How to Get a FIFO Job in Australia With No Experience
Trying to get a FIFO job in Australia with no experience can feel confusing. Many job ads ask for previous site expe
rience, mining experience or specific tickets — but there are still entry-level FIFO jobs available if you know where to start.
FIFO stands for fly-in fly-out, meaning workers fly to a remote worksite for a set roster, live in camp accommodation, then fly home for their time off. FIFO work is common across mining, resources, construction, oil and gas, maintenance, catering, cleaning, transport and site services.
This guide explains how to get a FIFO job with no experience, which roles are best for beginners, what licences may help, and how to improve your chances of landing your first FIFO role in Australia.
What is FIFO work?
FIFO work usually involves flying from a major city or regional airport to a remote mine site, construction project or industrial facility. Workers live on-site for the duration of their roster, with accommodation, meals and facilities often provided.
Common FIFO rosters include:
2 weeks on, 1 week off
8 days on, 6 days off
2 weeks on, 2 weeks off
3 weeks on, 1 week off
The exact roster depends on the job, company, location and industry.
FIFO work can be attractive because it may offer strong pay, full-time hours and clear career pathways. However, it can also be physically and mentally demanding. You may be away from family and friends for long periods, working long shifts in remote environments.
Can you get a FIFO job with no experience?
Yes, it is possible to get a FIFO job in Australia with no experience, but you need to be realistic about the roles you apply for.
Most people do not start in high-paying machinery operator or specialist mining roles straight away. Entry-level FIFO workers often begin in support roles such as utilities, cleaning, catering, labouring, trade assistant work or drilling support.
Once you have site experience, it can become easier to move into better-paying FIFO jobs over time.
The key is to get your foot in the door.
Best entry-level FIFO jobs in Australia
If you are looking for FIFO jobs with no experience, these are some of the best roles to consider.
1. FIFO utility worker
A FIFO utility worker helps keep the camp running. This may include cleaning rooms, laundry, kitchen support, dining room work, housekeeping and general site services.
Utility roles are one of the most common ways to get into FIFO work without mining experience.
Typical duties may include:
Cleaning accommodation rooms
Working in the kitchen or dining room
Laundry duties
Restocking supplies
General camp maintenance support
This can be a good starting point because it gives you exposure to FIFO life, camp conditions and site expectations.
Best for: people with hospitality, cleaning, retail, customer service or general work experience.
2. FIFO trade assistant
A trade assistant, often called a TA, supports qualified tradespeople such as electricians, boilermakers, fitters, mechanics and plumbers.
You usually do not need to be a qualified tradesperson, but practical skills and a good work ethic help.
Typical duties may include:
Carrying tools and materials
Cleaning work areas
Assisting tradespeople
Basic labouring
Following safety procedures
Helping with maintenance tasks
Trade assistant roles can be a strong pathway if you want to eventually move into a trade, maintenance or construction-related FIFO career.
Best for: hands-on workers, labourers, apprentices, construction workers and people with mechanical aptitude.
3. Driller’s offsider
A driller’s offsider assists drilling crews on mining and exploration sites. This is often advertised as an entry-level mining role, but it can be physically demanding.
Typical duties may include:
Handling drill rods
Moving equipment
Preparing drilling sites
Cleaning and maintaining equipment
Supporting the drilling crew
Driller’s offsider jobs can be tough, but they are often seen as a direct entry point into the mining industry.
Best for: physically fit people who are comfortable with hard manual work and long shifts.
4. FIFO labourer
FIFO labouring roles are common across construction, shutdowns, mining and infrastructure projects.
Typical duties may include:
Site clean-up
Moving materials
Assisting trades
Basic construction work
Loading and unloading equipment
General manual tasks
Labouring experience in construction, warehouses, landscaping or civil work can help, even if you have never worked FIFO before.
Best for: people with general labouring, construction or warehouse experience.
5. FIFO cleaner or housekeeper
FIFO cleaners and housekeepers help maintain accommodation villages, offices, crib rooms and shared facilities.
