, birthdays and normal routines. Camp life is different from city life, and it does not suit everyone.
However, FIFO utility work can be a good stepping stone. After gaining site experience, some workers move into other camp roles, administration, stores, safety, trade assistant work or other site-based jobs.
Are FIFO utility jobs worth it?
FIFO utility jobs can be worth it if you want to enter the FIFO industry and are realistic about the work. They are not always easy, and they may not be the highest-paying FIFO jobs, but they can help you build site experience and understand the FIFO lifestyle.
For many people, a utility role is one of the more realistic ways to get started in FIFO work.
Find FIFO utility jobs in Australia
Ready to apply? Search current FIFO utility jobs, camp jobs, cleaning jobs, kitchen hand roles and other entry-level FIFO opportunities on FIFO Careers.