Typical duties may include:
Cleaning rooms and bathrooms
Changing linen
Vacuuming and mopping
Cleaning offices and common areas
Maintaining hygiene standards
These roles can be suitable for people who want to enter FIFO through camp services rather than mining production.
Best for: people with cleaning, hotel, aged care, retail or hospitality experience.
6. FIFO kitchen hand or catering assistant
Many remote sites require large catering teams to feed workers. Kitchen hand and catering assistant roles can be a good entry point into FIFO work.
Typical duties may include:
Food preparation
Dishwashing
Cleaning kitchen areas
Serving meals
Restocking food and supplies
Supporting chefs and cooks
If you have hospitality or food service experience, this can be a practical way to start.
Best for: people with café, restaurant, fast food, hotel or catering experience.
7. FIFO bus driver
FIFO bus drivers transport workers around mine sites, camps and airports. These roles usually require the right licence and a safe driving record.
You may need:
HR licence or MR licence
Passenger transport authorisation
Clean driving history
Previous bus or heavy vehicle experience
This is not always a “no experience” role, but it can be a good FIFO pathway if you already have driving experience.
Best for: bus drivers, truck drivers, delivery drivers and people with heavy vehicle licences.
8. FIFO storeperson or warehouse worker
Storeperson roles support site logistics, inventory and equipment movement.
Typical duties may include:
Receiving goods
Stock control
Picking and packing
Forklift operation
Delivering parts around site
Using inventory systems
A forklift licence can be helpful for these roles.
Best for: people with warehouse, logistics, retail stockroom or forklift experience.
What tickets and licences help you get a FIFO job?
You do not always need lots of tickets to get your first FIFO job, but having the right licences can make your application stronger.
Useful tickets may include:
White Card
A White Card is required for construction work in Australia and may help for labouring, trade assistant and construction-related FIFO jobs.
First Aid Certificate
First aid training can be useful across many remote work environments.
Working at Heights
This may help for construction, maintenance, shutdown and trade assistant roles.
Confined Spaces
This may be useful for mining, maintenance, shutdown and industrial roles.
Forklift Licence
Helpful for storeperson, warehouse, logistics and site support roles.
HR or MR Licence
A heavy vehicle licence can help for bus driving, truck driving, service roles and some site support jobs.
RSA
A Responsible Service of Alcohol certificate may help for some hospitality or village roles, depending on the site.
You do not need to get every ticket before applying. Start by looking at the job ads you are interested in, then identify which tickets appear most often.
Do you need mining experience for FIFO jobs?
Not always.
Mining experience helps, but many FIFO jobs are not directly mining production roles. Remote sites need cleaners, cooks, utility workers, bus drivers, security, warehouse staff, labourers, trade assistants and maintenance crews.
If you have experience in hospitality, construction, warehouses, cleaning, driving, customer service or trades, you may already have transferable skills.
For example:
Hospitality experience can help with FIFO utility or catering jobs
Construction experience can help with FIFO labouring or trade assistant jobs
Warehouse experience can help with FIFO storeperson roles
Cleaning experience can help with FIFO housekeeping jobs
Driving experience can help with FIFO bus or transport roles
The challenge is showing employers that you are reliable, safety-focused and able to handle remote work.
Where are FIFO jobs usually based in Australia?
FIFO jobs are common across Australia, especially in mining and resources regions.
Common FIFO departure points include:
Perth
Brisbane
Adelaide
Darwin
Cairns
Townsville
Mackay
Sydney
Melbourne
Perth is one of the biggest FIFO hubs because of Western Australia’s mining industry. Queensland also has many FIFO and DIDO roles across coal, gas, construction and resources.
Some roles are advertised as DIDO, which means drive-in drive-out. These jobs require workers to drive to site rather than fly.
How to improve your chances of getting a FIFO job
Getting your first FIFO job can take time. The aim is to make your application look low-risk to employers.
1. Apply for realistic entry-level roles
If you have no mining experience, do not only apply for dump truck operator or machinery roles. These are often competitive and may require previous site experience.
Start with roles such as:
Utility worker
Cleaner
Kitchen hand
Trade assistant
Labourer
Driller’s offsider
Storeperson
Bus driver
Once you have FIFO experience, you can apply for more specialised roles.
2. Make your resume FIFO-friendly
Your resume should show that you are reliable, safety-conscious and comfortable with physical work.
Include examples of:
Long shifts
Manual labour
Teamwork
Safety procedures
Remote or regional work
Early starts
Cleaning, hospitality, driving, warehouse or construction experience
Licences and tickets
Avoid sending a generic resume. Tailor it to the type of FIFO job you are applying for.
3. Highlight transferable experience
Even if you have never worked FIFO, you may still have relevant experience.
For example:
Previous experience | FIFO roles it may help with |
|---|---|
Café or restaurant work | Kitchen hand, utility, catering assistant |
Cleaning | Housekeeping, camp cleaner, utility |
Construction labouring | FIFO labourer, trade assistant |
Warehouse work | Storeperson, logistics, forklift roles |
Truck or bus driving | FIFO driver, site transport |
Retail | Utility, stores, customer service support |
Employers want people who can turn up on time, follow instructions, work safely and handle long shifts.
4. Be open to different locations and rosters
Your first FIFO job may not be the perfect roster or location. Being flexible can help you get started.
Some entry-level jobs may involve:
Longer swings
Remote camps
Casual or contract work
Shutdown work
Night shift
Less attractive rosters
Once you have experience, you may have more options.
5. Set up job alerts
FIFO jobs can be competitive, so it helps to apply early.
Set alerts for searches like:
FIFO no experience
Entry level FIFO
FIFO utility
FIFO cleaner
FIFO trade assistant
FIFO labourer
Driller’s offsider
FIFO kitchen hand
FIFO storeperson
You can also check new FIFO jobs regularly on FIFO Careers.
Common mistakes when applying for FIFO jobs
Many beginners make the same mistakes when trying to get into FIFO work.
Avoid these:
Only applying for high-paying mining operator jobs
Ignoring utility, cleaning, catering and labouring roles
Using a generic resume
Not listing tickets and licences clearly
Applying without reading the roster
Not checking the departure point
Assuming FIFO work is easy money
Applying for roles that require experience you do not have
Forgetting to mention physical work, safety and reliability
Your first FIFO job is often about building experience, not finding the perfect role immediately.
Is FIFO work worth it?
FIFO work can be worth it if you want strong earning potential, structured rosters and a pathway into mining, construction or resources. However, it is not for everyone.
Potential benefits include:
Good pay compared with many local roles
Meals and accommodation often provided while on site
Long periods of time off between swings
Career pathways into mining, trades, transport and site services
Experience in major Australian industries
Potential downsides include:
Time away from home
Long shifts
Remote locations
Physical work
Camp lifestyle
Pressure on relationships and routines
Before applying, think about whether the lifestyle suits your personality, family situation and long-term goals.
Best FIFO jobs to apply for first
If you have no FIFO or mining experience, these are good roles to search for first:
FIFO utility worker
FIFO cleaner
FIFO kitchen hand
FIFO trade assistant
FIFO labourer
Driller’s offsider
FIFO storeperson
FIFO bus driver, if licensed
FIFO security officer, if licensed
Entry-level shutdown worker
These roles can help you get site experience and build your FIFO resume.
Final tips for getting your first FIFO job
If you want to get a FIFO job with no experience, focus on getting started rather than waiting for the perfect role.
The best approach is to:
Apply for entry-level FIFO jobs
Be flexible on roster and location
Get useful tickets where needed
Tailor your resume to FIFO work
Highlight safety, reliability and physical work
Set up job alerts
Apply consistently
Your first FIFO job may be in cleaning, catering, labouring, utilities or trade assistant work. That experience can then help you move into better roles over time.
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